SAN DIEGO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - November 20, 2019 - Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 29, 2019.
Increase in same-store sales:
Jack in the Box® system same-store sales increased 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter. Company same-store sales increased 3.5 percent, driven by average check growth of 2.8 percent and transaction growth of 0.7 percent.
Lenny Comma, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Our 2019 operating results demonstrate the momentum in the Jack in the Box brand, with same-store sales improving to the strongest performance in four years. We have now achieved our ninth consecutive year of positive same-store sales.
"We plan to build on these results by improving the guest experience through operations consistency and reducing wait times, serving indulgent food our guests crave, and targeting investments designed to maximize our returns. With our refranchising initiative complete, we have a renewed focus on expanding unit growth. We look forward to sharing additional details about these initiatives on tomorrow morning's earnings call."
Earnings from continuing operations were $22.0 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared with $18.3 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. In connection with the refinancing of the company's senior credit facility, the company terminated its existing interest rate swaps in the third quarter, resulting in a pre-tax charge of $23.6 million, and wrote off unamortized deferred financing fees related to this credit facility in the fourth quarter, resulting in a loss of approximately $2.8 million. These are reflected in interest expense, net, and collectively have an impact of $0.08 per diluted share in the fourth quarter and $0.64 for fiscal 2019 after the associated tax benefits. Fiscal 2019 earnings from continuing operations totaled $91.7 million, or $3.52 per diluted share, compared with $104.3 million, or $3.62 per diluted share in fiscal 2018.
Operating Earnings Per Share(1), a non-GAAP measure, were $0.95 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared with $0.77 in the prior year quarter. For fiscal year 2019, operating earnings per share were $4.35 compared with $3.79 last year. A reconciliation of non-GAAP Operating Earnings Per Share to GAAP results is provided below, with additional information included in the attachment to this release. Figures may not add due to rounding.
View Original for Full Data Table
In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the company entered into a definitive agreement to sell Qdoba Restaurant Corporation ("Qdoba"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, to certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC. The transaction closed on March 21, 2018, and operating results for Qdoba are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. However, the company did not allocate any general and administrative shared services expenses to discontinued operations prior to the sale.
Adjusted EBITDA(2), a non-GAAP measure, was $66.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared with $54.0 million for the prior year quarter. For fiscal year 2019, Adjusted EBITDA was $269.0 million, compared with $264.2 million in fiscal year 2018.
Restaurant-Level Margin(3), a non-GAAP measure, decreased 190 basis points to 24.2 percent of company restaurant sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from 26.1 percent a year ago. The decrease was due primarily to wage and commodity inflation. Food and packaging costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, increased 30 basis points in the quarter driven by higher ingredient costs, which were partially offset by menu price increases. Commodity costs increased 4.4 percent in the quarter as compared with the prior year.
Effective fiscal 2019, the company adopted the new U.S. GAAP revenue recognition standard (Topic 606) using the modified retrospective method, and therefore no prior periods have been restated. The new revenue standard resulted in an increase to franchise revenues and a corresponding increase to franchise expenses primarily related to the reclassification of marketing fees received from franchisees. In addition, certain amounts previously netted in general and administrative expenses are now reflected as franchise revenues and expenses. Although the prior year results have not been restated for the impact of this accounting change, a reconciliation to a recast statement of earnings is included within the "Supplemental Information" section of this release.
Franchise-Level Margin(3), a non-GAAP measure, as a percentage of total franchise revenues, was 41.1 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. This compared with 58.6 percent in the prior year quarter, or 41.3 percent using recast 2018 figures as though Topic 606 had been applied retrospectively to the prior year.
Also effective fiscal 2019, the company adopted the new U.S. GAAP pension standard (Topic 715) and began presenting certain pension cost components in Other pension and post-retirement expenses, net, in its consolidated statements of earnings. The prior year consolidated statement of earnings was adjusted to conform with this new presentation.
SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 decreased by $14.2 million and were 4.7 percent of revenues compared with 13.8 percent in the prior year quarter, or 10.4 percent using recast 2018 figures. Advertising costs, which are included in SG&A, were $4.0 million in the fourth quarter compared with $6.8 million in the prior year quarter. The $2.8 million decrease in advertising costs was due to an incremental contribution funded by the company in the prior year quarter. The $11.4 million decrease in G&A, which excludes advertising, was primarily driven by:
As a percentage of system-wide sales, G&A, which excludes advertising, was 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared with 2.2 percent in the 2018 quarter, or 2.0 percent using recast 2018 figures. Full-year G&A for fiscal 2019 was 1.6 percent of system-wide sales, compared with 2.2 percent for fiscal 2018, or 2.0 percent using recast 2018 figures.
Impairment and other charges, net, decreased $1.1 million in the fourth quarter. Restructuring charges, which are included in Impairment and other charges, net, in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings, decreased $4.1 million in the quarter. This decrease was partially offset by $3.5 million related to the write-off of development costs associated with a discontinued technology project.
Interest expense, net, increased by $6.3 million in the fourth quarter which was due in part to the $2.8 million write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees related to the refinancing of the company's senior credit facility. The remaining increase was primarily due to higher debt balances.
The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 was 27.4 percent, which was higher than 24.1 percent in the prior year quarter primarily due to the establishment of valuation reserves on state tax credits in the quarter. The full-year effective tax rate was 20.8 percent, or 23.8 percent excluding the impact of the termination of interest rate swaps in the third quarter and loss on debt extinguishment in the fourth quarter.
Capital Allocation
The company repurchased approximately 1.4 million shares of its common stock in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 at an average price of $87.33 per share for an aggregate cost of $125.3 million and has repurchased approximately 0.7 million shares of its common stock quarter-to-date in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. This leaves approximately $109 million remaining under share repurchase programs authorized by its Board of Directors that expire in November 2020. On November 15, 2019, the company's Board of Directors authorized an additional $100 million share repurchase program that expires in November 2021.
The company also announced today that on November 15, 2019, its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on December 20, 2019, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5, 2019.
Guidance
This release includes forward-looking guidance for certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Restaurant-Level Margin and Adjusted EBITDA. The company is unable without unreasonable effort to provide reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures.
Fiscal Year 2020 Guidance
The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2020. Fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 are 52-week years, with 16 weeks in the first quarter, and 12 weeks in each of the second, third and fourth quarters.
Other Items
In its upcoming fiscal 2019 Form 10-K, the company expects to report a material weakness in internal controls. The weakness relates to general information technology controls over certain information technology systems that support the company's financial reporting processes. As of the date of this release, there have been no misstatements identified in the financial statements as a result of these deficiencies, and the company expects to timely file its Form 10-K. Please refer to the upcoming fiscal 2019 Form 10-K for more information.
In fiscal 2020, the company will adopt the new lease accounting standard (Topic 842). The company expects this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet upon adoption, recognizing liabilities of approximately $950 million and corresponding assets of approximately $900 million. There is no material impact to net earnings or cash flows expected; however, franchise revenues and franchise expenses are each expected to increase by approximately $5 million in 2020. Please refer to the upcoming fiscal 2019 Form 10-K for more information.
Conference Call
The company will host a conference call for financial analysts and investors on Thursday, November 21, 2019, beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website. To access the live call through the Internet, log onto the Investors section of the Jack in the Box Inc. website at http://investors.jackinthebox.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event in order to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available through the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website for 21 days, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT on November 21, 2019.
Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states and Guam. For more information on Jack in the Box, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com.
___________________________________________________________
(1) Operating Earnings Per Share represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding gains or losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants, restructuring charges, loss on early termination of interest rate swaps, loss on early extinguishment of debt, the non-cash impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in fiscal year 2018, and the excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results."
(2) Adjusted EBITDA represents net earnings on a GAAP basis excluding earnings or losses from discontinued operations, income taxes, interest expense, net, gains or losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants, impairment and other charges, net, depreciation and amortization, and the amortization of franchise tenant improvement allowances and other. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results."
(3) Restaurant-Level Margin and Franchise-Level Margin are non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures are reconciled to earnings from operations, the most comparable GAAP measure, in the attachment to this release. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results."
