Papa Johns Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA)(“Papa Johns®”) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2024.

Highlights

• North America comparable sales(a) were down 6% from a year ago as Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 7% and North America franchised restaurants were down 5%; International comparable sales(a) were down 3% compared with the prior year period.
• 25 net restaurant openings in the third quarter; North America remains on track for more than 100 gross restaurant openings in fiscal year 2024, while International anticipated gross openings increases to between 170 and 190 restaurants.
• Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.19 billion, a 3%(b) decrease compared with the prior year third quarter, driven by lower comparable sales partially offset by trailing twelve month net restaurant growth.
• Total revenues of $507 million were down 3% compared with a year ago driven by lower International revenues resulting from the refranchising and closure of Company-owned restaurants and lower sales at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants.
• Operating income increased to $65 million compared with $32 million a year ago, while Adjusted operating income(c) decreased $4 million to $29 million primarily related to lower Domestic Company-owned restaurant-level margins, as anticipated, in the third quarter.
• Diluted earnings per common share of $1.27 compared with $0.48 for the third quarter of 2023; Adjusted diluted earnings per common share(c) was $0.43 compared with $0.53 for the third quarter a year ago.

“In my first few months at Papa Johns, I have been impressed with the disciplined execution of our teams. During the third quarter, we delivered earnings in line with our expectations in what continues to be a very challenging consumer environment,” said Todd Penegor, Papa Johns President and CEO.

“I joined Papa Johns because I could see the potential in this company. With our leadership team, we continue to evaluate the business and refine our key strategic initiatives. We are encouraged by the early progress we are making to improve our value perception along with our digital and loyalty experience. Reigniting our track record of innovation and prioritizing the customer experience and franchisee profitability, we’re confident Papa Johns can return to sustainable, profitable growth,” added Penegor. “We are excited about the opportunities ahead of us and look forward to sharing our progress with our investors and other key stakeholders.”

Financial Highlights

Results for the first nine months of 2024 are not directly comparable with the first nine months of 2023, as year-over-year comparisons are impacted by the UK franchisee acquisitions that occurred during the second and third quarters of 2023 and the UK restaurant closures and refranchising transactions in the second and third quarters of 2024.

Quarterly Results

Total revenues of $506.8 million decreased $16.0 million, or 3.1%, in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the prior year period. The lower revenues were largely attributable to: 1) a $9.9 million decrease in International revenues primarily reflecting the net impact of the UK Company-owned restaurants versus the prior year period; 2) an $8.5 million decrease in Domestic Company-owned restaurant sales reflecting lower transaction volumes; and, 3) a $4.8 million decrease related to Preferred Marketing, our formerly wholly-owned print and promotions company which was sold in the fourth quarter of 2023. Partially offsetting these declines was a $5.5 million increase in North America commissary revenues, reflecting higher commodity prices, partially offset by lower transaction volumes.

For the third quarter of 2024, Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.19 billion, down 3.0% from the prior year quarter (excluding the impact of foreign currency). The decrease was due to lower comparable sales, partially offset by 1.6% global net restaurant growth on a trailing twelve-month basis.

Third quarter Operating income was $65.2 million, a $33.4 million increase compared with the prior year third quarter, primarily due to $41.3 million of gains associated with the sale(b) of two Quality Control Center properties (“QC Centers”) in the current year third quarter. Adjusted operating income(a) was $29.3 million, a $4.3 million, or 12.9%, decrease from the same period a year ago. The variance between Operating income and Adjusted operating income was due to the aforementioned gains from the QC Center sales, $3.9 million of International restructuring costs in the UK, and a $1.5 million non-cash impairment charge primarily related to fixed and intangible assets from the refranchising of 15 Domestic restaurants.

The decrease in Adjusted operating income in the third quarter of 2024 was primarily due to anticipated lower operating margins at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants as the Company strategically reinvested some of its first-half savings into improving its value perception with consumers.

Diluted earnings per common share was $1.27 for the third quarter of 2024 compared with $0.48 in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share(a) was $0.43 for the third quarter of 2024 compared with $0.53 in the third quarter of 2023. These changes were driven by the same factors impacting Operating income and Adjusted operating income as discussed above. In addition, diluted earnings per common share and Adjusted diluted earnings per common share reflected lower interest expense and a higher effective tax rate compared with the third quarter of 2023. Interest expense decreased largely due to lower average outstanding debt compared with the prior year third quarter. The higher tax rate reflects the impairment charges related to the International Restructuring program as well as the shortfall from the vesting of long-term equity awards, resulting in an additional tax expense when compared with the prior year period.

See the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for additional information concerning our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2024.

Global Restaurant Sales Information

Global restaurant and comparable sales information for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2024, compared with the three and nine months ended September 24, 2023 are as follows (See “Supplemental Information and Financial Statements” below for related definitions):

Global Restaurants

As of September 29, 2024, there were 5,908 Papa Johns restaurants operating in 49 countries and territories, as follows:

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure which the Company defines as net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment, was $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2024, compared with $76.0 million in the prior year period. The year over year change primarily reflects unfavorable working capital changes and timing of cash payments for advertising and income taxes, partially offset by a $4.0 million decrease in capital expenditures.

