FTAI Aviation Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results, Declares Dividend of $0.30 per Ordinary Share

Rhea-AI Summary

FTAI Aviation (NASDAQ: FTAI) reported first quarter 2024 results with a net income of $31,287 and declared a dividend of $0.30 per ordinary share. The company also declared dividends on its preferred shares. Business highlights include a Perpetual Power Program with LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and strong growth in Aerospace Products Adj. EBITDA. A conference call is scheduled for April 26, 2024.

Positive

• FTAI reported a net income of $31,287 for the first quarter of 2024.
• The Company declared a dividend of $0.30 per ordinary share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
• Dividends were also declared on the Company's preferred shares for the same quarter.
• FTAI Aviation entered into a Perpetual Power Program with LATAM Airlines Group S.A. covering over 60 engines.
• Aerospace Products Adj. EBITDA reached $70 million, showing strong growth compared to previous quarters.
• Management will host a conference call on April 26, 2024, at 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Examining the first quarter financial results of FTAI Aviation Ltd., what stands out is the significant jump in their Aerospace Products Adjusted EBITDA, showing a quarter over quarter increase of 28.7% and an even more impressive year-over-year surge of 156.7%. This indicates not only an improvement in operational efficiency but also effective cost management and possibly increased demand for their products. Furthermore, reporting a net income of $31,287 thousand with basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.31 in this quarter bodes well for shareholder value. Now, the declared dividends at $0.30 per ordinary share, while consistent with shareholder return strategies, should also be weighed against the company's growth opportunities and the need for reinvestment in their business.

Aviation Market Analyst

The entry into a Perpetual Power Program with LATAM Airlines Group signals strategic growth within FTAI Aviation's business model. By securing over 60 engine contracts, the company is not just expanding its revenue streams, but it also highlights the confidence one of South America's largest airline groups has in FTAI's services. This could potentially lead to long-term financial stability and forecasted growth, thus making the company an attractive proposition for investors looking for exposure in the aviation sector.

Investment Strategist

For a retail investor, the declared dividends for FTAI's various share classes suggest a potential income-generating investment. However, considering the fluctuating nature of the aviation industry, it's imperative to analyze not just the dividend yield but also the sustainability and potential growth of these dividends. The quarterly financial improvements and the strategic partnership with LATAM Airlines provide a somewhat optimistic outlook, but one must also consider broader market trends, such as fuel costs and regulatory changes, which could impact future earnings.

NEW YORK, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTAI Aviation Ltd. (NASDAQ: FTAI) (the “Company” or “FTAI”) today reported financial results for the first quarter 2024. The Company’s consolidated comparative financial statements and key performance measures are attached as an exhibit to this press release.

Financial Overview

(in thousands, except per share data)
Selected Financial Results	Q1’24
Net Income Attributable to Shareholders	$	31,287
Basic Earnings per Ordinary Share	$	0.31
Diluted Earnings per Ordinary Share	$	0.31
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	$	164,101

_______________________________
⁽¹⁾ For definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures, please refer to the exhibit to this press release.

First Quarter 2024 Dividends

On April 25, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a cash dividend on our ordinary shares of $0.30 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, payable on May 21, 2024 to the holders of record on May 10, 2024.

Additionally, on April 25, 2024, the Board declared cash dividends on its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series A Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred Shares”), Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred Shares”), Fixed-Rate Reset Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series C Preferred Shares”) and Fixed-Rate Reset Series D Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series D Preferred Shares”) of $0.51563, $0.50000, $0.51563 and $0.59375 per share, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, payable on June 14, 2024 to the holders of record on June 3, 2024.

Business Highlights

• FTAI Aviation Ltd. and LATAM Airlines Group S.A. enter into a Perpetual Power Program covering over 60 engines.
• Aerospace Products Adj. EBITDA reached $70 million, a 28.7% quarterly growth versus Q4 2023 and 156.7% growth vs Q1 2023. ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ For definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures, please refer to the exhibit to this press release.

Additional Information

For additional information that management believes to be useful for investors, please refer to the presentation posted on the Investor Center section of the Company’s website, https://www.ftaiaviation.com, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, when available on the Company’s website. Nothing on the Company’s website is included or incorporated by reference herein.

Conference Call

In addition, management will host a conference call on Friday, April 26, 2024 at 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by registering via the following link https://register.vevent.com/register/BId3fa86dd156541f2888a619e6966f685/. Once registered, participants will receive a dial-in and unique pin to access the call.