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goals,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate. These estimates and assumptions involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the success of new products, marketing initiatives and restaurant remodels and drive-thru enhancements; the impact of competition, unemployment, trends in consumer spending patterns and commodity costs; the company's ability to reduce G&A and operate efficiently; the company’s ability to achieve and manage its planned growth, which is affected by the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites, the performance of new restaurants, risks relating to expansion into new markets and successful franchisee development; litigation risks; risks associated with disagreements with franchisees; supply chain disruption; food-safety incidents or negative publicity impacting the reputation of the company's brand; risks associated with the amount and terms of the securitized debt issued by certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries; and stock market volatility. These and other factors are discussed in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and its periodic reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available online at http://investors.jackinthebox.com or in hard copy upon request. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information or otherwise.
Jack in the Box system sales (in thousands):
The following table summarizes the year-to-date changes in the number and mix of Jack in the Box company and franchise restaurants:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
Recast 2018 Consolidated Statement of Earnings
The company applied the modified retrospective method upon adoption of the new revenue recognition standard. The recast condensed consolidated statement of earnings reflects adjustments for the implementation of the new revenue recognition standard as if the full retrospective method was applied upon adoption.
Below is a reconciliation of the recast consolidated statement of earnings for the 12 weeks ended and 52 weeks ended September 30, 2018, to the consolidated statement of earnings that was previously reported for those periods (in thousands).
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
Recast 2018 Consolidated Statement of Earnings
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS TO GAAP RESULTS
(Unaudited)
To supplement the consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with GAAP, the company uses the following non-GAAP measures: Operating Earnings Per Share, Adjusted EBITDA, Restaurant-Level Margin and Franchise-Level Margin. Management believes that these measurements, when viewed with the company's results of operations in accordance with GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations in the tables below, provide useful information about operating performance and period-over-period changes, and provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of the company's core business without regard to potential distortions.
Operating Earnings Per Share
Operating Earnings Per Share represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding gains or losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants, restructuring charges, loss on early termination of interest rate swaps and debt extinguishment, the non-cash impact of the Tax Act, and the excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements. Operating Earnings Per Share should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. Management believes Operating Earnings Per Share provides investors with a meaningful supplement of the company’s operating performance and period-over-period changes without regard to potential distortions.
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Operating Earnings Per Share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Figures may not add due to rounding.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA represents net earnings on a GAAP basis excluding earnings or losses from discontinued operations, income taxes, interest expense, net, gains or losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants, impairment and other charges, net, depreciation and amortization, and the amortization of franchise tenant improvement allowances and other. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting the company's ongoing cash earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced.
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net earnings (in thousands).
Restaurant-Level Margin
Restaurant-Level Margin is defined as company restaurant sales less restaurant operating costs (food and packaging, payroll and employee benefits, and occupancy and other costs) and is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. Restaurant-Level Margin excludes revenues and expenses of our franchise operations and certain costs, such as selling, general, and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other charges, net, gains or losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants, and other costs that are considered normal operating costs. As such, Restaurant-Level Margin is not indicative of the overall results of the company and does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders because of the exclusion of corporate-level expenses. Restaurant-Level Margin should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. The company is presenting Restaurant-Level Margin because it believes that it provides a meaningful supplement to net earnings of the company's core business operating results, as well as a comparison to those of other similar companies. Management utilizes Restaurant-Level Margin as a key performance indicator to evaluate the profitability of company-owned restaurants.
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Restaurant-Level Margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, earnings from operations (in thousands):
Franchise-Level Margin
Franchise-Level Margin is defined as franchise revenues less franchise operating costs (occupancy expenses, advertising and other service expenses, and franchise support and other costs) less the amortization of franchise tenant improvement allowances and other, and is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. Franchise-Level Margin excludes revenue and expenses of our company-operated restaurants and certain costs, such as selling, general, and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other charges, net, amortization of tenant improvement allowances and other, and other costs that are considered normal operating costs. As such, Franchise-Level Margin is not indicative of the overall results of the company and does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders because of the exclusion of corporate-level expenses. Franchise-Level Margin should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. The company is presenting Franchise-Level Margin because it believes that it provides a meaningful supplement to net earnings of the company's core business operating results, as well as a comparison to those of other similar companies. Management utilizes Franchise-Level Margin as a key performance indicator to evaluate the profitability of our franchise operations.
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Franchise-Level Margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, earnings from operations (in thousands):
Rachel Webb
(858) 571-2683
SOURCE Jack in the Box®
Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants.