Papa Johns Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA)(“Papa Johns®”) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2025.

Highlights

• North America comparable sales were down 3% from a year ago as Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 5% and North America franchised restaurants were down 2%; International comparable sales were up 3% compared with the prior year quarter.
• Opened 47 new restaurants systemwide, comprised of 18 restaurant openings in North America and 29 restaurant openings in International markets.
• Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.22 billion, a 1%(a) increase compared with the prior year first quarter, as higher International comparable sales and trailing twelve-month net restaurant growth were partially offset by lower North American comparable sales.
• Total revenues of $518 million were up 1% compared with the prior year quarter as higher Commissary and Advertising Funds revenues were partially offset by lower revenues at our Company-owned restaurants.
• Net income was $9 million compared with $15 million in the prior year first quarter and adjusted EBITDA(b) was $50 million compared with $61 million in the prior year quarter.
• Diluted earnings per common share was $0.27 compared with $0.44 in the prior year quarter; adjusted diluted earnings per common share(b) was $0.36 compared with $0.67 last year.

CEO Commentary

“We are pleased with our continued progress in the first quarter to advance our transformation as we execute against our five key priorities. Our strategic investments in marketing and technology are driving early momentum in the business, and customers are responding positively to our strengthened value proposition and enhanced digital and loyalty experiences, as evidenced by sequential improvement in comparable sales and transactions,” said Todd Penegor, President and CEO.

“First quarter results were in line with our expectations, and we are confident we have the right team and strategy to grow restaurant sales, generate sustainable profits throughout the system, and build long-term value for all of our stakeholders,” Penegor added.

Results for the first three months of 2025 are not directly comparable with the first three months of 2024, as year-over-year comparisons are impacted by the UK restaurant closures and refranchising transactions that occurred in the second and third quarters of 2024.

First Quarter 2025 Results

Revenue: Total revenues of $518.3 million increased $4.4 million, or 0.9%, in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the prior year period. The higher revenues were largely attributable to an $11.4 million increase in Commissary revenues, reflecting higher commodity prices during the quarter, partially offset by lower transaction volumes, and a $6.6 million increase in Advertising funds revenue, reflecting the 100 basis point increase to the National Marketing Fund contribution rate that began in the second quarter of 2024.

The above increases were partially offset by a $17.4 million decrease in Company-owned restaurant sales, largely attributable to a decline of $11.9 million in revenues from our International Company-owned restaurants, primarily related to lower revenues from our Company-owned restaurants in the UK, as 105 formerly Company-owned restaurants were previously refranchised or closed and a $5.4 million decline at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants primarily due to lower comparable sales.

System-wide sales: For the first quarter of 2025, Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.22 billion, up 1% compared with the prior year first quarter (growth rate excludes the impact of foreign currency), as higher International comparable sales and 2% global net restaurant growth on a trailing twelve-month basis were partially offset by lower North America comparable sales.

Net income: First quarter Net income was $9.3 million, a $5.6 million decrease compared with the prior year first quarter, as higher revenues were more than offset by higher G&A expenses related to incremental marketing and loyalty investments to support the Company’s brand positioning work and the Company’s biannual franchisee conference. In addition, Net income reflects lower interest expense primarily due to lower average interest rates during the quarter and lower tax expense compared with the first quarter of 2024, primarily driven by lower pre-tax income.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA(a) was $49.6 million, a $10.9 million decrease from the prior year first quarter. The decrease was primarily due to higher revenues more than offset by higher G&A expenses related to incremental marketing and loyalty investments to support the Company’s brand positioning work and the Company’s biannual franchisee conference, as referenced above.

Additionally, the variance between Net income and adjusted EBITDA was due to Non-GAAP adjustments of $4 million of stock-based compensation, $2 million of International restructuring costs in the UK, approximately $1 million of expenses related to natural disasters, and approximately $1 million of strategic initiative costs compared with the prior year quarter.

Earnings per share: Diluted earnings per common share was $0.27 for the first quarter of 2025 compared with $0.44 in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share(a) was $0.36 for the first quarter of 2025 compared with $0.67 in the first quarter of 2024. These changes were driven by the same factors impacting Net income and adjusted EBITDA(a) as discussed above.

Refer to 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 months ended March 30, 2025.

2025 Outlook

The Company is reiterating its 2025 annual guidance for the following metrics:

• System-wide sales: up 2% to 5%
• North America comparable sales: Flat to up 2%
• International comparable sales: Flat to up 2%
• Restaurant development:
  • North America: 85 to 115 gross openings
  • International: 180 to 200 gross openings
• Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below): $200 million to $220 million
• Depreciation & amortization: $70 million to $75 million
• Interest expense: $40 million to $45 million
• Tax rate: 28% to 32%
• Capital expenditures: $75 million to $85 million

Adjusted EBITDA represents Net income before Net interest expense, Income tax expense, Depreciation and amortization, Stock-based compensation expense, and other adjustments that vary from period to period in accordance with the Company’s Non-GAAP policy. The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure as it is widely used by analysts and investors to value the Company and its restaurants on a consistent basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not a term defined by GAAP, and is not intended to be a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flows from operating activities, as defined under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, our measure of adjusted EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

This release includes forward-looking projections for certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA. The Company excludes certain expenses and benefits from adjusted EBITDA that, due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of those expenses and benefits, the Company is unable to, without unreasonable effort or expense, provide a reconciliation to Net income of those projected measures.

Global Restaurant Sales Information

Global restaurant and comparable sales information for the three months ended March 30, 2025, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2024 are as follows (See “Supplemental Information and Financial Statements” below for related definitions):

Global Restaurants

As of March 30, 2025, there were 6,019 Papa Johns restaurants operating in 50 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 $19.1 million for the three months ended March 30, 2025, compared with an outflow of $1.1 million in the prior year period. The year over year change primarily reflects the timing of cash payments for the National Marketing Fund and improved working capital, along with a $0.8 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 first quarter of 2025. On May 1, 2025, our Board of Directors declared a second quarter dividend of $0.46 per common share. The dividend will be paid on May 30, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 19, 2025.

Conference Call

Papa Johns will host a call with analysts today, May 8, 2025, 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 6,000 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, depreciation and amortization, interest expenses, tax rates, system-wide sales, adjusted EBITDA, the current economic environment, industry trends, consumer behavior and preferences, 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, digital and technology 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, repositioning of the UK market, International restructuring plans, including timing of completion, expected benefits 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 U.S. and international markets; 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, increased tariffs, trade barriers, immigration policies, 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 U.S. and global economy and our business related to geopolitical conflicts including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East 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 29, 2024. 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.

Financial Statement Updates

The Company has implemented several financial statement changes to evolve and modernize our financial statements and footnotes to increase transparency and better reflect management’s key performance metrics. Financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 have been updated to conform with the current presentation to classify revenues and expenses based on the nature of the underlying activities without regard to operating segment. Please refer to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2024 and Company’s Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 30, 2025 for further information on segments.

Additionally, during the year ended December 29, 2024, the Company updated its internal cost allocation methodology to better reflect current levels of time and effort spent managing our different segments. These updates resulted in a higher allocation of previously unallocated corporate expenses to primarily the North America franchising and International segments. This update in methodology does not impact total reported expenses, and was implemented prospectively beginning with the year ended December 29, 2024. The comparative information has been recast.

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 EBITDA, 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 EBITDA, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and adjusted diluted earnings per common share are net 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 below reconciles our GAAP financial results to our non-GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Results to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Footnotes to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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