Corporacion Am Stock Price, News & Analysis

Corporación América Airports S.A. (NYSE: CAAP) is a foreign private issuer listed on the New York Stock Exchange that focuses on the acquisition, development and operation of airport concessions. According to the company’s disclosures, it operates 52 airports in six countries across Latin America and Europe, specifically in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy. These airports handle both passenger and cargo traffic, and CAAP’s activities place it within the broader transportation and warehousing sector, with a focus on scheduled passenger air transportation through its airport infrastructure.

Business model and revenue categories

Based on the company’s public information, Corporación América Airports generates revenue from several defined categories linked to its airport concessions. The firm’s revenue is categorized into Aeronautical Revenue, Non-Aeronautical Revenue, Commercial Revenue, Construction Service Revenue, and Other Revenue. Aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues are closely related to passenger and aircraft activity, while commercial revenues are described in detail in the company’s financial communications.

In its earnings materials, CAAP explains that commercial revenues arise principally from fees related to warehouse usage (including cargo storage, stowage and warehouse services and related international cargo services), services and retail stores, duty free shops, car parking facilities, catering, hangar services, food and beverage services, retail stores (including royalties collected from retailers’ revenue), and rent of space, advertising, fuel, airport counters, VIP lounges and other miscellaneous sources such as telecommunications, car rentals and passenger services. This mix illustrates how the company’s airports combine aeronautical activity with a range of commercial and service offerings.

Construction Service Revenue and the related costs are tied to investments and upgrades required under concession agreements. CAAP reports that, under the IFRIC 12 intangible asset model, expenditures associated with improvements to concession assets are treated as revenue-generating activities because they provide future benefits. The company notes that it contracts third parties through bidding processes to carry out such construction or improvement services, and that revenues for these services are recognized at cost plus a margin that it estimates, in its disclosures, at an average of 3.0% to 5.0%.

Geographic footprint and traffic profile

Corporación América Airports states that it operates airports in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy. Its traffic updates show that these airports handle domestic, international and transit passengers, as well as cargo volume and aircraft movements. The company regularly reports monthly and quarterly performance metrics, including total passenger traffic, domestic and international breakdowns, cargo volume and aircraft movements across its network.

In its public “About” section, CAAP notes that in 2024 it served 79.0 million passengers, a figure it compares with prior years in its news releases. The company also highlights that it no longer operates Natal airport in Brazil following a friendly termination process concluded in February 2024, and that statistics for that airport are only available up to February 18, 2024. These details illustrate how its concession portfolio can evolve over time.

Financial reporting and key metrics

As a foreign private issuer, Corporación América Airports files Form 20-F and multiple Form 6-K reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB, and its interim financial statements under IAS 34 “Interim Financial Reporting”. It also discloses that, commencing in the third quarter of 2018, it began applying hyperinflation accounting in Argentina under IAS 29 for its Argentine subsidiaries, an important consideration for understanding reported figures for that segment.

In its earnings releases, CAAP presents metrics such as Revenue excluding Construction Service (ex-IFRIC12), Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, as well as Adjusted EBITDA excluding Construction Service (Adjusted EBITDA ex-IFRIC12) and the corresponding margin. The company explicitly defines these non-IFRS measures and explains that they are not recognized under IFRS and should not be considered as alternatives to consolidated net income. It also discloses Net Debt, calculated by deducting cash and cash equivalents from total financial debt, and reports Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA as an indicator of leverage.

CAAP’s filings emphasize that figures presented “ex-IAS 29” for the Argentine segment are derived by dividing nominal Argentine pesos by the average foreign exchange rate for the period, and that these are provided for comparison with periods before IAS 29 came into effect. The company notes that its largest Argentine subsidiary, Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A. (AA2000), files its own financial statements with Argentine and Luxembourg authorities, and that there are differences between AA2000’s consolidated financial statements and the Argentine segment information included in CAAP’s consolidated financial statements.

Traffic updates and operational indicators

Corporación América Airports regularly publishes monthly passenger traffic reports via press releases and corresponding Form 6-K filings. These reports typically include year-on-year percentage variations in total passenger traffic, domestic and international passengers, transit passengers, cargo volume and aircraft movements, both for the month and year-to-date. They also provide commentary by country, describing how trends in Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Armenia contribute to overall performance.

The company’s disclosures show that traffic evolution is influenced by factors such as route additions or resumptions by airlines, changes in flight frequencies, seasonal travel patterns, security conditions in specific markets, infrastructure works (for example, runway closures for installation of new landing systems or repaving), and airline decisions regarding particular routes. These operational details are presented to help interpret short-term fluctuations in passenger and cargo metrics across CAAP’s network.

