Southwest Airlines Reports 47th Consecutive Year Of Profitability

DALLAS, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its fourth quarter and annual 2019 results:

• Fourth quarter net income and earnings per diluted share of $514 million and $.98, respectively, which was reduced by profitsharing award of $97 million after-tax and $.18 per diluted share, in light of Boeing compensation
• Annual net income and earnings per diluted share of $2.3 billion and $4.27, respectively, which was reduced by profitsharing award of $97 million after-tax and $.18 per diluted share, in light of Boeing compensation
• Earnings per diluted share, excluding special items³, was also $4.27 and was an annual record, surpassing the prior record set in 2018 of $4.24, excluding special items
• Full year operating margin¹ of 13.2 percent and net margin² of 10.3 percent, on record operating revenues of $22.4 billion
• Full year operating cash flow of $4.0 billion, and record free cash flow³ of $3.4 billion
• Returned $2.4 billion to Shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends in 2019
• Annual return on invested capital (ROIC)³ pre-tax of 22.9 percent, or 17.8 percent on an after-tax basis
• During fourth quarter, reached confidential agreement with The Boeing Company (Boeing) on compensation related to estimated 2019 financial damages due to the March 13, 2019, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order to ground the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (MAX); substantially all of the compensation will be accounted for as a reduction in the cost basis of both owned MAX aircraft and future purchased MAX aircraft, which is expected to reduce depreciation expense in future years
• Accrued a record $667 million in profitsharing for Employees in 2019

Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our operational and financial performances in 2019 were truly remarkable considering an estimated $828 million reduction in operating income and the significant reduction in planned flights due to the MAX groundings. We currently have 34 MAX aircraft in our fleet, and at the beginning of last year, we expected to have 75 at the end of 2019, and another 38 deliveries in 2020. With the ongoing uncertainty regarding the timing of the MAX return to commercial service, we remained nimble and adjusted our 2019 plans, as necessary, without abandoning our long-term goals. Our financial strength and preparedness for unexpected challenges allowed for sustained high levels of profits, earnings per share, returns on capital, cash flows, and returns to Shareholders; continued capital investments and growth in California and Hawaii; and job security for our resilient Employees. Our People performed superbly and delivered industry-leading Customer Service⁴, record annual operating revenues, prudent cost control, our best operational performance in years, and our 47th consecutive year of profitability. Once again, Southwest was named to FORTUNE's 2020 list of World's Most Admired Companies. I am extremely grateful to our Employees for their extraordinary efforts, for which we have accrued a record $667 million in profitsharing in 2019, including a discretionary, special $124 million pre-tax contribution—authorized by the Southwest Board of Directors during fourth quarter 2019—in light of the Boeing compensation related to the 2019 MAX groundings.

"I am pleased with the Boeing agreement for 2019. But, we continue to incur financial damages in 2020, and we will continue discussions with Boeing regarding further compensation. No estimated settlement amounts relating to financial damages beyond 2019 have been factored into our 2020 outlook. We recently extended the MAX-related flight schedule adjustments through June 6, 2020. Based on recent guidance from Boeing estimating that the ungrounding of the MAX will be mid-2020, we will likely extend MAX-related flight schedule adjustments further to provide operational reliability and a dependable flight schedule for our Customers booking their summer travel. Upon a rescission of the FAA order to ground the MAX fleet, our priority will be to return our 34 grounded 737 MAX 8 aircraft to service in a safe and controlled manner, and we will be prepared to resume deliveries from Boeing on delayed aircraft orders. The FAA's timetables and directives will determine the timing of MAX return to service, and we offer no assurances that current estimations and timelines are correct.