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at https://www.ftaiaviation.com/. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 11:30 A.M. on Friday, April 26, 2024 through 11:30 A.M. on Friday, May 3, 2024 on https://ir.ftaiaviation.com/news-events/presentations/.

The information contained on, or accessible through, any websites included in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and should not be considered a part of, this press release.

About FTAI Aviation Ltd.

FTAI owns and maintains commercial jet engines with a focus on CFM56 and V2500 engines. FTAI’s propriety portfolio of products, including The Module Factory and a joint venture to manufacture engine PMA, enables it to provide cost savings and flexibility to our airline, lessor, and maintenance, repair, and operations customer base. Additionally, FTAI owns and leases jet aircraft which often facilitates the acquisition of engines at attractive prices. FTAI invests in aviation assets and aerospace products that generate strong and stable cash flows with the potential for earnings growth and asset appreciation.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained and such differences may be material. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect such forward-looking statements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on the Company’s website (www.ftaiaviation.com). In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

For further information, please contact:

Alan Andreini
Investor Relations
FTAI Aviation Ltd.
(646) 734-9414
aandreini@fortress.com

Exhibit - Financial Statements

FTAI AVIATION LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Revenues
Lease income	$	53,161			$	55,978
Maintenance revenue		45,790				35,141
Asset sales revenue		38,607				108,691
Aerospace products revenue		189,057				85,113
Other revenue		79				7,795
Total revenues		326,694				292,718
Expenses
Cost of sales		142,804				145,670
Operating expenses		25,317				22,534
General and administrative		3,683				4,067
Acquisition and transaction expenses		6,179				3,262
Management fees and incentive allocation to affiliate		4,895				2,997
Depreciation and amortization		49,920				40,926
Asset impairment		962				1,220
Interest expense		47,707				39,292
Total expenses		281,467				259,968
Other (expense) income
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities		(667	)			(1,335	)
Other income		634				8
Total other expense		(33	)			(1,327	)
Income before income taxes		45,194				31,423
Provision for income taxes		5,572				2,026
Net income		39,622				29,397
Less: Dividends on preferred shares		8,335				6,791
Net income attributable to shareholders	$	31,287			$	22,606
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.31			$	0.23
Diluted	$	0.31			$	0.22
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		100,245,905				99,728,245
Diluted		100,960,065				100,974,100

FTAI AVIATION LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

			(Unaudited)
			March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents			$	65,224			$	90,756
Restricted cash				150				150
Accounts receivable, net				137,399				115,156
Leasing equipment, net				2,187,716				2,032,413
Property, plant, and equipment, net				44,114				45,175
Investments				22,055				22,722
Intangible assets, net				46,583				50,590
Goodwill				4,630				4,630
Inventory, net				345,470				316,637
Other assets				322,565				286,456
Total assets			$	3,175,906			$	2,964,685
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			$	139,250			$	112,907
Debt, net				2,693,754				2,517,343
Maintenance deposits				62,722				65,387
Security deposits				42,431				41,065
Other liabilities				60,143				52,100
Total liabilities			$	2,998,300			$	2,788,802
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Ordinary shares ($0.01 par value per share; 2,000,000,000 shares authorized; 100,245,905 and 100,245,905 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)			$	1,002			$	1,002
Preferred shares ($0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 15,920,000 and 15,920,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)				159				159
Additional paid in capital				218,074				255,973
Accumulated deficit				(42,163	)			(81,785	)
Shareholders' equity				177,072				175,349
Non-controlling interest in equity of consolidated subsidiaries				534				534
Total equity				177,606				175,883
Total liabilities and equity			$	3,175,906			$	2,964,685

FTAI AVIATION LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	39,622			$	29,397
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities		667				1,335
Gain on sale of leasing equipment, net		(58,061	)			(31,657	)
Security deposits and maintenance claims included in earnings		(2,437	)			(9,842	)
Equity-based compensation		510				108
Depreciation and amortization		49,920				40,926
Asset impairment		962				1,220
Change in deferred income taxes		4,548				1,692
Change in fair value of guarantees		(259	)			(1,769	)
Amortization of lease intangibles and incentives		9,202				7,844
Amortization of deferred financing costs		2,638				2,017
Provision for credit losses		—				475
Other		(259	)			(326	)
Change in:
Accounts receivable		(27,945	)			(14,840	)
Inventory		(6,877	)			6,984
Other assets		(1,845	)			(2,013	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(10,252	)			6,088
Management fees payable to affiliate		238				(386	)
Other liabilities		(717	)			1,444
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(345	)			38,697
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in unconsolidated entities		—				(19,500	)
Principal collections on finance leases		786				—
Principal collections on notes receivable		1,964				—
Acquisition of leasing equipment		(276,990	)			(127,513	)
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment		(1,312	)			(1,451	)
Acquisition of lease intangibles		862				(8,640	)
Purchase deposits for acquisitions		(25,535	)			(9,940	)
Proceeds from sale of leasing equipment		128,384				153,679
Proceeds for deposit on sale of aircraft and engine		2,098				1,042
Return of purchase deposits		530				—
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(169,213	)		$	(12,323	)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	$	210,000			$	145,000
Repayment of debt		(35,000	)			(220,000	)
Payment of deferred financing costs		(292	)			—
Receipt of security deposits		1,856				1,459
Return of security deposits		—				(65	)
Receipt of maintenance deposits		8,927				10,142
Release of maintenance deposits		(3,056	)			—
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net of underwriter's discount and issuance costs		—				61,729
Cash dividends - ordinary shares		(30,074	)			(29,919	)
Cash dividends - preferred shares		(8,335	)			(6,791	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$	144,026			$	(38,445	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		(25,532	)			(12,071	)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		90,906				53,065
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	65,374			$	40,994

Key Performance Measures

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as our key performance measure.

Adjusted EBITDA provides the CODM with the information necessary to assess operational performance, as well as make resource and allocation decisions. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) attributable to shareholders from continuing operations, adjusted (a) to exclude the impact of provision for income taxes, equity-based compensation expense, acquisition and transaction expenses, losses on the modification or extinguishment of debt and capital lease obligations, changes in fair value of non-hedge derivative instruments, asset impairment charges, incentive allocations, depreciation and amortization expense, dividends on preferred shares, and interest expense, (b) to include the impact of our pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities, and (c) to exclude the impact of equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities and the non-controlling share of Adjusted EBITDA.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income attributable to shareholders to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

	Three Months Ended March 31,								Change
(in thousands)		2024				2023
Net income attributable to shareholders	$	31,287			$	22,606			$	8,681
Add: Provision for income taxes		5,572				2,026				3,546
Add: Equity-based compensation expense		510				108				402
Add: Acquisition and transaction expenses		6,179				3,262				2,917
Add: Losses on the modification or extinguishment of debt and capital lease obligations		—				—				—
Add: Changes in fair value of non-hedge derivative instruments		—				—				—
Add: Asset impairment charges		962				1,220				(258	)
Add: Incentive allocations		4,308				2,942				1,366
Add: Depreciation and amortization expense (1)		59,122				48,770				10,352
Add: Interest expense and dividends on preferred shares		56,042				46,083				9,959
Add: Pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities (2)		(548	)			(696	)			148
Less: Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities		667				1,335				(668	)
Less: Non-controlling share of Adjusted EBITDA		—				—				—
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)	$	164,101			$	127,656			$	36,445

________________________________________________________

⁽¹⁾ Includes the following items for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023: (i) depreciation and amortization expense of $49,920 and $40,926, (ii) lease intangible amortization of $3,976 and $3,983 and (iii) amortization for lease incentives of $5,226 and $3,861, respectively.

⁽²⁾ Includes the following items for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023: (i) net loss of $667 and $1,335, (ii) depreciation and amortization expense of $119 and $400, and (iii) acquisition and transaction expenses of $0 and $239, respectively.

For a reconciliation of net income attributable to shareholders to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2023, refer to the appendix of the FTAI Aviation Ltd. Earnings Supplement for the period Q4’23.

FAQ

What was FTAI Aviation 's net income for the first quarter of 2024?

FTAI Aviation reported a net income of $31,287 for the first quarter of 2024.

How much dividend did FTAI declare per ordinary share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024?

FTAI declared a dividend of $0.30 per ordinary share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

What Business highlights were mentioned in the PR?

FTAI Aviation entered into a Perpetual Power Program with LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and showed strong growth in Aerospace Products Adj. EBITDA.

When is the conference call scheduled?

The conference call is scheduled for April 26, 2024, at 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time.