Life Time Fitness Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Revenue Grew 11.6%, Net Income Grew 23.2% and Diluted EPS was $0.62, up 21.6%

CHANHASSEN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM), The Healthy Way of Life Company, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

First quarter 2012 revenue grew 11.6% to $268.4 million from $240.6 million during the same period last year. Net income for the quarter was $25.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.8 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for 1Q 2011.

“Once again this quarter, I am pleased with our operating results, which are highlighted by strong revenue, net income and EPS growth,” said Bahram Akradi, Life Time chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We remain on track with our strategic growth, programming and branding initiatives for 2012. Our growth will continue to occur through square footage expansion, price and mix optimization, and our in-center and ancillary business revenue. Additionally, we are focused on delivering consistency and excellence in our member programming. We have made great strides in this area and we see additional opportunities to drive strong growth in member participation and retention. Finally, we will continue building our Healthy Way of Life brand, with the goal of ensuring that our brand position is of the highest possible quality and value across our businesses and programs. By executing upon our healthy way of life vision, programs and services, we believe Life Time has tremendous opportunity for continued growth and success.”

During the quarter, Life Time opened its first Canada-based center in Mississauga, Ontario (Toronto market). The Company also continued the integration, remodeling and rebranding activities associated with the acquired Lifestyle Family Fitness facilities in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina. On April 12, 2012, the Company opened a new center in Tulsa, its first location in Oklahoma. In May, the Company plans to open its fifth center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012, Financial Highlights:

Total revenue for the first quarter grew 11.6% to $268.4 million from $240.6 million in 1Q 2011.

(Period-over-period growth)     1Q 2012 vs. 1Q 2011

(in millions except revenue per membership data)

• Membership dues

$175.5 vs. $158.0 (up 11.0%)

• Enrollment fees

$4.0 vs. $5.2 (down 24.0%)

• In-center revenue

$84.6 vs. $73.7 (up 14.8%)

• Other revenue

$4.4 vs. $3.7 (up 17.8%)
 
• Average center revenue per membership $386 vs. $379 (up 1.8%)
(up 3.5% to $392 excluding the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction)
• Average in-center revenue per membership $124 vs. $118 (up 4.9%)
(up 7.0% to $126 excluding the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction)

• Same-center revenue (open 13 months or longer)

Up 5.4%

• Same-center revenue (open 37 months or longer)

Up 5.0%
 

Memberships grew 8.2% to 704,467 at March 31, 2012, from 650,784 at March 31, 2011.

  • Excluding memberships acquired in connection with the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction, memberships grew 3.8%.
  • Attrition in 1Q 2012 was 8.9% compared to 8.4% in the prior-year period. The increase in attrition was driven by pricing actions taken in late 2011/early 2012 and the membership transition associated with the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction.
  • Attrition for the trailing 12-month period ended March 31, 2012, was 35.6% compared to trailing 12-month attrition of 36.1% at March 31, 2011.

Total operating expenses during 1Q 2012 were $220.1 million compared to $200.4 million for 1Q 2011.

  • Income from operations margin was 18.0% for 1Q 2012 compared to 16.7% in the prior-year period.
(Expense as a percent of total revenue)    

1Q 2012 vs. 1Q 2011

• Center operations

59.9% vs. 62.1%

• Advertising and marketing

3.9% vs. 3.6%

• General and administrative

5.1% vs. 5.3%

• Other operating

3.0% vs. 2.5%

• Depreciation and amortization

10.1% vs. 9.8%
 

Net income for 1Q 2012 was $25.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.8 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for 1Q 2011.

EBITDA for 1Q 2012 was $75.7 million compared with $64.2 million in 1Q 2011.

  • As a percentage of total revenue, EBITDA in 1Q 2012 was 28.2% compared to 26.7% in 1Q 2011.

Cash flows from operating activities for 1Q 2012 totaled $73.9 million compared to $60.1 million in 1Q 2011.

Weighted average fully diluted shares for 1Q 2012 totaled 41.7 million compared to 40.9 million in 1Q 2011.

