LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call reflects a strong financial performance with a 78.1% increase in operating income and a 14% growth in premium revenues. The Q&A session highlighted stable demand, positive currency impacts, and strategic fleet expansion. Despite an 8% net debt increase due to a dividend payout, liquidity and leverage metrics are strong. The refined guidance and strategic initiatives, including fleet modernization and premium service expansion, suggest a robust outlook. These factors, combined with a positive market environment, indicate a strong positive stock reaction.
Key Financial Performance
Net Promoter Score (NPS) 54 points, a 3-point increase versus 2024. This improvement is attributed to the culture of passionate, engaged employees and enhanced customer experience.
Organizational Health Index 83 points, placing LATAM Group in the top decile of the global benchmark for the first time. This reflects internal organizational improvements.
Passengers transported 87 million passengers for the year, including 23 million in the fourth quarter. This was supported by an 8.2% capacity increase for the year and 7.7% in the quarter, maintaining a healthy load factor of 84.4%.
Fleet size 371 aircraft by the end of 2025, a 7% increase versus 2024. This includes the addition of 26 aircraft during the year, enabling the launch of 22 new routes.
Adjusted operating margin 16.2% for the year, reflecting margin expansion driven by disciplined cost control and operational efficiency.
Adjusted EBITDAR $4.1 billion, a 30% year-over-year increase, supported by revenue growth and operational efficiency.
Net income $1.5 billion, a 50% increase compared to 2024. This growth highlights the group's ability to translate operational performance into bottom-line results.
Total revenues (4Q 2025) $4 billion, a 16.3% year-over-year increase. This growth was driven by a 20.3% rise in passenger segment revenues, offset by a 9.6% decline in cargo revenues due to a high comparison base in 2024.
Adjusted EBITDAR (4Q 2025) $1.1 billion, a 30.4% increase versus 4Q 2024, reflecting strong operational performance.
Adjusted operating income (4Q 2025) $661 million, a 42.7% year-over-year increase, driven by revenue growth and cost management.
Net income (4Q 2025) $484 million, a 78.1% increase compared to 4Q 2024, reflecting strong financial performance.
Passenger RASK Increased by 11.7% year-over-year, reflecting LATAM's ability to sustain its value proposition and capture customer preference in a healthy demand environment.
Passenger CASK ex-fuel $0.044 for the full year, a 7.9% increase year-over-year. This increase was offset by stronger improvement in unit revenue.
Premium revenues Accounted for 23% of passenger revenues, growing 14% year-over-year compared to a 12% growth in overall passenger revenues. This highlights the momentum in the premium segment.
Adjusted operating cash flow $3.3 billion for 2025, supported by strong operational and financial performance.
Liquidity $3.7 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting strong cash generation and disciplined financial management.
Adjusted net leverage 1.5x, below the maximum policy level of 2x, indicating a strong financial position.
Weighted average cost of debt Reduced from 10.7% in 2023 to 6.6% in 2025, reflecting refinancing efforts and improved debt profile.
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Operating Highlights
New Aircrafts: Received 26 aircrafts in 2025, including the first Boeing Dreamliner with GE engines, increasing the total fleet to 371 aircrafts, a 7% increase from 2024.
New Routes: Launched 22 new routes in 2025, 15 of which were international.
Premium Services: Introduced a renewed business class experience, signature check-in, and new lounges in Lima and Guarulhos. Announced future enhancements like Wi-Fi on wide-body fleet in 2026 and a new premium comfort cabin in 2027.
Passenger Growth: Transported over 87 million passengers in 2025, including 23 million in Q4, supported by an 8.2% capacity increase for the year.
Revenue Growth: Total revenues reached $4 billion in Q4 2025, a 16.3% year-over-year increase, driven by a 20.3% rise in passenger segment revenues.
International Expansion: 15 of the 22 new routes launched in 2025 were international, showcasing a focus on global connectivity.
Operational Efficiency: Maintained a healthy load factor of 84.4% for the year, with capacity growing by 8.2%.
