Marriott International Earns $0.32 Per Share For The 2002 First Quarter

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Apr 18, 2002

Marriott International Earns $0.32 Per Share For The 2002 First Quarter

Marriott International Earns $0.32 Per Share For The 2002 First Quarter

WASHINGTON, April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR - news) today reported diluted earnings per share of 32 cents in its 2002 first quarter ended March 22, down 32 percent from the first quarter of 2001. Net income for the quarter was $82 million compared to $121 million a year ago. Systemwide sales totaled $4.6 billion, a decrease of four percent compared to the 2001 first quarter.

J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, said he was pleased that the company's 2002 first quarter performance came in ahead of expectations. "We are encouraged by the first quarter trends in occupancy. While the company's overall occupancy at comparable hotels in the U.S. declined nearly four percentage points, stronger than expected leisure and group business, especially at our Marriott, Hotels, Resorts and Suites hotels, helped offset the impact of continued soft business transient demand. Our efforts to keep our guests satisfied have proven successful as well. Even with discounting prevalent in the industry, our brands' REVPAR (revenue per available room) premiums have increased over our competitors during the past several months.

"Our results in controlling costs this quarter were truly outstanding. With U.S. REVPAR down 12.7 percent during the first quarter, the house profit margins at our hotels declined approximately 1 percent, reflecting the strength of our management team and the dedication of our associates.

"Room openings for 2002 are on track, with 7,000 new rooms opened in the first quarter. Interest in converting hotels to a Marriott brand has increased, reflecting owners' and franchisees' desire to have the best performing lodging brands in this challenging economic environment. For the year, we continue to expect to add between 25,000 and 30,000 hotel rooms to our worldwide lodging portfolio. At the end of the first quarter, the company's pipeline of properties either under construction or approved for development was approximately 55,000 rooms."

MARRIOTT LODGING reported a 31 percent decrease in operating profit and 7 percent sales decline in the 2002 first quarter. Results reflected weaker lodging demand and lower profits in the vacation timeshare business, partially offset by contributions from new properties worldwide.

Across Marriott's lodging brands, REVPAR for comparable U.S. properties declined by an average of 12.7 percent in the 2002 first quarter. Average room rates for these hotels decreased nearly 8 percent, while occupancy declined to 67 percent. Marriott's full service brands (including Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, The Ritz-Carlton, and Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites) experienced a REVPAR decline of 13.2 percent in the quarter, driven largely by an 8 percent decline in rate. Marriott's select service and extended stay brands (including Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and SpringHill Suites) posted a REVPAR decline of 12.0 percent in the first quarter of 2002, with declines in both rate and occupancy.

Results for international lodging operations reflected slightly better trends than in the United States in the 2002 first quarter, with REVPAR in constant U.S. dollars down only 7 percent and improved margins. Demand was particularly healthy in Hong Kong, China and Central Europe.

Marriott's timeshare business achieved an 11 percent increase in contract sales in the quarter. Sales growth was especially robust at timeshare resorts in Colorado, Hawaii, and California, but remained soft in Orlando. Profits for the quarter in the timeshare business declined 28 percent largely as a result of higher sales and marketing expenses.

The company has added 281 hotels and timeshare resorts (44,751 rooms) to its worldwide lodging portfolio over the past 12 months, while 16 properties (3,456 rooms) exited the system. A net total of 30 hotels and resorts (6,784 rooms) were added in the 2002 first quarter, including four Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites (1,208 rooms) and nine Courtyard hotels (1,752 rooms). At quarter-end, the Marriott lodging group encompassed 2,428 hotels and timeshare resorts (442,767 rooms).

MARRIOTT SENIOR LIVING SERVICES posted 9 percent sales growth in the quarter. The division produced $6 million in operating profit, a substantial improvement from $1 million a year ago, due to the continued maturation of communities and a $2 million one-time payment relating to the sale of the communities owned by Crestline Capital Corporation. Occupancy for comparable communities was 83 percent in the quarter, stable with a year ago. The company operates 156 facilities totaling 26,218 residential units.

MARRIOTT DISTRIBUTION SERVICES reported a 4 percent increase in sales in the 2002 first quarter. The division posted an operating loss of $6 million, primarily resulting from lower margins on existing business and reduced levels of Sodexho business. Results were also impacted by a $2 million (pre-tax) write-off relating to an investment in a customer contract. Marriott is continuing its strategic review of this business.

CORPORATE EXPENSES decreased 3 percent in the 2002 first quarter, benefiting substantially from cost containment plans implemented in 2001. Corporate expenses for the quarter also included a $5 million reserve related to the pending sale of a land parcel. Interest expense was down $3 million, reflecting lower average borrowings and lower interest rates. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter, net of cash reserves, was $2.2 billion, down slightly from $2.3 billion at year end. Interest income totaled $19 million for the quarter, up $3 million from a year ago, largely due to income associated with higher average loan balances and cash reserves.

