Development Pipeline for New Drive-Ins Continues to Build
OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC), the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2017.
Key highlights of the company's third quarter of fiscal year 2017 included:
"Our third quarter results reflect the expected improvement in underlying sales and store profit versus the first half of the fiscal year, driven by a more balanced promotional calendar, including a reinvigorated SONIC Summer Nights promotion featuring our Real Ice Cream Slush," said Cliff Hudson, Sonic Corp. CEO. "Despite continued sluggish traffic, we are working to improve same-store sales this summer and beyond, with new product news, targeted value and quality customer service.
"Our unit growth, capital structure and technology initiatives are on track," continued Hudson. "During the quarter, we continued to build our development pipeline with new and existing franchisee groups, we successfully released our redesigned mobile app that is fully integrated with our POPS network and we repurchased 1.2 million shares of our stock, bringing total shares repurchased to 4.9 million fiscal year to date, representing 9.9% of shares outstanding. We have made significant strides in transitioning to a more highly-franchised business model and look forward to driving increased free cash flow over the next several years."
Same-Store Sales
For the third quarter ended May 31, 2017, system same-store sales decreased 1.2%, which was comprised of a 1.1% same-store sales decline at franchise drive-ins and a decline of 3.2% at company drive-ins.
Financial Overview
For the third fiscal quarter of 2017, the company's net income totaled $18.8 million or $0.44 per diluted share compared to net income of $15.4 million or $0.31 per diluted share in the same period of the prior year. Excluding the items outlined below, net income decreased 13% and net income per diluted share was flat.
The following analysis of non-GAAP adjustments is intended to supplement the presentation of the company's financial results in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that the presentation of this analysis provides useful information to investors and management regarding the underlying business trends and the performance of the company's ongoing operations and is helpful for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors in analyzing the financial results of the company and predicting future performance.
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For the first nine months of fiscal year 2017, net income totaled $42.8 million or $0.96 per diluted share compared with net income of $38.6 million or $0.77 per diluted share for the same period in 2016. Excluding the items outlined below, net income and net income per diluted share decreased 15% and 5%, respectively.
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Fiscal Year 2017 Outlook
While the macroeconomic environment may impact results, the company continues to expect adjusted earnings per share for fiscal year 2017 to decline 2% to 5% year over year. The outlook for fiscal 2017 anticipates the following elements:
Earnings Conference Call
The company will host a conference call to review financial results at 5:00 PM ET this evening. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 681-3375 or (719) 457-2601 for international callers. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 for international callers; the conference ID is 9328359. The replay will be available until Thursday, June 29, 2017. An online replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. A link to this event may be found on the company's investor relations website at http://ir.sonicdrivein.com/.
About Sonic
SONIC, America's Drive-In is the nation's largest drive-in restaurant chain serving approximately 3 million customers every day. Nearly 94 percent of SONIC's 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. For 64 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC's Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $8.4 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today's youth. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC's Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit Limeadesforlearning.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or underlying, these forward-looking statements are detailed in the company's annual and quarterly report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The tables that follow provide information regarding the number of company drive-ins, franchise drive-ins and system drive-ins in operation as of the end of the periods indicated. In addition, these tables provide information regarding franchise sales, system growth in sales, and both franchise and system average drive-in sales and change in same-store sales. System information includes both company and franchise drive-in information, which we believe is useful in analyzing the growth of our brand. While we do not record franchise drive-in sales as revenues, we believe this information is important in understanding our financial performance since we calculate and record franchise royalties based on a percentage of franchise sales. This information also is indicative of the financial health of our franchisees.
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SONC-F
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Note: Change in same-store sales based on restaurants open for a minimum of 15 months.
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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170622006100/en/
Sonic Corp.
Corey Horsch, 405-225-4800
Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer
Source: Sonic Corp.