"Annual 2019 unit revenues grew 3.7 percent, year-over-year, driven by a stable domestic economy and revenue environment, and another strong performance from our award-winning Rapid Rewards^® loyalty program. Our revenue management capabilities implemented in 2018 delivered significant revenue benefits, and helped mitigate passenger yield dilution from flight schedule changes due to the MAX groundings. Based on stable revenue trends, thus far, we expect another solid year-over-year unit revenue performance in first quarter 2020. Annual 2019 unit costs, excluding fuel and oil expense, special items³, and profitsharing expense, increased 7.7 percent, year-over-year, driven primarily by an estimated five point year-over-year negative impact due to the MAX groundings. The MAX groundings continue to pressure year-over-year unit costs; however, excluding these impacts, our 2019 unit cost performance was solid and under budget. Controlling costs is one of our top Company-wide priorities, despite the MAX groundings.

"Our network expansion plans were interrupted in 2019 due to the MAX groundings, and this continues in 2020. In particular, we made the difficult decision to close our operation at Newark Liberty International Airport and consolidate our New York City presence at New York LaGuardia Airport. I especially want to thank all of our former Newark Employees who performed magnificently. Still, we were able to launch Hawaii service in March 2019 and continued expanding throughout 2019 by trimming capacity in other parts of our network. The strong Customer response to our Hawaii service supports continued investment in 2020. In addition, we are focused on adding flights to further strengthen our presence in Baltimore, Denver, and Houston.

"We managed extraordinarily well in 2019 and ended the year with a strong balance sheet and healthy cash flows. While our 2020 financial results and year-over-year trends will continue to be significantly impacted by the MAX groundings, demand for air travel remains healthy, and we are well-hedged against rising fuel prices. We remain focused on delivering long-term, Customer-centric, revenue-generating initiatives and driving efficiencies throughout our Company to maintain our low-cost structure. We continue to invest in our People and our Company, in anticipation of the MAX ungrounding and a return to growth, as we have tremendous opportunities across our system. We remain confident that the MAX will return, and once it is cleared to fly, we will add aircraft and flights back into the schedule at a measured pace that we are comfortable with—operationally, commercially, and financially, and with safety top of mind."

Notable 2019 announcements and accomplishments include:

• Achieved 47th consecutive year of profitability
• Launched service to four Hawaii airports: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Kahului Airport on Maui, Lihue Airport on Kauai, and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole; from Oakland Metropolitan Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport, and Sacramento International Airport
• Announced intention to serve Hilo International Airport, on the Island of Hawaii, from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu beginning January 2020
• Announced intention to serve Kahului Airport on Maui and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu from San Diego International Airport beginning April 2020
• Announced intention to serve Cozumel International Airport beginning March 2020
• Received numerous awards and recognitions, including:
• Named to FORTUNE's list of World's Most Admired Companies; Southwest was ranked #11 (and just named to the 2020 list as #11 again)
• #1 Marketing Carrier in Customer Satisfaction per the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data⁴
• Highest ranking Low-Cost Carrier for Customer satisfaction for the third year in a row in the J.D. Power 2019 North America Satisfaction Study^SM
• Ranked #1 by J.D. Power for Customer Satisfaction with Airline Travel Websites
• Ranked #2 by The Points Guy as a Best Airlines for Family
• Named Program of the Year for Rapid Rewards Program and recognized for providing the Best Loyalty Credit Card, the Best Airline Redemption Ability, and the Best Customer Service by the Freddie Awards
• Ranked among the Best Airline Rewards Programs by U.S. News & World Report
• Recognized by Airlines Reporting Corp. as 2019 Airline of the Year
• Named one of Military Times Best for Vets: Employers 2019
• Recognized as a Best Employer in Forbes' 2019 list
• Named to Glassdoor's Best Places to Work list for the 11th consecutive year

