Ryanair: Q3 Net Soars Above Estimates, Lifts Guidance, Shares Fly to New Highs

Ryanair reports Q3 net income rose 30% to €47.7 million ($61.7m), or 6.12 euro cents/share on a 33% increase in revenue to €492.8m driven by 19% growth in passenger travel to 10.3m and higher fare and baggage charges. The average net income estimate was €21m among nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Ryanair raised its full-year net profit guidance by 11% to €390m. An analyst at BGC Partners LP comments, "Ryanair always surprises and they've surprised again." Ryanair's deputy CEO says, "It's not an issue of anything other than supply and demand. What's driving the demand for our business is the fuel charges that are being levied unnecessarily (by other airlines)." Separately, Ryanair reports January passenger traffic increased 23% y-o-y to 3.13m. In intra-day trading in London, Ryanair's shares are up 6.4% to €11.95.

Sources: Earnings release and Jan. passenger data, Bloomberg
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Ryanair Holdings (RYAAY). Competitors: British Airways (BAB). ETFs: Europe 2001 HOLDRs (EKH)

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