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Denny’s Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2024 and Hosts Investor Day Today
المصدر: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 22 أكتوبر 2024 06:00:01 America/Chicago
SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denny’s Corporation (the "Company") (NASDAQ: DENN), owner and operator of Denny's Inc. ("Denny's") and Keke's Inc. ("Keke's") today reported results for its third quarter ended September 25, 2024 and provided a business update on the Company’s operations.
Kelli Valade, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our third quarter sales results directly reflect ongoing brand investments and dedicated focus on value that resulted in outpacing the category. Denny’s domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** outperformed the BBI Family Dining index for the third consecutive quarter driven by the relaunch of our fan favorite $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu and the continued expansion of off-premises with our third virtual brand, Banda Burrito. Keke’s also experienced significant sequential improvement in same-restaurant sales** as our initiatives to enact foundational marketing strategies and expand the alcohol program continued our efforts to close the gap to the competitive set. We are also very excited to be hosting an Investor Day today.”
Beginning at 9:00am EST this morning, the Company will be hosting an Investor Day in New York, as well as a live webcast, to detail strategic initiatives to build on its third quarter progress and ensure long-term financial opportunities for its brands. The investor day will highlight the Company’s plan to grow average unit volume sales, margins and the portfolio, while balancing capital allocations to maximize shareholder returns.
Third Quarter 2024 Highlights(1)
- Total operating revenue was $111.8 million compared to $114.2 million for the prior year quarter.
- Denny's domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** were (0.1%) compared to the equivalent fiscal period in 2023, including (0.1%) at domestic franchised restaurants and (0.4%) at company restaurants.
- Opened two Denny's domestic franchised restaurants.
- Completed six Denny's remodels, including three company remodels.
- Operating income was $11.7 million compared to $14.0 million for the prior year quarter.
- Adjusted franchise operating margin* was $30.1 million, or 51.0% of franchise and license revenue, and Adjusted company restaurant operating margin* was $6.2 million, or 11.8% of company restaurant sales.
- Net income was $6.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.
- Adjusted net income* and adjusted net income per share* were $7.2 million and $0.14, respectively.
- Adjusted EBITDA* was $20.0 million.
(1) Beginning fiscal 2024, the Company has evolved its definition of non-GAAP measures. Please see the definitions, explanations, and reconciliations further in this release.
Third Quarter 2024 Results
Total operating revenue was $111.8 million compared to $114.2 million for the prior year quarter.
Franchise and license revenue was $59.1 million compared to $61.0 million for the prior year quarter. This change was primarily driven by a decrease in initial and other fees associated with the sale of kitchen equipment in the prior year quarter, and decreases in equivalent units and franchise occupancy revenue, partially offset by an increase in franchise advertising revenue primarily related to higher local advertising co-op contributions for the current quarter.
Company restaurant sales were $52.7 million compared to $53.2 million for the prior year quarter primarily driven by four fewer Denny's equivalent units, including three refranchised units, partially offset by three additional Keke's equivalent units for the current quarter.
Adjusted franchise operating margin* was $30.1 million, or 51.0% of franchise and license revenue, compared to $31.1 million, or 51.0% for the prior year quarter. This margin change was primarily driven by the impact of fewer equivalent units on royalty revenues and lease terminations.
Adjusted company restaurant operating margin* was $6.2 million, or 11.8% of company restaurant sales, compared to $7.6 million, or 14.3% for the prior year quarter. This margin change was primarily due to investments in marketing and higher occupancy costs, including general liability insurance costs, for the current quarter.
Total general and administrative expenses were $19.8 million compared to $18.2 million in the prior year quarter. This change was primarily due to an increase in corporate administration expense.
The provision for income taxes was $1.5 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 18.5% for the current quarter.
Net income was $6.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Adjusted net income* per share was $0.14.
The Company ended the quarter with $272.0 million of total debt outstanding, including $261.0 million of borrowings under its credit facility.
Capital Allocation
The Company invested $7.8 million in cash capital expenditures, which included Keke's new development and Denny's company remodels.
During the quarter, the Company allocated $1.8 million to share repurchases resulting in approximately $89.2 million remaining under its existing repurchase authorization.
Business Outlook
The following full year 2024 expectations reflect management's expectations that the current consumer and economic environment will not change materially, as well as the Company's strategic initiative to accelerate the closure of lower volume Denny's restaurants.
- Denny's domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** between (1%) and 0% (vs. between (1%) and 1%).
- Consolidated restaurant openings of 30 to 40, including 12 to 16 new Keke's restaurants, with a consolidated net decline of 45 to 55 (vs. 20 to 30).
