Papa John's Announces Third Quarter 2013 Results

Papa Johns
Published: November 6th, 2013

Earnings Guidance Increased; Two-for-One Stock Split Declared

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - November 6, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013.

Highlights

• Third quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.65 in 2013 compared to $0.55 in 2012, an increase of 18%
• System-wide comparable sales increases of 1.8% for North America and 8.1% for international during the quarter
• 2013 diluted earnings per share guidance increased to a range of $3.02 to $3.10
• 2013 guidance increased for North America comparable sales, international comparable sales, and worldwide net unit openings

"I'd like to congratulate our operators on yet another solid quarter," said Papa John's Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Schnatter. "Papa John's brand promise of delivering Better Ingredients, Better Pizza is resonating with customers around the world reflected by our strong international comp sales and unit growth. Having just initiated a regular cash dividend, today's announcement of a two-for-one stock split demonstrates our Company's sustained commitment to building value for our shareholders and our confidence in the fundamentals and growth potential of our business."

Third quarter 2013 revenues were $346.3 million, a 6.4% increase from third quarter 2012 revenues of $325.5 million. Third quarter 2013 net income was $14.3 million, compared to third quarter 2012 net income of $13.0 million. Third quarter 2013 diluted earnings per share were $0.65 compared to third quarter 2012 diluted earnings per share of $0.55.

Revenues were $1.05 billion for the nine months ended September 29, 2013, a 7.8% increase from revenues of $975.4 million for the same period in 2012. Net income was $50.7 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2013, compared to $44.3 million for the same period in 2012 ($50.2 million and $46.4 million, for the nine-month periods in 2013 and 2012, respectively, excluding the impact of the previously disclosed 2012 Incentive Contribution). Diluted earnings per share were $2.27 for the nine months ended September 29, 2013, compared to $1.84 for the same period in 2012 ($2.24 and $1.93, for the nine-month periods in 2013 and 2012, respectively, excluding the impact of the 2012 Incentive Contribution).

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Management believes global restaurant and comparable sales growth information, as defined in the table above, is useful in analyzing our results since our franchisees pay royalties that are based on a percentage of franchise sales. Franchise sales generate commissary revenue in the United States and in certain international markets. Global restaurant and comparable sales growth information is also useful in analyzing industry trends and the strength of our brand. Franchise restaurant sales are not included in company revenues.

Revenue and Operating Highlights

All revenues and operating highlights below are compared to the same period of the prior year and exclude the Incentive Contribution, unless otherwise noted.

Revenues

Consolidated revenues increased $20.8 million, or 6.4%, for the third quarter of 2013 and increased $75.8 million, or 7.8%, for the nine months endedSeptember 29, 2013. The increases in revenues were primarily due to the following:

• Domestic company-owned restaurant sales increased $9.4 million, or 6.5%, and $35.1 million, or 8.1%, for the three and nine months, respectively, primarily due to increases in comparable sales of 5.1% and 5.0%. The increase for the nine-month period was also due to the net acquisition of 50 restaurants in the Denver and Minneapolis markets from a franchisee in the second quarter of 2012.
• North America franchise royalty revenue increased approximately $600,000, or 3.4%, and $2.0 million, or 3.4%, for the three and nine months, respectively, primarily due to increases in net franchise units over the prior year and increases in comparable sales of 0.6% and 1.3%, partially offset by royalty incentives offered to franchisees for meeting certain sales targets. The increase for the nine-month period was partially offset by reduced royalties attributable to the company's net acquisition of the 50 restaurants noted above.
• Domestic commissary sales increased $5.4 million, or 4.1%, and $25.1 million, or 6.3%, for the three and nine months, respectively, primarily due to increases in sales volumes as well as increases in the prices of commodities.
• International revenues increased $4.4 million, or 24.2%, and $11.2 million, or 21.4%, for the three and nine months, respectively, primarily due to increases in the number of restaurants and increases in comparable sales of 8.1% and 7.7%, calculated on a constant dollar basis.

Operating Highlights

The table below summarizes income before income taxes on a reporting segment basis, excluding the Incentive Contribution:

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Third quarter 2013 income before income taxes increased approximately $400,000, or 1.9%, primarily due to the following:

• North America franchising increased primarily due to the increase in net restaurants and comparable sales, partially offset by royalty incentives offered to franchisees for meeting certain sales targets.
• International increased primarily due to the increase in net restaurants and comparable sales results and an improvement in our United Kingdom results, partially offset by higher operating losses in our company-owned China market.
• Unallocated corporate expenses decreased primarily due to lower settlement costs than originally estimated for the previously disclosed Agne text messaging class action lawsuit.

These increases were partially offset by the following decrease:

• Domestic commissaries decreased as higher distribution costs more than offset the incremental profits associated with higher sales. We manage commissary results on a full year basis and anticipate the 2013 full year pre-tax income margin will approximate the 2012 margin.