Revenue Results and Outlook

The Company's fourth quarter 2019 total operating revenues increased 0.4 percent, year-over-year, to a fourth quarter record $5.7 billion, on 0.9 percent fewer available seat miles (ASMs, or capacity), year-over-year, due to the MAX groundings. Fourth quarter 2019 operating revenue per ASM (RASM, or unit revenues) increased 1.3 percent, year-over-year, driven primarily by another strong performance from our Rapid Rewards loyalty program, as well as a passenger revenue yield increase of 1.5 percent, offset slightly by a load factor decline of 0.4 points, to 83.1 percent. Fourth quarter 2019 RASM performed in line with Company expectations and benefited year-over-year by two to three points primarily due to the removal of MAX flights that resulted in lower fourth quarter 2019 capacity; however, this benefit was substantially offset by the negative year-over-year RASM effects from adjusting the Company's previously-published fourth quarter 2019 flight schedule. The Company's adjustments to remove the MAX aircraft from its fourth quarter 2019 flight schedule resulted in a uniform week-to-week schedule over the peak holiday period relative to fourth quarter 2018, which was necessary to produce the schedule with limited time and minimize disruption to Customers and the Company's operations. As a result, there was more year-over-year flying in off-peak periods and—due to the MAX groundings and the resulting fleet deficit—less year-over-year flying in peak periods than optimal.

Currently, passenger booking and revenue trends remain healthy, and the Company expects first quarter 2020 RASM to increase in the range of 3.5 to 5.5 percent, year-over-year. The Company's outlook for first quarter 2020 year-over-year RASM includes an estimated 1.5 point tailwind—approximately one point due to the negative impact to passenger bookings from the U.S. government shutdown during first quarter 2019 and approximately one-half point related to unscheduled maintenance disruptions and related flight cancellations during first quarter 2019. Additionally, first quarter 2020 year-over-year RASM is expected to benefit by approximately two points due to the removal of MAX flights, which will result in lower first quarter 2020 capacity.

Annual 2019 total operating revenues increased 2.1 percent, year-over-year, to a record $22.4 billion, on 1.6 percent fewer ASMs due to the MAX groundings. Annual 2019 RASM was a record 14.26 cents, and increased 3.7 percent, year-over-year, largely driven by a passenger revenue yield increase of 3.1 percent, year-over-year, as well as solid passenger demand. Approximately one point of the year-over-year unit revenue increase in annual 2019 results was driven by lower 2019 capacity as a result of the MAX groundings.

Cost Performance and Outlook

Fourth quarter 2019 total operating expenses increased 3.7 percent, year-over-year, to $5.1 billion. Total operating expenses per ASM (CASM, or unit costs) increased 4.6 percent, as compared with fourth quarter 2018.

Fourth quarter 2019 economic fuel costs³ were $2.09 per gallon, in line with the Company's expectations, and included $.04 per gallon in premium expense and no cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts, compared with $2.25 per gallon in fourth quarter 2018, which included $.06 per gallon in premium expense and $.06 per gallon in favorable cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts. Annual 2019 economic fuel costs were also $2.09 per gallon, a decrease of 5.0 percent, year-over-year. Both fourth quarter and annual 2019 ASMs per gallon, or fuel efficiency, decreased 0.8 percent, year-over-year, due primarily to the removal of the Company's most fuel-efficient aircraft from its schedule as of March 13, 2019, due to the MAX groundings. The Company estimates first quarter 2020 fuel efficiency will decrease in the range of 2.0 to 3.0 percent, year-over-year, as a result of the ongoing MAX groundings.

Based on the Company's existing fuel derivative contracts and market prices as of January 17, 2020, first quarter 2020 economic fuel costs are estimated to be in the range of $2.05 to $2.15 per gallon⁵, including $.05 per gallon in premium expense and $.01 per gallon in favorable cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts, compared with $2.05 per gallon in first quarter 2019, which included $.06 per gallon in premium expense and $.03 per gallon in favorable cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts. In addition, the Company expects annual 2020 economic fuel costs to be in the range of $2.00 to $2.10 per gallon⁵, including $.04 per gallon in premium expense and no estimated cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts, on a per gallon basis. As of January 17, 2020, the fair market value of the Company's fuel derivative contracts settling in first quarter 2020 was an asset of approximately $2 million and an asset of approximately $31 million for those settling over the remainder of 2020. In addition, the fair market value of fuel derivative contracts settling in 2021 and beyond was an asset of approximately $87 million. Additional information regarding the Company's fuel derivative contracts is included in the accompanying tables.