- Commodity inflation of approximately 2% (vs. between 0% and 2%).
- Labor inflation between 3% and 4%.
- Total general and administrative expenses between $82 million and $85 million, including approximately $11 million related to share-based compensation expense which does not impact Adjusted EBITDA*.
- Adjusted EBITDA* between $81 million and $84 million (vs. between $83 million and $87 million).
* Please refer to the Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures, as well as the Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in the tables below. The Company is not able to reconcile the forward-looking non-GAAP estimate set forth above to its most directly comparable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) estimates without unreasonable efforts because it is unable to predict, forecast or determine the probable significance of the items impacting these estimates, including gains, losses and other charges, with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP estimate is not provided. ** Same-restaurant sales include sales at company restaurants and non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants that were open during the comparable periods noted. Total operating revenue is limited to company restaurant sales and royalties, advertising revenue, initial and other fees and occupancy revenue from non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants. Accordingly, domestic franchise same-restaurant sales and domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the Company's results as reported under GAAP. Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Company will provide further commentary on the results for the third quarter ended September 25, 2024 and its investor day on a webcast today, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast accessible through the Company's investor relations website at investor.dennys.com.
About Denny's Corporation
Denny’s Corporation is one of America’s largest full-service restaurant chains based on number of restaurants. As of September 25, 2024, the Company consisted of 1,586 restaurants, 1,514 of which were franchised and licensed restaurants and 72 of which were company operated.
The Company consists of the Denny’s brand and the Keke’s brand. As of September 25, 2024, the Denny's brand consisted of 1,525 global restaurants, 1,464 of which were franchised and licensed restaurants and 61 of which were company operated. As of September 25, 2024, the Keke's brand consisted of 61 restaurants, 50 of which were franchised restaurants and 11 of which were company operated.
For further information on Denny's Corporation, including news releases, links to SEC filings, and other financial information, please visit investor.dennys.com.
Non-GAAP Definition Changes
The Company has evolved its definition of non-GAAP financial measures starting in fiscal 2024 to provide more clarity and comparability relative to peers. Denny's Corporation management uses certain non-GAAP measures in analyzing operating performance and believes that the presentation of these measures provides investors and analysts with information that is beneficial to gaining an understanding of the Company's financial results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP.
The Company excludes legal settlement expenses, pre-opening expenses, and other items management does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance from adjusted operating margin*, adjusted net income*, adjusted net income per share*, and adjusted EBITDA*. In addition, the Company no longer deducts cash payments for restructuring and exit costs, or cash payments for share-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA*. Lastly, the Company has transitioned to utilizing GAAP cash flows included in its SEC filed documents in lieu of a non-GAAP financial measure.
Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in the tables of this press release and a recast of historical non-GAAP financial measures can be found on the Company's website, or its most recent investor presentation.
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Company urges caution in considering its current trends and any outlook on earnings disclosed in this press release. In addition, certain matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which reflect management's best judgment based on factors currently known, are intended to speak only as of the date such statements are made and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual performance of Denny’s Corporation, its subsidiaries, and underlying restaurants to be materially different from the performance indicated or implied by such statements. Words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan”, “hope”, "will", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that could cause actual performance to differ materially from the performance indicated by these forward-looking statements include, among others: economic, public health and political conditions that impact consumer confidence and spending, commodity and labor inflation; the ability to effectively staff restaurants and support personnel; the Company's ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity for its cash needs, including debt obligations, payment of dividends, planned share repurchases and capital expenditures as well as the ability of its customers, suppliers, franchisees and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; competitive pressures from within the restaurant industry; the Company's ability to integrate and derive the expected benefits from its acquisition of Keke's Breakfast Cafe; the level of success of the Company’s operating initiatives and advertising and promotional efforts; adverse publicity; health concerns arising from food-related pandemics, outbreaks of flu viruses or other diseases; changes in business strategy or development plans; terms and availability of capital; regional weather conditions; overall changes in the general economy (including with regard to energy costs), particularly at the retail level; political environment and geopolitical events (including acts of war and terrorism); and other factors from time to time set forth in the Company’s SEC reports and other filings, including but not limited to the discussion in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the risks identified in Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023 (and in the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K).