Domestic company-owned restaurants income before income taxes approximated the prior year as the incremental profits associated with higher comparable sales of 5.1% were offset by a lower gross margin.

The increase in income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 29, 2013 of $2.3 million, or 3.1%, was primarily due to the same reasons as the increases noted above for the three month period. In addition, All others increased primarily due to an improvement in our online operating results due to higher online sales volumes. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in income before income taxes at our domestic company-owned restaurants primarily due to higher commodity costs, somewhat offset by incremental profits associated with higher comparable sales of 5.0%.

The effective income tax rates were 30.0% and 31.9% for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, respectively, representing decreases of 3.7% and 1.9% from the prior year rates. The lower tax rates were due to various credits earned and the settlement or resolution of specific tax issues in 2013.

The company's free cash flow for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 was as follows (in thousands):

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We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities (from the consolidated statements of cash flows) less the purchase of property and equipment. We view free cash flow as an important measure because it is a 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.

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 Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information concerning our operating results and cash flow for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 29, 2013.

Global Restaurant Unit Data

At September 29, 2013, there were 4,296 Papa John's restaurants operating in all 50 states and in 35 countries, as follows:

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Our development pipeline as of September 29, 2013 included approximately 1,300 restaurants (250 units in North America and 1,050 units internationally), the majority of which are scheduled to open over the next six years.

Marketing Incentive Contribution

The following table reconciles our GAAP financial results to our results excluding the Incentive Contribution for the three and nine months endedSeptember 29, 2013 versus the same periods in 2012:

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The results shown in the table and elsewhere in this press release, which exclude the Incentive Contribution, are not measures defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). 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 GAAP results. Management believes presenting the financial information excluding the impact of the Incentive Contribution is important for purposes of comparison to prior year results. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP measures to allocate resources, and analyze trends and underlying operating performance. Annual cash bonuses, and certain long-term incentive programs for various levels of management, were based on financial measures that excluded the Incentive Contribution.

Share Repurchase Activity

The following table reflects our repurchases for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and subsequent repurchases through October 28, 2013 (in thousands):

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There were 22.1 million and 22.4 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, representing decreases of 6.9% and 7.2% over the prior year comparable periods. Diluted earnings per share increased $0.05 and $0.17 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 due to the reduction in shares outstanding resulting from the share repurchase program. Approximately 21.5 million actual shares of the company's common stock were outstanding as of September 29, 2013.

Regular Quarterly Dividend and Two-for-One Stock Split

As previously announced, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share; the dividend will be paid on November 22, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 11, 2013.

The Board of Directors also declared a two-for-one split of the company's outstanding shares of common stock, which will be effected in the form of a stock dividend. The stock dividend entitles each shareholder of record at the close of business on December 12, 2013 to receive one additional share for every outstanding share of common stock held on such record date. The stock dividend will be distributed on December 27, 2013.

2013 Guidance Update

The company provided the following 2013 guidance updates:

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Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled for November 6, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review our third quarter 2013 earnings results. The call can be accessed from the company's web page at www.papajohns.com in a listen-only mode, or dial 877-312-8816 (U.S. and Canada) or 253-237-1189 (international). The conference call will be available for replay, including by downloadable podcast, from the company's web site atwww.papajohns.com. The Conference ID is 63215634.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "will," "forecast," "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 may relate to projections or guidance concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, contingent liabilities, resolution of litigation, commodity costs, profit margins, unit growth, capital expenditures, 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. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• aggressive changes in pricing or other marketing or promotional strategies by competitors which may adversely affect sales; and new product and concept developments by food industry competitors;
• changes in consumer preferences and adverse general economic and political conditions, including increasing tax rates, and their resulting impact on consumer buying habits;
• the impact that product recalls, food quality or safety issues, and general public health concerns could have on our restaurants;
• failure to maintain our brand strength and quality reputation;
• the ability of the company and its franchisees to meet planned growth targets and to operate new and existing restaurants profitably;
• increases in or sustained high costs of food ingredients and other commodities;
• disruption of our supply chain or our commissary operations due to sole or limited source of suppliers or weather, drought, disease or other disruption beyond our control;
• increased risks associated with our international operations, including economic and political conditions in our international markets and difficulty in meeting planned sales targets and new store growth for our international operations;
• increased employee compensation, benefits, insurance, regulatory compliance and similar costs, including increased costs resulting from federal health care legislation;
• the credit performance of our franchise loan program;
• the impact of the resolution of current or future claims and litigation, and current or proposed legislation impacting our business;
• currency exchange or interest rates;
• failure to effectively execute succession planning, and our reliance on the services of our Founder and CEO who also serves as our brand spokesperson; and
• disruption of critical business or information technology systems, and risks associated with security breaches, including theft of company and customer information.

These and other risk factors are discussed in detail in "Part I. Item 1A. - Risk Factors" of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year endedDecember 30, 2012. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

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

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Contact:

Papa John's International, Inc.
Lance Tucker
502-261-4218
Chief Financial Officer

Source: Papa John's International, Inc. 

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