The FINANCIAL — Domino’s Pizza, Inc. the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, announced results for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, comprised of strong growth in same store sales, global store counts and earnings per share.
Domestic same store sales grew 6.9% during the quarter versus the year-ago period, continuing the positive sales momentum in the Company’s domestic business. The international division also posted positive results, with same store sales growth of 4.0% during the quarter. The second quarter marked the 98th consecutive quarter of positive international same store sales growth and the 29th consecutive quarter of positive domestic same store sales growth. The Company also had second quarter global net store growth of 156 stores, comprised of 113 net new international stores and 43 net new domestic stores.
Diluted EPS was $1.78 for the second quarter, which was up 34.8% over the Company’s diluted EPS in the prior year quarter. Diluted EPS was negatively impacted by expenses related to the Company’s recapitalization, as further discussed below. Diluted EPS, as adjusted, was $1.84 for the second quarter, which was up 39.4% over the Company’s diluted EPS in the prior year quarter.
In connection with the Company’s April 2018 recapitalization as discussed below, the Company borrowed $825.0 million and used a portion of the proceeds to repay the remaining $490.1 million in outstanding principal and interest under its 2015 five-year fixed rate notes, pre-fund a portion of the principal and interest payable on the 2018 notes, pay transaction fees and expenses and repurchase and retire shares of the Company’s common stock.
During the second quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased 905,556 shares of its common stock pursuant to its Board of Directors-approved open market share repurchase program for approximately $219.0 million. The Company’s Board of Directors also declared a $0.55 per share quarterly dividend for shareholders of record as of June 15, 2018, that was paid on June 29, 2018. Additionally, on July 18, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a $0.55 per share quarterly dividend for shareholders of record as of September 14, 2018, to be paid on September 28, 2018.
“I’m delighted to report that our franchisees and team members continued to deliver great results across the global Domino’s system,” said Ritch Allison, Domino’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Global retail sales remain strong as we see our franchisees building new stores, growing same store sales and bringing customers back again and again. Our second quarter was highlighted by yet another innovation in food delivery with the launch of Domino’s HotSpots™, of which there are now more than 200,000 across the United States. The energy, passion and operational execution of our franchisees and managers around the world inspire me as I begin my role as CEO.
Revenues increased $150.8 million, or 24.0%, in the second quarter of 2018. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) in the first quarter of 2018. This resulted in the recognition of $80.9 million in domestic franchise advertising revenues during the second quarter of 2018 related to contributions from domestic franchisees to Domino’s National Advertising Fund Inc. (“DNAF”), the Company’s consolidated not-for-profit advertising fund. In 2017, under accounting standards in effect at that time, the Company had presented these contributions net with the related disbursements in its consolidated statement of income. Refer to the “Adoption of New Accounting Guidance” section on page three for additional information related to the adoption of this accounting standard. The remaining increase in revenues was due primarily to higher supply chain volumes resulting from order and store count growth. Higher international franchise, domestic Company-owned store and domestic franchise revenues resulting from higher retail sales also contributed to the increase. Consolidated revenues also benefited from the positive impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Net Income increased $11.7 million, or 17.7%, in the second quarter of 2018. This increase was driven by higher global royalty revenues and higher supply chain volumes, partially offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses and higher net interest expense. A lower tax rate resulting from regulations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”) also positively impacted net income in the second quarter and two fiscal quarters of 2018 through a reduction in the provision for income taxes, but was partially offset by lower excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation as compared to the prior year.
Diluted EPS was $1.78 for the second quarter versus $1.32 in the prior year quarter. This represents a $0.46 or 34.8% increase over the prior year quarter. Diluted EPS, as adjusted, was $1.84 for the second quarter versus $1.32 in the prior year quarter, which represents a $0.52 or 39.4% increase over the prior year quarter. These increases were driven by higher net income, as well as lower diluted share count, primarily as a result of the share repurchases made during the trailing four quarters.
