PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) today announced results for the three months ended June 30, 2019. Highlights include:

• Revenues increased 23% compared with second quarter 2018, to $533 million.
• Net income was $26 million for the second quarter, a 24% increase over the prior-year quarter; adjusted net income was $82 million, a 12% increase over the prior-year quarter.
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.27 and adjusted diluted EPS were $0.84.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 27% compared with the prior-year quarter, to $159 million.
• Global RevPAR increased 5% year-over-year in constant currency, and increased 40 basis points in constant currency and excluding our 2018 acquisitions and divestitures.
• U.S. RevPAR increased 5% year-over-year, and increased 30 basis points excluding our 2018 acquisitions and divestitures.
• System-wide rooms grew 3% year-over-year.
• Company updates its full-year 2019 outlook.

"We continued to deliver solid results in the second quarter, highlighted by continued organic expansion of our system size and significant growth in adjusted EBITDA," said Geoffrey A. Ballotti, chief executive officer. "We remain enthusiastic about our domestic and international growth prospects, driven by the strength of our brands and our award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program."

Revenues were $533 million, compared with $435 million in the second quarter of 2018. Results reflect $98 million of incremental revenues from La Quinta, which the Company acquired in May 2018. Excluding the impact from 2018 acquisitions and divestitures, revenues increased 1% in constant currency, primarily due to higher license, royalty and other fee revenues, partially offset by lower cost-reimbursement revenues as well as the timing of the Company's global franchisee conference, which was in April last year but will be in September this year.

Net income was $26 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to $21 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2018. 2019 results reflect $40 million of primarily non-cash after-tax expense due to the Company's intention to exit a legacy hotel-management arrangement that has been unprofitable for it. Prior-year results were impacted by the Company's spin-off and the acquisition of La Quinta and therefore included substantially higher interest, separation-related and transaction-related expenses.

Adjusted net income was $82 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, compared with $73 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2018. Second quarter earnings comparisons were impacted by the acquisition of La Quinta, higher interest expense and the timing of marketing expenses. Full reconciliations of GAAP results to our non-GAAP adjusted measures for all reported periods appear in the tables to this press release.

Second quarter adjusted EBITDA was $159 million, compared with $125 million in the second quarter of 2018. Management estimates that second quarter results reflect approximately $30 million of incremental adjusted EBITDA from La Quinta. Excluding the impact from 2018 acquisitions and divestitures, adjusted EBITDA increased 5% in constant currency primarily reflecting the growth in license, royalty and other fee revenues, partially offset by the timing of marketing expenses, which suppressed growth by $14 million, or thirteen percentage points. Consistent with the Company's expectations, second quarter adjusted EBITDA represented 26% of the Company's projected full-year adjusted EBITDA.

U.S. RevPAR and constant-currency global RevPAR increased a fraction of a point in second quarter 2019 compared to the prior-year period excluding our 2018 acquisitions and divestitures through their anniversary dates, as second quarter 2018 U.S. and global RevPAR benefited by approximately 150 and 80 basis points, respectively, from incremental post-hurricane demand.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company's hotel system consisted of approximately 9,200 properties and approximately 817,000 rooms, a 3% increase compared with the second quarter of 2018. The Company's development pipeline consisted of 1,400 hotels and approximately 188,000 rooms, a 10% year-over-year room increase. The Company also increased its pipeline sequentially by 4% compared to first quarter 2019. Approximately 55% of the Company's development pipeline is international and 74% is new construction.

Business Segment Discussion

The following discussion of second quarter operating results focuses on revenue and adjusted EBITDA for each of the Company's segments.

Hotel Franchising

Revenues increased 15% compared to second quarter 2018, including $36 million of incremental revenues from La Quinta. Excluding the impact from 2018 acquisitions and divestitures, revenues increased 3% in constant currency due to higher license, royalty and other fees, partially offset by the timing of the Company's global franchisee conference, which was in April last year but will be in September this year. Adjusted EBITDA grew 26% to $162 million, including an estimate of approximately $24 million of incremental adjusted EBITDA from the acquisition of La Quinta. Excluding the impact from 2018 acquisitions and divestitures, adjusted EBITDA grew 9% in constant currency reflecting the growth in revenues and the impact of reorganizing certain functions and related expenses into our Corporate segment as a result of our spin-off, partially offset by the timing of marketing expenses, which reduced adjusted EBITDA by $14 million.

Hotel Management

Revenues increased $55 million compared to the prior-year period, reflecting $62 million of incremental revenues from La Quinta (including $55 million of cost-reimbursement revenues). Excluding the impact from the acquisition of La Quinta, revenues declined $7 million primarily due to lower cost-reimbursement revenues, which have no impact on adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA increased $8 million compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting an estimated $6 million of incremental adjusted EBITDA from La Quinta.

