Planet Fitness, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Results

HAMPTON, N.H - Feb. 22, 2018 // PRNewswire // - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and announced full year 2018 outlook.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights

Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

(1) Adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income to U.S. GAAP ("GAAP") net income see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" accompanying this release.

Christopher Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We completed our 11th consecutive year of positive system-wide same store sales growth with a fourth quarter gain of 11.6%, our largest quarterly percentage increase of 2017. Our business has continued to accelerate, which is a testament to the growing strength of our brand and the appeal of our affordable, non-intimidating fitness offering, especially with casual and first-time gym users. With the addition of 1.7 million net new members and a record 210 new store openings system-wide in 2017, we've continued to build on our leading market share position through effective national and local advertising programs and expanding our geographic footprint in new and existing markets. We begin the New Year with great brand momentum and numerous opportunities to further grow our business in the near and long-term, including significant store development opportunities, increased brand and marketing investments, and using technology to enhance member experiences."

Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2017

For the fourth quarter of 2017, total revenue increased $17.6 million or 15.1% to $134.0 million from $116.4 million in the prior year period. By segment:

System-wide same store sales increased 11.6%. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 11.9% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 5.6%.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, net income was $0.8 million and net income attributable to Planet Fitness Inc. was a loss of $3.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income of $21.9 million and net income attributable to Planet Fitness Inc. of $10.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share in the prior year period. Both amounts in 2017 include the net negative impact of approximately $17.2 million related to the remeasurement of the Company's deferred tax assets and tax benefit arrangements due to recent tax reform. Adjusted net income (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") increased 19.1% to $23.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, from $19.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 39.5% for the current and comparable prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased 16.0% to $51.2 million from $44.1 million in the prior year period.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Operating Results for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, total revenue increased $51.7 million or 13.7% to $429.9 million from $378.2 million in the prior year. By segment:

System-wide same store sales increased 10.2% from the prior year. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 10.5% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 4.9% from the prior year.

For full year fiscal 2017, net income was $55.6 million and net income attributable to Planet Fitness Inc. was $33.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, compared to net income of $71.2 million and net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of $21.5 million, or $0.50 per diluted share in the prior year. Both amounts in 2017 include the net negative impact of approximately $17.2 million related to the remeasurement of the Company's deferred tax assets and tax benefit arrangements due to recent tax reform. Adjusted net income (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") increased 21.8% to $82.3 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, from $67.6 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, in the prior year. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 39.5% for the current year and comparable prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") increased $34.1 million or 22.7% to $184.7 million in 2017 from $150.6 million in the prior year.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Share Repurchase Program

The Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase of $80 million to its current $20 million share repurchase program, bringing the total authorized amount available for repurchase to $100 million. The timing of the purchases and the amount of stock repurchased is subject to the Company's discretion and will depend on market and business conditions, the Company's general working capital needs, stock price, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Our ability to repurchase shares at any particular time is also subject to continued compliance with the terms of our credit agreement. Purchases may be effected through one or more open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, transactions structured through investment banking institutions, or a combination of the foregoing. Planet Fitness is not obligated under the program to acquire any particular amount of stock and can suspend or terminate the program at any time.

2018 Outlook

For the year ending December 31, 2018, the Company expects:

Presentation of Financial Measures

Planet Fitness, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in March 2015 for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering (the "IPO") and related recapitalization transactions that occurred in August 2015, and in order to carry on the business of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC ("Pla-Fit Holdings") and its subsidiaries. As the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings, the Company operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, and through Pla-Fit Holdings, conducts its business. As a result, the Company consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings' financial results and reports a non-controlling interest related to the portion of Pla-Fit Holdings not owned by the Company. The financial results in periods prior to the IPO and related recapitalization transactions are of Pla-Fit Holdings, as the predecessor to the Company for accounting and reporting purposes. Accordingly, these historical results do not purport to reflect what the results of operations of the Company or Pla-Fit Holdings would have been had the IPO and related recapitalization transactions occurred prior to August 2015.

The financial information presented in this release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted to provide measures that we believe are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with, GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar amounts or other unusual or nonrecurring items. See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in our full-year outlook will differ from net income and net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP in ways similar to those described in the reconciliations at the end of this press release. We do not provide guidance for net income or net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP or a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2018. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on February 22, 2018 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.planetfitness.com via the "Investor Relations" link. The webcast will be archived on the website for one year.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.6 million members and more than 1,500 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Panama. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the Company's statements with respect to expected future performance presented under the heading "2018 Outlook," those attributed to the Company's Chief Executive Officer in this press release and other statements, estimates and projections that do not relate solely to historical facts.. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "expect," "goal," plan," "will," "strategy" and similar references to future periods, although not all forward-looking statements include these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties associated with competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain new members, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets domestically and internationally, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's views only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

For full wide spreadsheet, please go to: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planet-fitness-inc-announces-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2017-results-300603041.html

SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is an operator of fitness centers.

Learn More

Recent Franchise News

View More