DENNY’S CORPORATION Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) ($ in thousands) 9/25/24 12/27/23 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,466 $ 4,893 Investments 2,902 1,281 Receivables, net 17,038 21,391 Inventories 1,835 2,175 Assets held for sale — 1,455 Prepaid and other current assets 10,610 12,855 Total current assets 33,851 44,050 Property, net 101,532 93,494 Finance lease right-of-use assets, net 6,411 6,098 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 121,169 116,795 Goodwill 66,357 65,908 Intangible assets, net 92,112 93,428 Deferred financing costs, net 1,225 1,702 Other noncurrent assets 38,966 43,343 Total assets $ 461,623 $ 464,818 Liabilities Current liabilities Current finance lease liabilities $ 1,457 $ 1,383 Current operating lease liabilities 15,076 14,779 Accounts payable 14,685 24,070 Other current liabilities 56,474 63,068 Total current liabilities 87,692 103,300 Long-term liabilities Long-term debt 261,000 255,500 Noncurrent finance lease liabilities 9,540 9,150 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 117,390 114,451 Liability for insurance claims, less current portion 7,160 6,929 Deferred income taxes, net 4,619 6,582 Other noncurrent liabilities 28,705 31,592 Total long-term liabilities 428,414 424,204 Total liabilities 516,106 527,504 Shareholders' deficit Common stock 533 529 Paid-in capital 13,129 6,688 Deficit (7,009 ) (21,784 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net (43,445 ) (41,659 ) Treasury stock (17,691 ) (6,460 ) Total shareholders' deficit (54,483 ) (62,686 ) Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit $ 461,623 $ 464,818 Debt Balances Credit facility revolver due 2026 $ 261,000 $ 255,500 Finance lease liabilities 10,997 10,533 Total debt $ 271,997 $ 266,033 DENNY’S CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Quarter Ended ($ in thousands, except per share amounts) 9/25/24 9/27/23 Revenue: Company restaurant sales $ 52,701 $ 53,153 Franchise and license revenue 59,058 61,030 Total operating revenue 111,759 114,183 Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization 46,820 45,893 Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 28,999 29,810 General and administrative expenses 19,831 18,237 Depreciation and amortization 3,622 3,605 Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 746 2,620 Total operating costs and expenses, net 100,018 100,165 Operating income 11,741 14,018 Interest expense, net 4,571 4,381 Other nonoperating (income) expense, net (824 ) 43 Income before income taxes 7,994 9,594 Provision for income taxes 1,478 1,686 Net income $ 6,516 $ 7,908 Net income per share - basic $ 0.12 $ 0.14 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.12 $ 0.14 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 52,148 55,869 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 52,207 56,082 Comprehensive (loss) income $ (2,468 ) $ 20,469 General and Administrative Expenses Corporate administrative expenses $ 15,875 $ 14,580 Share-based compensation 3,006 2,864 Incentive compensation 447 1,049 Deferred compensation valuation adjustments 503 (256 ) Total general and administrative expenses $ 19,831 $ 18,237 DENNY’S CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Three Quarters Ended ($ in thousands, except per share amounts) 9/25/24 9/27/23 Revenue: Company restaurant sales $ 159,391 $ 161,486 Franchise and license revenue 178,269 187,083 Total operating revenue 337,660 348,569 Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization 142,516 138,953 Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization 89,801 92,657 General and administrative expenses 61,539 58,515 Depreciation and amortization 10,938 10,878 Goodwill impairment charges 20 — Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 1,984 2,467 Total operating costs and expenses, net 306,798 303,470 Operating income 30,862 45,099 Interest expense, net 13,564 13,288 Other nonoperating (income) expense, net (1,685 ) 9,470 Income before income taxes 18,983 22,341 Provision for income taxes 4,208 5,298 Net income $ 14,775 $ 17,043 Net income per share - basic $ 0.28 $ 0.30 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.28 $ 0.30 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 52,635 56,764 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 52,739 56,973 Comprehensive income $ 12,989 $ 31,980 General and Administrative Expenses Corporate administrative expenses $ 46,843 $ 43,919 Share-based compensation 8,406 8,477 Incentive compensation 4,868 5,335 Deferred compensation valuation adjustments 1,422 784 Total general and administrative expenses $ 61,539 $ 58,515 DENNY’S CORPORATION Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) The Company believes that, in addition to GAAP measures, certain non-GAAP financial measures are useful information to investors and analysts to assist in the evaluation of operating performance on a period-to-period basis. However, non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, operating income, net income, and net income per share, or other financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share internally as performance measures for planning purposes, including the preparation of annual operating budgets, and for compensation purposes, including incentive compensation for certain employees. These non-GAAP measures are adjusted for certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. These adjustments are either non-recurring in nature or vary from period to period without correlation to the Company's ongoing core operating performance.