Other Items

Share Repurchases and Dividends - The Company repurchased approximately 909,000 shares of its common stock for $50 million in the second quarter. The Company also paid common stock dividends of $28 million, or $0.29 per share, in the second quarter.

Hotel Management Contract Terminations - The Company expects to exit two unprofitable hotel-management arrangements that were initiated in 2012 and 2013. In conjunction with one arrangement that covers 22 hotels and 3,600 U.S. rooms, the Company's guaranty obligations have been exhausted. The Company expects that this will result in the arrangement, including the Company's ability to recapture out-of-pocket payments it had made to the hotels' owner, being terminated. The Company recorded a non-cash impairment expense of $45 million and a $9 million contract termination charge in the second quarter, which were primarily related to the anticipated loss of the recapture opportunity.

In order to terminate the other arrangement, which covers eight hotel properties and 2,500 U.S. rooms, the Company has signed a non-binding letter of intent to make payments representing a significant discount to its remaining potential guarantee exposure, which is currently approximately $70 million. The Company expects to record a contract termination expense in the third quarter related to these future payments.

With the termination of these two arrangements, the Company's future maximum annual hotel-management guaranty obligations will be reduced from $26 million to $5 million.

Outlook

The Company is updating its outlook for full-year 2019 as follows:

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The reduction in forecasted revenue relative to the Company's earlier outlook is almost entirely due to lower cost-reimbursement revenues, which have no impact on adjusted EBITDA. The forecast for Adjusted EBITDA reflects the substantial progress the Company has made in integrating La Quinta and favorable results at the Company's owned hotel in Puerto Rico, as well as a modestly softer RevPAR environment than the Company had anticipated. The forecast for adjusted diluted EPS assumes an effective tax rate of 26%, one percentage point lower than previously estimated. The Company is providing an outlook for EBITDA, net income and EPS only on a non-GAAP, adjusted basis because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the occurrence or amount of potential adjustments that may arise in the future.

Conference Call Information

Wyndham Hotels will hold a conference call with investors to discuss the Company's results and outlook on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Listeners can access the webcast live through the Company's website at www.investor.wyndhamhotels.com. The conference call may also be accessed by dialing 877 876-9174 and providing the passcode "Wyndham". Listeners are urged to call at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An archive of this webcast will be available on the website for approximately 90 days beginning at noon ET on July 25, 2019. A telephone replay will be available for approximately ten days beginning at noon ET on July 25, 2019 at 800 283-5758.

Presentation of Financial Information

Financial information discussed in this press release includes non-GAAP measures, which include or exclude certain items. These non-GAAP measures differ from reported GAAP results and are intended to illustrate what management believes are relevant period-over-period comparisons and are helpful to investors as an additional tool for further understanding and assessing the Company's ongoing operating performance. Exclusion of items in the Company's non-GAAP presentation should not be considered an inference that these items are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. Full reconciliations of GAAP results to the comparable non-GAAP measures for the reported periods appear in the financial tables section of this press release.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company, with approximately 9,200 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents.  Through its network of approximately 817,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection®, and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services, with more than 400 properties under management. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 77 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include those that convey management's expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Wyndham Hotels makes the statements and may be identified by words such as "will," "expect," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "goal," "future," "outlook," "guidance," "target," "estimate," "projection" and similar words or expressions, including the negative version of such words and expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Wyndham Hotels to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements related to Wyndham Hotels' current views and expectations with respect to its future performance and operations, including revenues, earnings, cash flow and other financial and operating measures, share repurchases and dividends.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, general economic conditions, the performance of financial and credit markets, the economic environment for the hospitality industry, operating risks associated with the hotel franchising and management businesses, the impact of war, terrorist activity or political strife, risks related to the acquisition and integration of La Quinta, risks related to our ability to obtain financing and the terms of such financing, risks related to the planned termination of certain hotel-management agreements (which may not be completed on the terms currently anticipated or at all), and the timing and amount of future share repurchases and dividends, as well as the risks described in Wyndham Hotels' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Wyndham Hotels undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

We believe free cash flow to be a useful operating performance measure to evaluate the ability of our operations to generate cash for uses other than capital expenditures and, after debt service and other obligations, our ability to grow our business through acquisitions, development advances and equity investments, as well as our ability to return cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. A limitation of using free cash flow versus the GAAP measures of net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used in investing activities and net cash provided by financing activities as a means for evaluating Wyndham Hotels is that free cash flow does not represent the total cash movement for the period as detailed in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

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