ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 1, 2022 // PRNewswire // - Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2021. Global retail sales were benefited in the fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 by the inclusion of an extra, or 53rd week. Global retail sales increased 9.0% in the fourth quarter of 2021, excluding the negative impact of foreign currency and the 53rd week impact. Global retail sales increased 11.7% in fiscal 2021, excluding the positive impact of foreign currency and the 53rd week impact. Global retail sales increased 1.0% in the fourth quarter of 2021, excluding the negative impact of foreign currency. Global retail sales increased 8.9% in fiscal 2021, excluding the positive impact of foreign currency. Without adjusting for the impacts of foreign currency and the 53rd week, global retail sales declined 0.2% in the fourth quarter and increased 10.4% in fiscal 2021.
U.S. same store sales increased 1.0% during the quarter and 3.5% for the full year. International same store sales increased 1.8% during the quarter and 8.0% for the full year. The fourth quarter marked the 112th consecutive quarter of international same store sales growth. The Company had fourth quarter global net store growth of 468 stores, comprised of 89 net U.S. store openings and 379 net international store openings. In fiscal 2021, the Company had global net store growth of 1,204 stores, comprised of 205 net U.S. store openings and 999 net international store openings.
Diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $4.25, an increase of 10.4% over the prior year quarter. Diluted EPS for fiscal 2021 was $13.54, an increase of 9.3% over the prior year. Diluted EPS for both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 was positively impacted by the inclusion of the 53rd week. Diluted EPS for fiscal 2021 was negatively impacted by expenses associated with the Company's April 2021 recapitalization transaction (the "2021 Recapitalization"). Diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $4.25, an increase of 22.8% over diluted EPS, as adjusted, of $3.46 in the fourth quarter of 2020. Diluted EPS, as adjusted, for fiscal 2021 was $13.60, an increase of 13.2% over diluted EPS, as adjusted, of $12.01 in fiscal 2020. Refer to the Financial Results Comparability and the Comments on Regulation G sections below for additional information.
Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, on February 24, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors declared a $1.10 per share quarterly dividend on its outstanding common stock for shareholders of record as of March 15, 2022, to be paid on March 30, 2022.
"Throughout 2021, the strength of our franchisees and our excellent unit economics continued to deliver outstanding store and retail sales growth for the Domino's brand," said Ritch Allison, Domino's Chief Executive Officer. "When we compare our 2021 results back to pre-pandemic 2019, the Domino's brand grew by nearly $3.5 billion in global retail sales over the last two years. Looking forward, we remain focused on leading with innovation and leveraging our global scale to drive outstanding returns for our franchisees and shareholders."
The tables below outline certain statistical measures utilized by the Company to analyze its performance (unaudited). Refer to Comments on Regulation G below for additional details.
Two- to Three-Year Outlook
The Company does not provide quarterly or annual earnings guidance or estimates. The following two- to three-year outlook does not constitute specific earnings guidance. In January 2022, the Company reaffirmed its two- to three-year outlook as follows:
Financial Results Comparability
Financial results for the Company can be significantly affected by changes in its capital structure, its effective tax rate, adoption of new accounting pronouncements, store portfolio changes, calendar timing and other factors. The Company's recapitalization transactions have historically resulted in higher net interest expense due primarily to higher net debt levels, as well as the amortization of debt issuance costs associated with the repayment of certain of the Company's notes. Additionally, repurchases and retirements of shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to its share repurchase programs have historically reduced its weighted average diluted shares outstanding.
In addition to the above factors impacting comparability, the tables below present certain other items that affect comparability between the Company's 2021 and 2020 financial results (unaudited). Management believes that including such information is critical to an understanding of the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021 and fiscal year 2021 as compared to the same periods in 2020. Refer to the Comments on Regulation G section below for additional details.
Share Repurchases
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased and retired 443,085 shares of its common stock under its Board of Directors-approved share repurchase program for a total of $216.2 million. During fiscal 2021, the Company repurchased and retired 2,912,558 shares of its common stock under its Board of Directors-approved share repurchase program (including 2,250,786 shares of its common stock under its previously announced accelerated share repurchase transaction completed in the third quarter of 2021) for a total of $1.32 billion. As of January 2, 2022, the Company had a total remaining authorized amount for share repurchases of $704.1 million. Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased and retired an additional 100,810 shares of common stock for a total of $47.7 million.
Conference Call Information
The Company will file its Annual Report on Form 10-K this morning. As previously announced, Domino's Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 10 a.m. (Eastern) to review its fourth quarter and fiscal 2021 financial results.
Liquidity
As of January 2, 2022, the Company had approximately:
Net cash provided by operating activities was $654.2 million during fiscal 2021. The Company invested $94.2 million in capital expenditures during fiscal 2021. Free cash flow, as reconciled below to net cash provided by operating activities, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), was approximately $560.0 million during fiscal 2021 (refer to Comments on Regulation G below for additional details).
Comments on Regulation G
In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, the Company has included non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G, including free cash flow metrics and measures related to items affecting comparability between fiscal quarters and other fiscal periods such as diluted EPS, as adjusted. The Company has also included metrics such as global retail sales, global retail sales growth, global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact, global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact and 53rd week impact and same store sales growth, which are commonly used statistical measures in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance.
The Company uses "Global retail sales" to refer to total worldwide retail sales at Company-owned and franchise stores. The Company believes global retail sales information is useful in analyzing revenues because franchisees pay royalties and advertising fees that are based on a percentage of franchise retail sales. The Company reviews comparable industry global retail sales information to assess business trends and to track the growth of the Domino's Pizza brand. In addition, supply chain revenues are directly impacted by changes in franchise retail sales. Retail sales for franchise stores are reported to the Company by its franchisees and are not included in Company revenues. "Global retail sales growth" is calculated as the change of U.S. Dollar global retail sales against the comparable period of the prior year. "Global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact" is calculated as the change of international local currency global retail sales against the comparable period of the prior year. "Global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact and 53rd week impact" is calculated as the change of international local currency global retail sales against the comparable period of the prior year and excluding the global retail sales attributable to the Company's 53rd week in 2020.
The Company uses "Same store sales growth," which is calculated by including only sales from stores that also had sales in the comparable weeks of both years. International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to U.S. same store sales growth. Changes in international same store sales are reported excluding foreign currency impacts, which reflect changes in international local currency sales. The 53rd week in fiscal 2020 had no impact on reported same store sales growth amounts.
The Company uses "Diluted EPS, as adjusted," which is calculated as reported diluted EPS, adjusted for the items that affect comparability to the prior year periods. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is diluted EPS. The Company believes that the diluted EPS, as adjusted, measure is important and useful to investors and other interested persons and that such persons benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison between reporting periods. The Company uses diluted EPS, as adjusted, internally to evaluate operating performance, to evaluate itself against its peers and in long-range planning. Additionally, the Company believes that analysts covering the Company's stock performance generally eliminate these items affecting comparability when preparing their financial models, when determining their published EPS estimates and when benchmarking the Company against its competitors.
The Company uses "Free cash flow," which is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, both as reported under GAAP. The Company believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors and other interested persons, and that such persons benefit from having a measure which communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing debt, making acquisitions, repurchasing common stock or paying dividends.
TABLES TO FOLLOW
SOURCE Domino's Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is a pizza delivery franchise, with a significant business in carryout pizza.