Updated 2012 Business Outlook:

The following statements are based on the Company’s current expectations for fiscal year 2012 and incorporate 2011 and early 2012 operating trends. These 2012 expectations are subject to the risks and uncertainties further described in the Company’s forward-looking statements:

  • Revenue is expected to be up 10-12%, or $1.110-1.135 billion, driven primarily by price and mix optimization, square foot expansion, and growth in in-center and ancillary business revenue.
  • Net income is expected to be up 21-25%, or $112.0-115.5 million (up from 18-24%, or $110.0-115.0 million), driven by revenue growth and cost efficiencies. The Company included $1.6 million (after tax) of anticipated performance share-based compensation expense in this net income guidance.
  • Diluted earnings per common share is expected to be $2.65-2.73 (up from $2.60-2.72), which includes $0.04 impact of anticipated performance share-based compensation expense.

As announced on April 12, 2012, the Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2012 results. Bahram Akradi, Michael Robinson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and John Heller, senior director, investor relations & treasurer, will host the conference call. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed via the Company’s Investor Relations section of its website at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the call will be available the same day via the Company’s website beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Company also announced on April 12, 2012, that its Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the Life Time Fitness headquarters (2902 Corporate Place in Chanhassen, Minnesota) at 2:00 p.m. ET today. The meeting will be webcast and may be accessed live via the Company’s investor relations section of its website at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the webcast will be available beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET today, and remain available for 30 days.

About Life Time Fitness, Inc.

As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest — or discovering new passions — both inside and outside of Life Time’s distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Company’s healthy way of life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of exceptional quality and value. As of April 19, 2012, the Company operated 98 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC(SM) brands in the United States and Canada. Life Time also operated six additional acquired facilities, which are in transition to become Life Time centers. Experience Life Time on the web at lifetimefitness.com and facebook.com/lifetimefitness. Learn more about the Life Time Foundation and the Company’s work in the community at ltffoundation.org.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results in the future to differ materially from its historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. Among these factors are attracting and retaining members, risks related to our debt levels and debt covenants, the ability to access our existing credit facility and obtain additional financing, strains on our business from continued and future growth, including potential acquisitions and other strategic initiatives, risks related to maintenance and security of our data, competition from other health and fitness centers, identifying and acquiring suitable sites for new centers, delays in opening new centers and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Diluted earnings per common share could also be affected by the number of shares outstanding, which depends on factors such as the number of shares issued upon exercise of stock options and future grants of awards pursuant to equity-based incentive plans as well as stock offerings and repurchases. The Company’s expectations for fiscal year 2012 exclude any additional unusual items that might occur during the fiscal year, such as litigation matters. While the Company has determined that achieving the 2012 diluted earnings per common share performance criteria required for vesting the remaining stock related to the June 2009 performance share-based restricted stock grant is probable and anticipates recognizing additional performance share-based compensation expense in 2012, the Company may not be able to meet those criteria due to risks and uncertainties, including those factors described above.

The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during the Company’s financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call and the Company undertakes no obligation to update the replay.

LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
       
March 31, December 31,
2012 2011
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,797 $ 7,487
Accounts receivable, net 5,551 6,156
Center operating supplies and inventories 21,876 21,600
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 25,573 22,905
Deferred membership origination costs 12,221 12,525
Deferred income taxes 4,345 9,850
Income tax receivable   3,013     5,022  
Total current assets 83,376 85,545
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net 1,755,264 1,740,434
RESTRICTED CASH 1,264 1,088
DEFERRED MEMBERSHIP ORIGINATION COSTS 8,168 8,131
GOODWILL 26,456 25,550
OTHER ASSETS   59,236     55,080  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,933,764   $ 1,915,828  
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 7,102 $ 6,849
Accounts payable 23,105 22,035
Construction accounts payable 24,816 21,892
Accrued expenses 58,187 56,284
Deferred revenue   40,268     33,898  
Total current liabilities 153,478 140,958
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion 643,374 679,449
DEFERRED RENT LIABILITY 20,351 19,370
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 100,382 100,582
DEFERRED REVENUE 8,221 8,203
OTHER LIABILITIES   10,147     9,793  
Total liabilities   935,953     958,355  
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock 857 849
Additional paid-in capital 455,861 441,813
Retained earnings 543,076 517,404
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,983 )   (2,593 )
Total shareholders' equity   997,811     957,473  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,933,764   $ 1,915,828  
 
LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
       
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2012 2011
REVENUE:
Membership dues $ 175,470 $ 158,013
Enrollment fees 3,954 5,201
In-center revenue   84,616     73,689  
Total center revenue 264,040 236,903
Other revenue   4,407     3,742  
Total revenue   268,447     240,645  
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Center operations 160,715 149,552
Advertising and marketing 10,356 8,563
General and administrative 13,703 12,651
Other operating 8,391 5,992
Depreciation and amortization   26,960     23,624  
Total operating expenses   220,125     200,382  
Income from operations   48,322     40,263  
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net (6,277 ) (5,504 )
Equity in earnings of affiliate   373     301  
Total other income (expense)   (5,904 )   (5,203 )
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 42,418 35,060
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES   16,746     14,224  
NET INCOME $ 25,672   $ 20,836  
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.62   $ 0.52  
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.62   $ 0.51  
 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC

  41,174     40,362  

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED

  41,675     40,949  
 
LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
    For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2012     2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $ 25,672 $ 20,836

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization 26,960 23,624
Deferred income taxes 5,360 741
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, net (2 ) 137
Amortization of deferred financing costs 503 587
Share-based compensation 3,878 3,308
Excess tax benefit related to share-based payment arrangements (8,118 ) (2,074 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities 19,789 13,196
Other   (139 )   (232 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   73,903     60,123  
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment (38,477 ) (38,363 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (6,578 ) (1,245 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 363 338
Proceeds from property insurance settlement 670 -
Increase in other assets (172 ) (22 )
Increase in restricted cash   (177 )   (47 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (44,371 )   (39,339 )
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of long-term borrowings (1,441 ) (2,184 )
Repayments of revolving credit facility, net (34,600 ) (22,200 )
Increase in deferred financing costs (10 ) -
Excess tax benefit related to share-based payment arrangements 8,118 2,074
Proceeds from stock option exercises 1,972 774
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 388 336
Stock purchased for employee stock purchase plan   (649 )   (547 )
Net cash used in financing activities   (26,222 )   (21,747 )
 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 3,310 (963 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of period   7,487     12,227  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period $ 10,797   $ 11,264  
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release and the related conference call disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures.

EBITDA. Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP disclosure consisting of net income plus interest expense, net, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of operating performance. The funds depicted by EBITDA are not necessarily available for discretionary use if they are reserved for particular capital purposes, to maintain compliance with debt covenants, to service debt or to pay taxes. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to EBITDA are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA:

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
       
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2012 2011
Net income $ 25,672 $ 20,836
Interest expense, net 6,277 5,504
Provision for income taxes 16,746 14,224
Depreciation and amortization   26,960   23,624
EBITDA $ 75,655 $ 64,188
 

Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure consisting of net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment, excluding acquisitions. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses free cash flow as a measure of cash generated after spending on property and equipment. Free cash flow should not be considered as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to free cash flow are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release. The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to free cash flow:

RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY
OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
       
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2012 2011
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 73,903 $ 60,123
Less: Purchases of property and equipment   (38,477 )   (38,363 )
Free cash flow $ 35,426   $ 21,760  
 

Non-GAAP Average Center Revenue Per Membership. Non-GAAP average center revenue per membership is a non-GAAP financial measure consisting of average center revenue per membership excluding the impact of the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction. The following table provides a reconciliation of average center revenue per membership, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to non-GAAP average center revenue per membership.

RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP
TO NON-GAAP AVERAGE CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP
(Unaudited)
         
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, Growth
2012 2011 Rate
Average center revenue per membership $ 386 $ 379 1.8 %
Impact of Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction   6   - -  
Non-GAAP average center revenue per membership $ 392 $ 379 3.5 %
 

Non-GAAP Average In-Center Revenue Per Membership. Non-GAAP average in-center revenue per membership is a non-GAAP financial measure consisting of average in-center revenue per membership excluding the impact of the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction. The following table provides a reconciliation of average in-center revenue per membership, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to non-GAAP average in-center revenue per membership.

RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE IN-CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP
TO NON-GAAP AVERAGE IN-CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP
(Unaudited)
         
For the Three Months Ended
March 31, Growth
2012 2011 Rate
Average in-center revenue per membership $ 124 $ 118 4.9 %
Impact of Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction   2   - -  
Non-GAAP average in-center revenue per membership $ 126 $ 118 7.0 %

Life Time Fitness, Inc.
Investor Contact:
John Heller, 952-229-7427
ir@lifetimefitness.com
Media Contact:
Jason Thunstrom, 952-229-7435
pr@lifetimefitness.com

Source: Life Time Fitness, Inc.