Cost Management: Passenger CASK ex-fuel for the year was $0.044, within the updated guidance range, despite a 7.9% increase in unit cost offset by stronger unit revenue.
Financial Strength: Adjusted operating margin reached 16.2% for 2025, with adjusted EBITDAR at $4.1 billion and net income of $1.5 billion, a 50% increase from 2024.
Cash Generation: Generated $1.4 billion in cash after covering all business-related commitments, including $605 million in dividends and $585 million in share repurchases.
Debt Optimization: Reduced weighted average cost of debt from 10.7% in 2023 to 6.6% in 2025, with adjusted net leverage at 1.5x, below the maximum policy level of 2x.
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Risk or Challenges
Fuel and Currency Volatility: The company acknowledges the potential impact of fuel and currency volatility on its performance, which could affect operational costs and financial outcomes.
Cargo Revenue Decline: Cargo revenues declined by 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, attributed to a high comparison base from the previous year. This indicates potential challenges in maintaining consistent cargo revenue growth.
Increased Unit Costs: Unit costs excluding fuel increased, driven by currency appreciation and nonrecurring costs such as a special one-time bonus. This could pressure margins if not offset by revenue growth.
Load Factor Decline in International Segment: While international capacity and passenger volumes grew, the load factor slightly declined year-over-year, which could indicate challenges in optimizing capacity utilization.
Debt Management and Refinancing Risks: Although the company has improved its debt profile, there are potential risks associated with future refinancing and maintaining a low cost of debt.
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Guidance & Outlook
2026 Capacity Growth: Projected to grow between 8% and 10%, reflecting LATAM's focus on efficiency and disciplined execution.
2026 Adjusted Operating Margin: Expected to be between 15% and 17%, showcasing continued profitability and operational efficiency.
2026 Adjusted Levered Free Cash Flow: Forecasted to exceed $1.7 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2025, indicating strong liquidity generation.
2026 Liquidity: Expected to surpass $5 billion by the end of 2026, demonstrating financial strength and flexibility.
2026 Capital Allocation: Between $1 billion and $1.6 billion available for additional initiatives after CapEx investments and minimum dividend payments.
2026 CapEx Plan: Net of financing, approximately $1.7 billion, with investments in fleet renewal, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
2026 Aircraft Deliveries: 41 aircraft expected, including 3 wide-bodies and 12 Embraer E2s, supporting network expansion and operational efficiency.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Interim Dividends: In December 2025, LATAM distributed $400 million in interim dividends as part of its capital allocation strategy.
Total Dividends for 2025: LATAM distributed a total of $605 million in dividends for the year 2025.
Share Repurchase Programs: LATAM executed two share repurchase programs in 2025, totaling $585 million.
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Key Q&A
Q:Can you provide additional details on how yields are tracking across the regions and how the booking curve and demand environment are evolving?
A:Strong and stable demand was observed across all business areas. Domestic Chile was slower in late 2024 but recovered in early 2025. International segments grew the most, and the booking curve for early 2026 looks healthy with no concerns.
Q:How does a weaker dollar impact LATAM's performance, and is it overall better for the company?
A:A stronger local currency is more positive for LATAM as most domestic revenue is in local currency while costs are in dollars. For international markets, stronger local currencies increase purchasing power for outbound travel, making the net effect of a stronger currency positive.
Q:What is the CapEx outlook for 2026, and how many aircraft deliveries are expected?
A:CapEx for 2026 is $1.7 billion net of financing. LATAM expects to receive 41 aircraft, including 3 additional 787s and 12 Embraers in the last quarter. A significant portion of CapEx will be financed through sale-leasebacks and finance leases.
Q:Why did net debt come in at $5.9 billion, which was 8% above guidance?
A:The difference was due to the decision to distribute a $400 million dividend, which was not included in the initial guidance.
Q:When will the E2 aircraft be deployed, and what is the strategy for their allocation?
A:The first 12 E2 aircraft will be deployed in Brazil's domestic market, based out of hubs like Guarulhos, Brasilia, and Fortaleza. They will be used for new destinations and increased frequencies on certain routes.