Excluding fuel and oil expense, fourth quarter 2019 operating expenses increased 7.2 percent, year-over-year. Fourth quarter 2019 profitsharing expense was $264 million, as compared with $141 million in fourth quarter 2018. The fourth quarter 2019 profitsharing accrual included a discretionary, special $124 million contribution in light of the Boeing compensation for the 2019 MAX groundings. Excluding fuel and oil expense and profitsharing expense, fourth quarter 2019 operating expenses increased 4.1 percent, year-over-year. Fourth quarter 2019 CASM, excluding fuel and oil expense and profitsharing expense, increased 5.0 percent, year-over-year, and performed in line with the Company's expectations. Prior to the MAX groundings, the Company expected fourth quarter 2019 CASM, excluding fuel and oil expense and profitsharing expense, to decrease approximately 2 percent, year-over-year. As expected, approximately six points of the year-over-year unit cost increase in fourth quarter 2019 was driven by lower fourth quarter 2019 capacity as a result of the MAX groundings, net of the year-over-year unit cost benefit driven by more flying in off-peak periods as a result of fourth quarter 2019 flight schedule adjustments. Additionally, as expected, approximately one point of the unit cost increase in fourth quarter 2019 was due to the shifting of maintenance and technology expenses from prior periods into fourth quarter 2019.

Based on current cost trends, the Company expects first quarter 2020 CASM, excluding fuel and oil expense and profitsharing expense, to increase in the range of 6.0 to 8.0 percent, year-over-year. This outlook includes an estimated seven point year-over-year unit cost headwind in first quarter 2020 driven by lower first quarter 2020 capacity as a result of the ongoing MAX groundings, which includes the impact of unabsorbed overhead that will be utilized upon the MAX return to service. It also includes one to two points of inflation primarily due to higher salaries, wages, and benefits; maintenance expense; and operating expenses related to investments in technology and facilities. This inflation was substantially offset by tailwinds in first quarter 2020 due to the non-recurring first quarter 2019 costs associated with the Company's ratified labor agreement with its Mechanics and costs associated with unscheduled maintenance disruptions and related flight cancellations.

Annual 2019 total operating expenses increased 3.8 percent to $19.5 billion, and increased 5.5 percent on a unit basis, both year-over-year. Excluding fuel and oil expense, special items³, and profitsharing expense, annual 2019 total operating expenses increased 6.1 percent, and increased 7.7 percent on a unit basis, both year-over-year. Approximately five points of the year-over-year unit cost increase in annual 2019 results was driven by lower 2019 capacity as a result of the MAX groundings.

Fourth Quarter and Annual Results

Fourth quarter 2019 net income was $514 million, or $.98 per diluted share, compared with fourth quarter 2018 net income of $654 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, and compared with the fourth quarter 2019 First Call consensus estimate of $1.09 per diluted share. Fourth quarter 2019 net income and earnings per diluted share was reduced by a $124 million (pre-tax) profitsharing award, or $97 million after-tax and $.18, respectively, in light of Boeing compensation.

The estimated operating income reductions from the MAX groundings for fourth quarter and annual 2019 were $313 million and $828 million, respectively.

Annual 2019 net income was $2.3 billion, or $4.27 per diluted share, compared with annual 2018 net income of $2.5 billion, or $4.29 per diluted share, and annual 2018 net income, excluding special items, of $2.4 billion, or $4.24 per diluted share. Annual 2019 net income and earnings per diluted share was reduced by a $124 million (pre-tax) profitsharing award, or $97 million after-tax and $.18, respectively, in light of Boeing compensation.

The Company's annual 2019 effective tax rate was 22.2 percent, and the Company estimates its first quarter and annual 2020 effective tax rates will be in the 23 to 24 percent range.