Concessions, investments and development

CAAP’s business is based on airport concession agreements. Under these agreements, the company invests in, upgrades and operates airport infrastructure, recognizing related construction services under IFRIC 12. Its public communications describe various capital expenditure and development programs at specific airports, such as expansions of duty free areas, VIP lounges and other facilities, as well as master plans and capex programs that require regulatory approvals in certain jurisdictions.

In addition to its existing concessions, the company also reports on new business development. For example, it has disclosed that a consortium formed by Corporación América Airports S.A. and Amwaj International for Real-Estate Investments Co. Ltd. signed an award agreement with the Government of Iraq to operate Baghdad International Airport, following an international tender process supervised by the International Finance Corporation. The award agreement provides a period to negotiate and enter into a PPP agreement, illustrating how CAAP pursues additional concession opportunities beyond its current six-country footprint.

Regulatory status and listing

Corporación América Airports S.A. is identified in SEC filings as a foreign private issuer that files under Form 20-F and submits current reports on Form 6-K. The company indicates that it is incorporated in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and provides its principal executive office city as Luxembourg. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CAAP”. The available filings and news do not include any indication of delisting, deregistration, bankruptcy or completed merger transactions, and instead show ongoing operational and financial reporting activity.

Position within the transportation sector

Within the transportation and warehousing sector, Corporación América Airports focuses on airport infrastructure rather than airline operations. Its role is to manage and develop airports under concession, handling passenger flows, cargo operations and a range of commercial activities within airport premises. The company’s regular traffic reports, financial disclosures and detailed definitions of revenue categories provide insight into how airport concessions can generate value through both aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities.

Frequently asked questions about Corporación América Airports (CAAP)

• What does Corporación América Airports S.A. do?
  

  Corporación América Airports S.A. acquires, develops and operates airport concessions. According to its public disclosures, it operates 52 airports in six countries across Latin America and Europe and generates revenue from aeronautical, non-aeronautical, commercial, construction service and other revenue categories.

• In which countries does CAAP operate airports?
  

  The company states that it operates airports in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy. These locations form its reported network of 52 airports.

• On which stock exchange is CAAP listed and under what ticker?
  

  Corporación América Airports is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where its shares trade under the ticker symbol “CAAP”, as indicated in its press releases and SEC filings.

• How does CAAP categorize its revenues?
  

  Based on the company’s descriptions, revenues are categorized into Aeronautical Revenue, Non-Aeronautical Revenue, Commercial Revenue, Construction Service Revenue and Other Revenue. Commercial revenues include fees from warehouse usage, duty free shops, car parking, catering, hangar services, food and beverage services, retail stores (including royalties), rent of space, advertising, fuel, airport counters, VIP lounges and other miscellaneous sources.

• What are Construction Service revenues for CAAP?
  

  Construction Service revenue and cost relate to investments in improvements and upgrades required by airport concession agreements. Under IFRIC 12, these expenditures are treated as revenue-generating activities and recognized as revenue and expense when performed, with revenues equal to the costs incurred plus a margin that the company estimates at an average of 3.0% to 5.0%.

• Which accounting standards does CAAP use for its financial statements?
  

  CAAP prepares its audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB and its interim financial statements in accordance with IAS 34 “Interim Financial Reporting”. It also applies IAS 29 hyperinflation accounting to its Argentine subsidiaries, as disclosed in its filings.

• What non-IFRS financial measures does CAAP report?
  

  The company reports non-IFRS measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA excluding Construction Service (Adjusted EBITDA ex-IFRIC) and Adjusted EBITDA Margin excluding Construction Service (Adjusted EBITDA Margin ex-IFRIC12), as well as Net Debt and Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA. It explains these measures and notes that they are not recognized under IFRS.

• Does Corporación América Airports still operate Natal airport in Brazil?
  

  In its traffic releases, CAAP states that following a friendly termination process concluded in February 2024, it no longer operates Natal airport. Statistics for Natal are available only up to February 18, 2024, and the company provides comparisons excluding Natal for certain metrics.

• What is AA2000 and how is it related to CAAP?
  

  Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A. (AA2000) is identified as CAAP’s subsidiary in Argentina. AA2000 files its own financial statements and reports with Argentine and Luxembourg authorities. CAAP notes that there are differences between AA2000’s consolidated financial statements and the Argentine segment information included in CAAP’s consolidated financial statements, due to factors such as AA2000’s transition date to IFRS and its reporting currency.

• Has CAAP pursued new airport concessions recently?
  

  Yes. The company has disclosed that a consortium formed by Corporación América Airports S.A. and Amwaj International for Real-Estate Investments Co. Ltd. signed an award agreement with the Government of Iraq to operate Baghdad International Airport, following an international tender process supervised by the International Finance Corporation.