Q:What are the structural and one-off cost impacts observed in the quarter, and how will costs evolve in 2026?
A:The quarter saw a 0.2% cost impact from a weaker dollar and another 0.2% from one-offs. There are no structural cost concerns for 2026, and LATAM has over 700 initiatives to improve efficiency. The guidance for 2026 remains aligned with trends.
Q:How should cargo yields evolve in 2026?
A:Cargo yields are expected to remain stable, with no significant issues in demand. Northbound traffic (exports) and southbound traffic (imports) may see a mix change due to currency appreciation, but no material changes are anticipated.
Q:What is the target for premium-related revenue in 2026, and how does LATAM view the FX and oil price environment?
A:LATAM does not disclose a specific target for premium revenue but expects it to grow faster than total revenue. The FX and oil price environment is favorable, and LATAM expects stable capacity and demand dynamics in 2026.
Q:What trends are observed in corporate demand, and how does LATAM view competition in the premium segment?
A:Corporate demand recovered 1.5 years ago and remains stable. LATAM has been gaining market share in the corporate segment. In the premium segment, LATAM focuses on both hardware and software (service quality) to maintain a competitive edge.
Q:What is the explanation for the $400 million dividend and its impact on net debt guidance?
A:The $400 million dividend was an advance on the minimum statutory dividend, paid in December instead of the following year. This advance was not included in the previous guidance, affecting the net debt figure.
Q:What is the currency breakdown of LATAM's debt?
A:Almost 100% of LATAM's debt is in U.S. dollars, with only one local bond worth approximately $160 million in local currency.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided providing specific targets for premium-related revenue growth in 2026 and did not disclose unit revenues for cargo operations, citing general trends instead. Additionally, responses on dividend distribution and net debt guidance lacked clarity, particularly regarding how future updates would be handled.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
America fleet
Boeing Dreamliner
Bottas conference
Conference name
Dreamliner GE
GE engine
Group asset
Group decile
Group year
Health Index
Index point
LATAM aircraft
LATAM design
LATAM dividend
LATAM strength
Net Promoter
Organizational Health
Promoter Score
Score point
ability line
ability load
achievement
affilities group
aircraft Boeing
aircraft end
allocation policy
asset culture
balance sheet
base moment
benchmark term
customer experience
group ability
increase group
model
people customer
LTM Transcript
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive2-4
The earnings call reflects a strong financial performance with a 78.1% increase in operating income and a 14% growth in premium revenues. The Q&A session highlighted stable demand, positive currency impacts, and strategic fleet expansion. Despite an 8% net debt increase due to a dividend payout, liquidity and leverage metrics are strong. The refined guidance and strategic initiatives, including fleet modernization and premium service expansion, suggest a robust outlook. These factors, combined with a positive market environment, indicate a strong positive stock reaction.
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive11-18
The earnings call reveals strong financial performance with a 17.3% increase in total revenues and a 26% rise in net income. Despite some regional demand softness, the company maintains a positive outlook with high single-digit ASK growth and fleet expansion plans. The Q&A section highlights concerns over potential regulatory changes in Brazil and a pilot strike in Chile, but these are offset by strong premium revenue growth and effective cost management. Overall, the positive financial metrics and strategic focus on growth and premium segments suggest a likely positive stock price movement.
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive11-8
The earnings call summary indicates strong financial performance with a 30% increase in net income, improved liquidity, and successful debt refinancing. The Q&A section reveals management's confidence in maintaining EBIT margins despite challenges like currency fluctuations and fuel price volatility. The lack of specifics on shareholder returns is a minor concern, but overall, the financial health and strategic positioning are positive. This suggests a likely stock price increase in the short term.
LTM Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this earnings call transcript come from?
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They are generated by a specialized financial-language model trained exclusively on 15+ years of earnings transcripts. The model extracts financial figures, guidance, and tone with 97%+ accuracy and is regularly validated against human analysts. The full raw transcript always remains available for verification.