Quarter Ended Three Quarters Ended ($ in thousands, except per share amounts) 9/25/24 9/27/23 9/25/24 9/27/23 Net income $ 6,516 $ 7,908 $ 14,775 $ 17,043 Provision for income taxes 1,478 1,686 4,208 5,298 Goodwill impairment charges — — 20 — Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 746 2,620 1,984 2,467 Other nonoperating (income) expense, net (824 ) 43 (1,685 ) 9,470 Share-based compensation expense 3,006 2,864 8,406 8,477 Deferred compensation plan valuation adjustments 503 (256 ) 1,422 784 Interest expense, net 4,571 4,381 13,564 13,288 Depreciation and amortization 3,622 3,605 10,938 10,878 Legal settlement expenses 152 245 1,809 475 Pre-opening expenses 209 105 766 130 Other adjustments 40 (78 ) 2,532 (75 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 20,019 $ 23,123 $ 58,739 $ 68,235 Net income $ 6,516 $ 7,908 $ 14,775 $ 17,043 Losses and amortization on interest rate swap derivatives, net 194 94 502 10,838 Losses (gains) on sales of assets and other charges, net 6 (88 ) (88 ) (2,132 ) Impairment charges (1) 78 1,711 812 1,840 Legal settlement expenses 152 245 1,809 475 Pre-opening expenses 209 105 766 130 Other adjustments 40 (78 ) 2,532 (75 ) Tax effect (2) (4 ) (237 ) (1,406 ) (2,581 ) Adjusted net income $ 7,191 $ 9,660 $ 19,702 $ 25,538 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 52,207 56,082 52,739 56,973 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.12 $ 0.14 $ 0.28 $ 0.30 Adjustments per share 0.02 0.03 0.09 0.15 Adjusted net income per share $ 0.14 $ 0.17 $ 0.37 $ 0.45 (1 ) Impairment charges include goodwill impairment charges of less than $0.1 million for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024. (2 ) Tax adjustments for the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 reflect effective tax rates of 0.6% and 22.2%, respectively. Tax adjustments for the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 27, 2023 reflect effective tax rates of 11.9% and 23.3%, respectively. DENNY’S CORPORATION Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) The Company believes that, in addition to GAAP measures, certain other non-GAAP financial measures are useful information to investors and analysts to assist in the evaluation of restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance of ongoing restaurant-level operations. However, non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, operating income, net income, and net income per share, or other financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses restaurant-level operating margin, company restaurant operating margin and franchise operating margin internally as performance measures for planning purposes, including the preparation of annual operating budgets, and for compensation purposes, including incentive compensation for certain employees.
Restaurant-level operating margin is the total of company restaurant operating margin and franchise operating margin and excludes: (i) general and administrative expenses, which include primarily non-restaurant-level costs associated with support of company and franchised restaurants and other activities at their corporate office; (ii) depreciation and amortization expense, substantially all of which is related to company restaurant-level assets, because such expenses represent historical sunk costs which do not reflect current cash outlays for the restaurants; (iii) special items, included within operating (gains), losses and other charges, net, to provide investors with a clearer perspective of its ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results.
Company restaurant operating margin is defined as company restaurant sales less costs of company restaurant sales (which include product costs, company restaurant level payroll and benefits, occupancy costs, and other operating costs including utilities, repairs and maintenance, marketing and other expenses) and presents it as a percent of company restaurant sales. Adjusted company operating restaurant margin is defined as company restaurant operating margin less certain items such as legal settlement expenses, pre-opening expenses, and other items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance.
Franchise operating margin is defined as franchise and license revenue (which includes franchise royalties and other non-food and beverage revenue streams such as initial franchise and other fees, advertising revenue and occupancy revenue) less costs of franchise and license revenue and presents it as a percent of franchise and license revenue. Adjusted franchise operating margin is defined as franchise operating margin less certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance.
Adjusted restaurant-level operating margin is the total of adjusted company restaurant operating margin and adjusted franchise operating margin and is defined as restaurant-level operating margin adjusted for certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. These adjustments are either non-recurring in nature or vary from period to period without correlation to the Company's ongoing core operating performance.