Liquidity and Capital Deployment

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $4.1 billion in cash and short-term investments and a fully available unsecured revolving credit line of $1.0 billion. Annual 2019 cash provided by operations was $4.0 billion. Annual 2019 capital expenditures were $1.0 billion. The Company received $400 million of supplier proceeds, which the Company considers an offset to its annual 2019 aircraft capital expenditures. Annual 2019 free cash flow was a record $3.4 billion. Boeing currently has 27 MAX 8 aircraft produced and in storage for the Company. Assuming these aircraft are delivered in 2020, the Company currently estimates its annual 2020 capital expenditures to be in the range of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion, including progress payments for future deliveries, and considering supplier proceeds to be received in 2020. These expected proceeds are included in Accounts and other receivables on the Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019, and the Company considers them to be a reduction to its annual 2020 aircraft capital expenditures. The Company repaid $615 million in debt and capital lease obligations during 2019, and expects to repay approximately $819 million in debt and capital lease obligations during 2020.

In fourth quarter 2019, the Company launched a new accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program by advancing $550 million to a third party financial institution in a privately negotiated transaction ("Fourth Quarter 2019 ASR Program"). The Company has received 9.1 million shares of common stock pursuant to the Fourth Quarter 2019 ASR Program, representing the vast majority of the shares expected to be repurchased under that ASR program. The Fourth Quarter 2019 ASR Program is scheduled to be completed no later than February 13, 2020. In 2019, the Company returned $2.4 billion to its Shareholders through the payment of $372 million in dividends and the repurchase of 34.9 million shares of common stock for a total of $2.0 billion, including the Fourth Quarter 2019 ASR Program, and now has $1.35 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization approved by its Board of Directors in May 2019.

Fleet and Capacity

The Company ended 2019 with 747 aircraft in its fleet, including 3 leased 737 MAX 8 aircraft delivered in 2019 prior to the MAX groundings. All 34 of the Company's 737 MAX 8 aircraft were grounded as of March 13, 2019, to comply with the FAA emergency order issued for all U.S. airlines to ground all MAX aircraft. The Company's 41 MAX aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2019, as of the time of the MAX groundings, have not been delivered, and Boeing is not currently manufacturing or delivering new MAX aircraft. As the Company previously communicated, 7 of its originally planned 18 retirements in 2019 were deferred to future years to cover a portion of the fleet deficit created by the MAX groundings. The Company retired 6 Boeing 737-700 aircraft in 2019, compared with its most recent plan to retire 11 total, with 5 retirements shifting to 2020.

Upon a rescission of the FAA order to ground the MAX fleet, the Company will work closely with Boeing and the FAA to safely reintroduce the 34 MAX 8 aircraft currently in its fleet and take delivery of the 27 MAX 8 aircraft currently produced and being held in storage by Boeing. Based on Boeing's recent guidance, the Company is currently including these 61 aircraft in its 2020 fleet planning assumptions. The Company also currently expects to retire 16 737-700 aircraft in 2020, including 5 retirements that shifted from 2019. Additional information regarding the Company's aircraft delivery schedule is included in the accompanying tables.

The Company's fourth quarter 2019 available seat miles decreased 0.9 percent, year-over-year. Annual 2019 available seat miles decreased 1.6 percent, year-over-year, which was significantly lower than the Company's original plan to grow capacity nearly 5 percent in 2019, due to the impact of the MAX groundings and resulting fleet deficit. Based on the Company's MAX-related flight schedule adjustments through June 6, 2020, the Company currently expects its first quarter 2020 year-over-year capacity to decrease in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Based on continued uncertainty regarding the MAX return to service that could materially impact current and future flight schedules, the Company is unable to provide annual 2020 available seat mile guidance at this time.

Regulatory approval of MAX return to service is subject to Boeing's ongoing work with the FAA, whose timetables and directives will determine the timing of MAX return to service. The Company offers no assurances that current estimations and timelines are correct. Any changes to current estimations could result in additional flight schedule adjustments and reductions beyond June 6, 2020, further delays in aircraft deliveries, and additional financial damages. The Company continues to plan for multiple MAX return to service scenarios.

Conference Call

The Company will discuss its fourth quarter and annual 2019 results on a conference call at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time today. To listen to a live broadcast of the conference call please go to www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com.