The company's synthetic fuel investment began to produce results sooner than anticipated and posted an operating deficit of $6 million, pre-tax, for the first quarter of 2002. As a result of this investment, taxes declined by $8 million, resulting in almost $0.01 per share of earnings in the quarter. The company's effective income tax rate decreased to approximately 30.5 percent in the first quarter of 2002, compared to 36.5 percent in the 2001 first quarter.

During the 2002 first quarter, the company sold four hotels for approximately $100 million. The company ended the first quarter owning just six open hotels. Contingent liabilities at the end of the quarter remained essentially flat compared to year end 2001 levels.

Outlook

Given the strong margin performance in our lodging business, lower than anticipated average borrowings and corporate expenses, and higher than expected volumes from synthetic fuel, the company believes that earnings per share of $1.65 to $1.70 is achievable in 2002. This outlook assumes an average REVPAR decline of 2 to 3 percent and a house profit margin decline of approximately 1 to 2 percentage points. The following table provides updated quarterly earnings guidance for the remainder of 2002.

           2002                     Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share

    First Quarter Actual                         $.32
    Second Quarter Estimate                   $.41 to $.43
    Third Quarter Estimate                    $.41 to $.43
    Fourth Quarter Estimate                   $.51 to $.53
    Full Year 2002 Estimate                  $1.65 to $1.70

The company expects investment spending in 2002 to include approximately $50 million for maintenance spending and approximately $300 million for new company-developed hotels. We anticipate timeshare spending to total approximately $200 million. We expect to invest $300 million in equity slivers, mezzanine financing and mortgage loans for hotels developed by our partners.

We invite individual investors and members of the news media to listen to our first quarter earnings conference call on April 18 at 10 a.m. ET on the Internet. Go to web page http://www.marriott.com/investor and click on "recent investor news." A recording of the call will be available by telephone until April 25, 2002 at 8:00 p.m. ET by calling (719) 457-0820, reservation number 459717.

Note: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including REVPAR, profit margin and earning trends; statements concerning the number of lodging properties expected to be added in future years; expected investment spending; anticipated results from synthetic fuel operations; and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the duration and severity of the current economic slowdown and the pace of the lodging industry's recovery from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms, vacation ownership intervals, corporate housing and senior living accommodations; competitive conditions in the lodging, senior living and food service distribution industries; relationships with clients and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance growth, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. These statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR - news), a leading worldwide hospitality company celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2002, has nearly 2,600 operating units in the United States and 64 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution and synthetic fuel. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 142,500 employees. In fiscal year 2001, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $20 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com.

                         MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                             Financial Highlights

    12 Weeks Ended                                  March 22, 2002
    (in millions, except per share amounts)

                                    Senior
                                    Living Distribution Synthetic
    Sales                 Lodging  Services  Services     Fuel  Total

    Management and
     franchise fees         $168      $8        $--       $--    $176
    Other                    373      82        376         5     836
                            ----     ----      ----       ----   ----
                             541      90        376         5   1,012
    Other revenues from
     managed and
     franchised properties 1,262      90         --        --   1,352
                           -----    -----      -----      ----- -----
                           1,803     180        376         5   2,364
                           -----    -----      -----      ----- -----

    Operating costs and expenses

    Operating costs          388      84        382        11     865
    Other costs from
     managed and
     franchised properties 1,262      90         --        --   1,352
                           -----    -----      -----     -----  -----
                           1,650     174        382        11   2,217
                          ------    -----      -----     ----- ------

    Operating profit (loss)
     before corporate
     expenses and interest  $153      $6        $(6)      $(6)    147
                           =====    =====      =====     =====

    Corporate expenses                                            (29)
    Interest expense                                              (19)
    Interest income                                                19
                                                                ------
    Income before income taxes                                    118

    Provision for income taxes                                    (36)
                                                                ------
    Net income                                                    $82
                                                                ======
    Basic Earnings Per Share                                    $0.34
                                                                ======
    Diluted Earnings Per Share                                  $0.32
                                                                ======
    Diluted Shares                                              254.3



    12 Weeks Ended                               March 23, 2001
    (in millions, except per share amounts)

                                    Senior
                                    Living Distribution Synthetic      Better/
    Sales                 Lodging  Services  Services     Fuel  Total  (Worse)

    Management and
     franchise fees         $196      $8        $--       $--    $204
    Other                    405      76        361        --     842
                           -----    -----      -----     -----  -----
                             601      84        361        --   1,046
    Other revenues from
     managed and
     franchised properties 1,334      81         --        --   1,415
                           -----    -----      -----     -----  -----
                           1,935     165        361        --   2,461      -4%
                           -----    -----      -----     -----  -----

    Operating costs and expenses

    Operating costs          378      83        359        --     820

    Other costs from
     managed and franchised
     properties            1,334      81         --        --   1,415
                           -----    -----     -----       ----  -----
                           1,712     164        359        --   2,235       1%
                           -----    -----     -----       ----  -----

    Operating profit (loss)
     before corporate
     expenses and interest  $223      $1         $2       $--     226     -35%
                           =====    =====      =====      ====