We view free cash flow as an important financial measure because it is one factor that management uses in determining the amount of cash available for discretionary investment. Free cash flow is not a term defined by GAAP, and as a result, our measure of free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Free cash flow should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the Company’s performance than the Company’s GAAP measures.

Cash Dividend

The Company paid cash dividends of $15.2 million ($0.46 per common share) in the third quarter of 2024. On October 29, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.46 per common share. The dividend will be paid on November 29, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 18, 2024.

Conference Call

Papa Johns will host a call with analysts today, November 7, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call or webcast, please register online at: ir.papajohns.com/events-presentations. A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the call and archived on the same web page.

About Papa Johns

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened its doors in 1984 with one goal in mind: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® Papa Johns believes that using high-quality ingredients leads to superior quality pizzas. Its original dough is made of only six ingredients and is fresh, never frozen. Papa Johns tops its pizzas with real cheese made from mozzarella, pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes that go from vine to can in the same day and meat free of fillers. It was the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of artificial flavors and synthetic colors from its entire food menu. Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and Louisville, Ky. and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with more than 5,900 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. For more information about the Company or to order pizza online, visit www.papajohns.com or download the Papa Johns mobile app for iOS or Android.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release and other Company communications that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook”, “plan,” “project,” or similar words identify forward-looking statements that we intend to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include or may relate to projections or guidance concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, earnings per share, share repurchases, the current economic environment, commodity and labor costs, currency fluctuations, profit margins, supply chain operating margin, net unit growth, unit level performance, capital expenditures, restaurant and franchise development, restaurant acquisitions, restaurant closures, labor shortages, labor cost increases, changes in management, inflation, royalty relief, franchisee support and incentives, the effectiveness of our menu innovations and other business initiatives, investments in product and digital innovation, marketing efforts and investments, liquidity, compliance with debt covenants, impairments, strategic decisions and actions, changes to our national marketing fund, changes to our commissary model, dividends, effective tax rates, regulatory changes and impacts, investments in and repositioning of the UK market, International restructuring plans, timing and costs, International consumer demand, adoption of new accounting standards, and other financial and operational measures. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions which are based on currently available information. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to risks related to: deteriorating economic conditions in the U.S. and international markets, including the United Kingdom; labor shortages at Company and/or franchised restaurants and our quality control centers; increases in labor costs, changes in commodity costs, supply chain incentive-based rebates, or sustained higher other operating costs, including as a result of supply chain disruption, inflation or climate change; the potential for delayed new restaurant openings, both domestically and internationally, or lower net unit development due to changing circumstances outside of our control; the increased risk of phishing, ransomware and other cyber-attacks; risks and disruptions to the global economy and our business related to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and other international conflicts and risks related to a possible economic recession or downturn that could reduce consumer spending or demand. These and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements are discussed in detail in “Part I. Item 1A. – Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required by law.

For more information about the company, please visit www.papajohns.com.

Supplemental Information and Financial Statements

Definitions

“Comparable sales” represents sales for the same base of restaurants for the same fiscal periods. “Comparable sales growth (decline)” represents the change in year-over-year comparable sales. “Global system-wide restaurant sales” represents total restaurant sales for all Company-owned and franchised restaurants open during the comparable periods, and “Global system-wide restaurant sales growth (decline)” represents the change in global system-wide restaurant sales year-over-year. Comparable sales, Comparable sales growth (decline), Global system-wide restaurant sales and Global system-wide sales growth (decline) exclude franchisees for which we suspended corporate support.

We believe Domestic Company-owned, North America franchised, and International Comparable sales growth (decline) and Global system-wide restaurant sales information is useful in analyzing our results since our franchisees pay royalties and marketing fund contributions that are based on a percentage of franchise sales. Comparable sales and Global system-wide restaurant sales results for restaurants operating outside of the United States are reported on a constant dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency translation. Franchise sales also generate commissary revenue in the United States and in certain international markets. Comparable sales growth (decline) and Global system-wide restaurant sales information is also useful for comparison to industry trends and evaluating the strength of our brand. Management believes the presentation of Global system-wide restaurant sales growth, excluding the impact of foreign currency, provides investors with useful information regarding underlying sales trends and the impact of new unit growth without being impacted by swings in the external factor of foreign currency. Franchise restaurant sales are not included in the Company’s revenues.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP measures, which present results on an adjusted basis. These are supplemental measures of performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the following: Adjusted operating income, Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted earnings per common share. We believe that our non-GAAP financial measures enable investors to assess the operating performance of our business relative to our performance based on U.S. GAAP results and relative to other companies. We believe that the disclosure of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors as they reflect metrics that our management team and Board utilize to evaluate our operating performance, allocate resources and administer employee incentive plans. The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures to Adjusted operating income, Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted earnings per common share are Operating income, net income attributable to common shareholders and diluted earnings per common share, respectively. These non-GAAP measures should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the Company’s performance than the Company’s U.S. GAAP results. The table that follows reconciles our GAAP financial results to our non-GAAP financial measures.

Refer to footnotes on following page.

Footnotes to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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