¹Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by operating revenues.
²Net margin is calculated as net income divided by operating revenues. 
³See Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for additional information on free cash flow, ROIC, and special items. In addition, information regarding special items, ROIC, and economic results is included in the accompanying reconciliation tables.
⁴Source: Air Travel Consumer Reports. Rankings based on the most recent complaints filed with the Department of Transportation (DOT) per 100,000 passengers served for January through November 2019. Southwest was 1st place in the DOT's Year-to-Date (YTD) Customer Service ranking among Operating and Marketing Carriers. An Operating Carrier can be an airline that only operates flights on behalf of another/larger carrier (i.e. Branded Codeshare Partner) or any airline that sells and flies under its own brand (a.k.a. Marketing Carrier).
⁵Based on the Company's existing fuel derivative contracts and market prices as of January 17, 2020, first quarter 2020 fuel costs per gallon on a GAAP and economic basis are both estimated to be in the $2.05 to $2.15 range, and annual 2020 fuel costs per gallon on a GAAP and economic basis are both estimated to be in the $2.00 to $2.10 range. See Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company's plans and expectations related to continued discussions with Boeing regarding further compensation related to the MAX groundings; (ii) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to MAX-related flight schedule adjustments; (iii) the Company's goals and strategies with respect to the reliability of the Company's operation and dependability of the Company's flight schedule, taking into account the MAX groundings; (iv) the Company's plans, expectations, and priorities in connection with the return of the MAX to service; (v) the Company's financial outlook, goals, expectations, and projected results of operations, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's projections; (vi) the Company's network and growth plans and expectations, including factors underlying the Company's expectations; (vii) the Company's capacity plans and expectations, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations; (viii) the Company's expectations with respect to fuel efficiency and fuel costs and the Company's related management of risk associated with changing jet fuel prices, including factors underlying the Company's expectations; (ix) the Company's expectations with respect to liquidity (including its plans for the repayment of debt and finance lease obligations) and anticipated capital expenditures, and the factors and assumptions underlying the Company's projections, in particular assumptions regarding the 737 MAX return to service; (x) the expected amount and timing of aircraft deliveries, including the factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations, in particular assumptions regarding the 737 MAX return to service; and (xi) the Company's fleet plans, including factors underlying the Company's expectations. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the Company's dependence on Boeing and the FAA with respect to the timing of the return of the 737 MAX to service and any related changes to the Company's operational and financial assumptions and decisions; (ii) the impact of governmental regulations and other actions, as well as consumer perception, on consumer behavior; (iii) the impact of economic conditions, actions of competitors (including, without limitation, pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, fears of terrorism or war, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (iv) the impact of fuel price changes, fuel price volatility, volatility of commodities used by the Company for hedging jet fuel, and any changes to the Company's fuel hedging strategies and positions, on the Company's business plans and results of operations; (v) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2019.

NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). These GAAP financial statements may include (i) unrealized noncash adjustments and reclassifications, which can be significant, as a result of accounting requirements and elections made under accounting pronouncements relating to derivative instruments and hedging and (ii) other charges and benefits the Company believes are unusual and/or infrequent in nature and thus may make comparisons to its prior or future performance difficult.

