Denny's Corp (DENN)

[MCArmel1]

Denny's misses by $0.01, beats on revenue

Aug 3 2015, 16:13 ET | About: Denny's Corporation (DENN) | By: Niloofer Shaikh, SA News Editor

Denny's (NASDAQ:DENN): Q2 EPS of $0.11 misses by $0.01.
Revenue of $123.32M (+7.6% Y/Y) beats by $3.04M.
Shares -3.41%.
Press Release

http://seekingalpha.com/news/2685805-dennys-misses-by-0_01-beats-on-revenue?uprof=45#email_link


Denny’s Corporation Reports Results for Second Quarter 2015
Mon August 3, 2015 4:05 PM|GlobeNewswire | About: DENN

- 7.3% Growth in Domestic System-Wide Same-Store Sales -

- Adjusted Net Income per Share* Grows 21.2% -

- Raises 2015 Full Year Guidance for Same-Store Sales and Adjusted EBITDA* -

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Aug. 03, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dennys Corporation (NASDAQ:DENN), franchisor and operator of one of America's largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, today reported results for its second quarter ended July 1, 2015.

Second Quarter Summary
•Domestic system-wide same-store sales growth of 7.3%, comprised of a 7.9% increase at company restaurants and 7.2% increase at domestic franchised restaurants.

•Opened 13 system restaurants including four international locations.

•Completed 77 remodels including 17 at company restaurants.

•Adjusted EBITDA* of $24.4 million, or 19.8% of total operating revenue, increased 15.9%.

•Net Income of $9.7 million increased 17.7% with Diluted Net Income per Share of $0.11 growing 20.8%.

•Adjusted Net Income of $9.8 million grew 18.1% with Adjusted Net Income per Share* of $0.11 increasing 21.2%.

•Generated $9.6 million of Free Cash Flow* after remodel investments at company restaurants and the purchase of one parcel of real estate.

•Allocated $16.1 million to repurchase 1.5 million shares during the second quarter.

* Adjusted Net Income excludes debt refinancing charges, impairment charges and gains on sales of assets and other. Please refer to the historical reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow included in the following tables.

John Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, We generated another quarter of strong same-store sales growth at both franchised and company restaurants including our third consecutive quarter of growth in system-wide guest traffic. We are benefitting from the investments we have made in our brand revitalization strategy to enhance our food, service and atmosphere. Our success in driving profitable guest traffic growth and increasing guest satisfaction scores confirm that the improvements we have made are resonating with our guests, franchisees and employees. Going forward, we will remain focused on executing our strategies to elevate the Dennys experience and are still in the early stages of the revitalization process as our Heritage remodel program has penetrated nearly 25% of the system.

Second Quarter Results

Dennys total operating revenue grew 7.6% to $123.3 million resulting from an increase in both company restaurant sales along with franchise and license revenue. Franchise and license revenue of $34.7 million increased $1.2 million, or 3.6%, primarily due to higher royalty revenue resulting from an increase in same-store sales. Company restaurant sales of $88.6 million grew $7.5 million, or 9.2%, primarily due to the increase in same-store sales and the reopening of the Las Vegas Casino Royale restaurant in November 2014.

In the second quarter, Dennys opened 13 franchised restaurants, including four international locations, and closed 11 system restaurants, including one company restaurant, bringing the total number of restaurants to 1,696. Domestic system-wide same-store sales grew 7.3%, including a 7.9% increase at company restaurants and 7.2% increase at domestic franchised restaurants.

Franchise operating margin was $23.5 million, or 67.7% of franchise and license revenue, an increase of $0.6 million. This improvement was primarily due to an increase in royalties, partially offset by a rise in direct costs. Company restaurant operating margin of $16.3 million, or 18.4% of company restaurant sales, increased $4.8 million, or 4.2 percentage points. The improvement in company margin was primarily driven by the leveraging effect from the growth in same-store sales.

Total general and administrative expenses were $16.8 million compared to $14.1 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to higher incentive and share-based compensation expenses, along with higher payroll and benefits expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense was flat at $5.3 million, as was interest expense at $2.3 million. In the second quarter, the provision for income taxes was $5.5 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 36.1%. Due to the use of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, the Company paid $3.9 million in cash taxes during the second quarter.

Denny's (DENN) second quarter net income of $9.7 million increased 17.7% compared to prior year quarter net income of $8.3 million, with net income per diluted share of $0.11 growing 20.8% compared to $0.09 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. Adjusted Net Income* of $9.8 million grew 18.1% compared to prior year quarter Adjusted Net Income* of $8.3 million. Adjusted Net Income per Share* of $0.11 increased 21.2% compared to prior year quarter Adjusted Net Income per Share* of $0.09.

Dennys generated $9.6 million of Free Cash Flow* in the second quarter, after investing $9.0 million on capital expenditures primarily used to remodel 17 company restaurants and to acquire a parcel of real estate, which is leased to a franchisee. During the quarter, the Company repurchased 1.5 million shares for $16.1 million. At the end of the second quarter, the Company had approximately 10.5 million shares authorized under its ongoing repurchase programs based on the closing share price on July 31, 2015. Dennys ended the second quarter with $160.6 million of total debt outstanding, including $142.0 million of borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

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