    Corporate expenses                                            (30)
    Interest expense                                              (22)
    Interest income                                                16
                                                                 -----

    Income before income taxes                                    190     -38%

    Provision for income taxes                                    (69)
                                                                 -----

    Net income                                                   $121     -32%
                                                                ======

    Basic Earnings Per Share                                    $0.50     -32%
                                                                ======
    Diluted Earnings Per Share                                  $0.47     -32%
                                                                ======

    Diluted Shares                                              257.6


                         MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                           Business Segment Results
                              2002 First Quarter

                                                    Twelve weeks ended
    ($ in millions)                          March 22, 2002    March 23, 2001

    Sales

       Full-Service                              $1,221            $1,349
       Select-Service                               207               213
       Timeshare                                    254               234
       Extended-Stay                                121               139
                                                 -------           -------
       Total Lodging                              1,803             1,935
       Senior Living Services                       180               165
       Distribution Services                        376               361
       Synthetic Fuel                                 5                --
                                                 -------           -------
                                                 $2,364            $2,461
                                                 =======           =======

    Operating profit (loss) before
     corporate expenses and interest

       Full-Service                                 $86              $117
       Select-Service                                28                44
       Timeshare                                     31                43
       Extended-Stay                                  8                19
                                                  ------            ------
       Total Lodging                                153               223
       Senior Living Services                         6                 1
       Distribution Services                         (6)                2
       Synthetic Fuel                                (6)               --
                                                 -------            ------
                                                   $147              $226
                                                 =======            ======

                         MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                            Key Lodging Statistics

                                                 First Quarter


                                   REVPAR     Occupancy     Average Daily Rate
    Brand                          vs.2001   2002   vs.2001    2002   vs.2001

    Marriott Hotels,
     Resorts and Suites            -12.7%   69.4%  -3.5% pts. $142.25   -8.2%
    The Ritz-Carlton               -14.0%   67.1%  -1.9% pts. $248.86  -11.6%
    Renaissance Hotels,
     Resorts and Suites            -15.3%   64.5%  -5.7% pts. $134.70   -7.8%
    Domestic Composite -
     Full-Service (1)              -13.2%   68.5%  -3.8% pts. $147.39   -8.4%
    Residence Inn                  -15.6%   74.2%  -5.0% pts.  $99.38  -10.0%
    Courtyard                      -15.1%   65.8%  -7.2% pts.  $97.01   -5.8%
    Fairfield Inn                   -5.2%   60.9%  -2.4% pts.  $63.76   -1.4%
    TownePlace Suites               -5.8%   69.9%  +3.3% pts.  $62.67  -10.2%
    SpringHill Suites               -3.4%   67.7%  +1.6% pts.  $79.92   -5.7%
    Domestic Composite - Select-
     Service & Extended-Stay (2)   -12.0%   66.0%  -3.9% pts.  $83.49   -6.7%
    Domestic Composite - All (3)   -12.7%   67.2%  -3.8% pts. $113.43   -7.7%

    Note: Statistics for above tables are based on comparable company-operated
          U.S. properties, except for Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, and
          SpringHill Suites, which data also include franchised units.

                                            Number of         Number of
                                            Properties       Rooms/Suites
                                           March vs.March  March   vs. March
    Brand                                   2002   2001     2002      2001
    Full-Service Lodging
      Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites    428    +27   159,320    +7,038
      The Ritz-Carlton                        46     +7    15,365    +2,119
      Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites 124    +11    45,130    +3,638
      Ramada International                   137    +75    19,890    +8,533
    Select-Service Lodging
      Courtyard                              562    +33    80,537    +5,488
      Fairfield Inn                          487    +40    46,748    +4,388
      SpringHill Suites                       87    +22     9,975    +3,019
    Extended-Stay Lodging
      Residence Inn                          395    +33    46,698    +4,392
      TownePlace Suites                       99    +10    10,260    +1,186
      Marriott Executive Apartments           12     +3     2,068      +335
    Timeshare
      Marriott Vacation Club International    44     +1     6,287      +886
      Horizons                                 2     --       146        --
      The Ritz-Carlton Club                    4     +2       144       +74
      Marriott Grand Residence Club            1     +1       199      +199
                                          -----------------------------------
    Total                                  2,428   +265   442,767   +41,295
                                          ===================================

    (1) Full-service composite statistics include domestic managed comparable
        properties for the Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, Renaissance
        Hotels, Resorts and Suites and The Ritz-Carlton brands.  Statistics
        exclude non-U.S. properties.
    (2) Select-Service and Extended-Stay composite statistics include domestic
        managed comparable properties for the Courtyard, and Residence Inn
        brands, and domestic managed and franchised comparable properties for
        the TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites brands.
        Statistics exclude non-U.S. properties.
    (3) Composite statistics include domestic managed comparable properties
        for the Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, Renaissance Hotels,
        Resorts and Suites, The Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, and Residence Inn
        brands, and domestic managed and franchised comparable properties for
        the TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites brands.
        Statistics exclude non-U.S. properties.