Conference Call Information
The Company will file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q this morning. As previously announced, Domino’s Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 10 a.m. (Eastern) to review its second quarter fiscal 2018 financial results. The call can be accessed by dialing (888) 400-9978 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 634-4947 (International). Ask for the Domino’s Pizza conference call (conference ID: 7798488). The call will also be webcast at biz.dominos.com. The webcast will also be archived for one year on biz.dominos.com.
Adoption of New Accounting Guidance
The Company adopted ASC 606 during the first quarter of 2018. ASC 606 requires a gross presentation on the consolidated statement of income for franchisee contributions received by and related expenses of DNAF, the Company’s consolidated not-for-profit advertising fund. Under prior accounting guidance, the Company had presented the restricted assets and liabilities of DNAF in its consolidated balance sheets and had determined that it acted as an agent for accounting purposes with regard to franchise store contributions and disbursements. As a result, the Company historically presented the activities of DNAF net in its consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of cash flows. Under the requirements of ASC 606, the Company determined that there are not performance obligations associated with the franchise advertising contributions received by DNAF that are separate from its domestic royalty payment stream, and as a result, these franchise contributions and the related expenses are presented gross in the Company’s consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of cash flows. While this change materially impacted the gross amount of reported franchise revenues and expenses, the impact is generally expected to be an offsetting increase to both revenues and expenses such that the impact on income from operations and net income is not expected to be material. Refer to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 17, 2018 for additional information regarding the adoption of ASC 606.
The Company also adopted ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”) during the first quarter of 2018, which requires that restricted cash and cash equivalents be included as components of total cash and cash equivalents as presented on the statement of cash flows. The Company historically presented changes in restricted cash and cash equivalents in the investing section of its consolidated statement of cash flows. This new guidance did not impact the Company’s financial results, but did result in a change in the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents within the statement of cash flows. Refer to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 17, 2018 for additional information regarding the adoption of ASU 2016-18.
2018 Recapitalization
On April 24, 2018, the Company completed a recapitalization (the “2018 Recapitalization”) in which certain of the Company’s subsidiaries issued new notes pursuant to an asset-backed securitization. The new notes consist of $425.0 million Series 2018-1 4.116% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-I with an anticipated term of 7.5 years, and $400.0 million Series 2018-1 4.328% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-II with an anticipated term of 9.25 years (collectively, the “2018 Notes”).
A portion of the proceeds from the 2018 Recapitalization was used to repay the remaining $490.1 million in outstanding principal and interest under the Company’s 2015 five-year fixed rate notes, pre-fund a portion of the principal and interest payable on the 2018 Notes, pay transaction fees and expenses and repurchase and retire shares of the Company’s common stock. In connection with the 2018 Recapitalization, the Company incurred certain expenses that are outlined in the items affecting comparability table on page four. Additionally, the Company capitalized $8.2 million of debt issuance costs, which are being amortized into interest expense over the expected terms of the 2018 Notes.
Financial Results Comparability
Financial results for the Company are significantly affected by changes in our capital structure and our effective tax rate. Our recapitalization transactions in 2018, 2017 and 2015 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 optional prepayments of the 2015 five-year fixed rate notes and 2012 fixed rate notes. Additionally, repurchases and retirements of the Company’s common stock have reduced our weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Finally, a lower statutory tax rate due to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act has resulted in a reduction in our provision for income taxes in 2018.
Share Repurchases
During the second quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased and retired 905,556 shares of its common stock under its Board of Directors-approved open market share repurchase program for approximately $219.0 million. As of June 17, 2018, the end of the second quarter, the Company’s total remaining authorized amount for share repurchases was approximately $429.9 million.
Liquidity
As of June 17, 2018, the Company had approximately:
$157.8 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents;
$3.47 billion in total debt; and
$128.3 million of available borrowings under its $175.0 million variable funding notes, net of letters of credit issued of $46.7 million. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company borrowed and subsequently repaid $80.0 million under its variable funding notes.
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. The Company has also included metrics such as global retail sales growth 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.
The Company uses “Same store sales growth,” which is calculated by including only sales from stores that also had sales in the comparable period of the prior year. International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to domestic 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 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 discussed above. 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, to internally 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 cash flows from operations 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, paying dividends or other similar uses of cash.
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