As a result, the Company also provides financial information in this release that was not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company provides supplemental non-GAAP financial information (also referred to as "excluding special items"), including results that it refers to as "economic," which the Company's management utilizes to evaluate its ongoing financial performance and the Company believes provides additional insight to investors as supplemental information to its GAAP results. The non-GAAP measures provided that relate to the Company's performance on an economic fuel cost basis include Fuel and oil expense, non-GAAP; Total operating expenses, non-GAAP; Operating expenses, non-GAAP, excluding Fuel and oil expense; Operating expenses, non-GAAP, excluding Fuel and oil expense and profitsharing; Operating income, non-GAAP; Net income, non-GAAP; Net income per share, diluted, non-GAAP; Adjusted operating income, non-GAAP; and Income tax rate, non-GAAP. The Company's economic Fuel and oil expense results differ from GAAP results in that they only include the actual cash settlements from fuel hedge contracts - all reflected within Fuel and oil expense in the period of settlement. Thus, Fuel and oil expense on an economic basis has historically been utilized by the Company, as well as some of the other airlines that utilize fuel hedging, as it reflects the Company's actual net cash outlays for fuel during the applicable period, inclusive of settled fuel derivative contracts. Any net premium costs paid related to option contracts that are designated as hedges are reflected as a component of Fuel and oil expense, for both GAAP and non-GAAP (including economic) purposes in the period of contract settlement. The Company believes these economic results provide further insight on the impact of the Company's fuel hedges on its operating performance and liquidity since they exclude the unrealized, noncash adjustments and reclassifications that are recorded in GAAP results in accordance with accounting guidance relating to derivative instruments, and they reflect all cash settlements related to fuel derivative contracts within Fuel and oil expense. This enables the Company's management, as well as investors and analysts, to consistently assess the Company's operating performance on a year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter basis after considering all efforts in place to manage fuel expense. However, because these measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations, and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, the aforementioned measures, as presented, may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Further information on (i) the Company's fuel hedging program, (ii) the requirements of accounting for derivative instruments, and (iii) the causes of hedge ineffectiveness and/or mark-to-market gains or losses from derivative instruments is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent filings.

The Company's GAAP results in the applicable periods may include other charges or benefits that are also deemed "special items" that the Company believes make its results difficult to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, or industry trends. Financial measures identified as non-GAAP (or as excluding special items) have been adjusted to exclude special items. For the periods presented, in addition to the items discussed above, special items include a gain recognized in first quarter 2018, associated with the sale of 39 owned Boeing 737-300 aircraft and a number of spare engines to a third party. These aircraft were previously retired as part of the Company's exit of its Boeing 737-300 fleet.

Because management believes special items can distort the trends associated with the Company's ongoing performance as an airline, the Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a supplemental presentation of results that exclude the impact of special items in order to enhance consistency and comparativeness with results in prior periods that do not include such items and as a basis for evaluating operating results in future periods. The following measures are often provided, excluding special items, and utilized by the Company's management, analysts, and investors to enhance comparability of year-over-year results, as well as to industry trends: Total operating expenses, non-GAAP; Operating expenses, non-GAAP, excluding Fuel and oil expense; Operating expenses, non-GAAP, excluding Fuel and oil expense and profitsharing; Operating income, non-GAAP; Net income, non-GAAP; Net income per share, diluted, non-GAAP; Adjusted operating income, non-GAAP; and Income tax rate, non-GAAP.

The Company has also provided free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes free cash flow is a meaningful measure because it demonstrates the Company's ability to service its debt, pay dividends, and make investments to enhance Shareholder value. Although free cash flow is commonly used as a measure of liquidity, definitions of free cash flow may differ; therefore, the Company is providing an explanation of its calculation for free cash flow. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated $3.4 billion in free cash flow, calculated as operating cash flows of $4.0 billion less capital expenditures of $1.0 billion plus supplier proceeds of $400 million.

The Company has also provided its calculation of return on invested capital, which is a measure of financial performance used by management to evaluate its investment returns on capital. Return on invested capital is not a substitute for financial results as reported in accordance with GAAP, and should not be utilized in place of such GAAP results. Although return on invested capital is not a measure defined by GAAP, it is calculated by the Company, in part, using non-GAAP financial measures. Those non-GAAP financial measures are utilized for the same reasons as those noted above for Net income, non-GAAP and Operating income, non-GAAP. The comparable GAAP measures include charges or benefits that are deemed "special items" that the Company believes make its results difficult to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, or industry trends, and the Company's profitability targets and estimates, both internally and externally, are based on non-GAAP results since in the vast majority of cases the "special items" cannot be reliably predicted or estimated. The Company believes non-GAAP return on invested capital is a meaningful measure because it quantifies the Company's effectiveness in generating returns relative to the capital it has invested in its business. Although return on invested capital is commonly used as a measure of capital efficiency, definitions of return on invested capital differ; therefore, the Company is providing an explanation of its calculation for non-GAAP return on invested capital in the accompanying reconciliation, in order to allow investors to compare and contrast its calculation to the calculations provided by other companies.

SW-QFS 

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.