Quarter Ended Three Quarters Ended ($ in thousands) 9/25/24 9/27/23 9/25/24 9/27/23 Operating income $ 11,741 $ 14,018 $ 30,862 $ 45,099 General and administrative expenses 19,831 18,237 61,539 58,515 Depreciation and amortization 3,622 3,605 10,938 10,878 Goodwill impairment charges — — 20 — Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net 746 2,620 1,984 2,467 Restaurant-level operating margin $ 35,940 $ 38,480 $ 105,343 $ 116,959 Restaurant-level operating margin consists of: Company restaurant operating margin (1) $ 5,881 $ 7,260 $ 16,875 $ 22,533 Franchise operating margin (2) 30,059 31,220 88,468 94,426 Restaurant-level operating margin $ 35,940 $ 38,480 $ 105,343 $ 116,959 Adjustments (3) 401 272 5,107 530 Adjusted restaurant-level operating margin $ 36,341 $ 38,752 $ 110,450 $ 117,489 (1 ) Company restaurant operating margin is calculated as operating income plus general and administrative expenses; depreciation and amortization; operating (gains), losses and other charges, net; and costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization; less franchise and license revenue. (2 ) Franchise operating margin is calculated as operating income plus general and administrative expenses; depreciation and amortization; operating (gains), losses and other charges, net; and costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization; less company restaurant sales. (3 ) Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. Adjustments for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 include a $2.6 million distribution to franchisees related to a review of advertising costs. DENNY’S CORPORATION Operating Margins (Unaudited) Quarter Ended ($ in thousands) 9/25/24 9/27/23 Company restaurant operations: (1) Company restaurant sales $ 52,701 100.0 % $ 53,153 100.0 % Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization: Product costs 13,611 25.8 % 13,587 25.6 % Payroll and benefits 19,838 37.6 % 19,754 37.2 % Occupancy 4,443 8.4 % 4,085 7.7 % Other operating costs: Utilities 1,959 3.7 % 2,120 4.0 % Repairs and maintenance 964 1.8 % 996 1.9 % Marketing 1,859 3.5 % 1,393 2.6 % Legal settlements 152 0.3 % 245 0.5 % Pre-opening costs 209 0.4 % 105 0.2 % Other direct costs 3,785 7.2 % 3,608 6.8 % Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization $ 46,820 88.8 % $ 45,893 86.3 % Company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 5,881 11.2 % $ 7,260 13.7 % Adjustments (3) 361 0.7 % 350 0.7 % Adjusted company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 6,242 11.8 % $ 7,610 14.3 % Franchise operations: (4) Franchise and license revenue: Royalties $ 29,101 49.3 % $ 29,703 48.7 % Advertising revenue 20,172 34.2 % 19,297 31.6 % Initial and other fees 1,639 2.8 % 3,388 5.6 % Occupancy revenue 8,146 13.8 % 8,642 14.2 % Total franchise and license revenue $ 59,058 100.0 % $ 61,030 100.0 % Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization: Advertising costs $ 20,172 34.2 % $ 19,297 31.6 % Occupancy costs 5,256 8.9 % 5,389 8.8 % Other direct costs 3,571 6.0 % 5,124 8.4 % Total costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization $ 28,999 49.1 % $ 29,810 48.8 % Franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 30,059 50.9 % $ 31,220 51.2 % Adjustments (3) 40 0.1 % (78 ) (0.1) % Adjusted franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 30,099 51.0 % $ 31,142 51.0 % Total operating revenue (5) $ 111,759 100.0 % $ 114,183 100.0 % Total costs of operating revenue (5) 75,819 67.8 % 75,703 66.3 % Restaurant-level operating margin (non-GAAP) (5) $ 35,940 32.2 % $ 38,480 33.7 % (1 ) As a percentage of company restaurant sales. (2 ) Other operating expenses such as general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization relate to both company and franchise operations and are not allocated to costs of company restaurant sales and costs of franchise and license revenue. As such, operating margin and adjusted operating margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. (3 ) Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. (4 ) As a percentage of franchise and license revenue. (5 ) As a percentage of total operating revenue. DENNY’S CORPORATION Operating Margins (Unaudited) Three Quarters Ended ($ in thousands) 9/25/24 9/27/23 Company restaurant operations: (1) Company restaurant sales $ 159,391 100.0 % $ 161,486 100.0 % Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization: Product costs 40,554 25.4 % 41,796 25.9 % Payroll and benefits 60,805 38.1 % 60,482 37.5 % Occupancy 13,687 8.6 % 12,259 7.6 % Other operating costs: Utilities 5,309 3.3 % 6,037 3.7 % Repairs and maintenance 2,977 1.9 % 2,667 1.7 % Marketing 5,339 3.3 % 4,207 2.6 % Legal settlements 1,809 1.1 % 475 0.3 % Pre-opening costs 766 0.5 % 130 0.1 % Other direct costs 11,270 7.1 % 10,900 6.7 % Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization $ 142,516 89.4 % $ 138,953 86.0 % Company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 16,875 10.6 % $ 22,533 14.0 % Adjustments (3) 2,575 1.6 % 605 0.4 % Adjusted company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 19,450 12.2 % $ 23,138 14.3 % Franchise operations: (4) Franchise and license revenue: Royalties $ 88,421 49.6 % $ 90,106 48.2 % Advertising revenue 59,098 33.2 % 58,818 31.4 % Initial and other fees 5,903 3.3 % 10,994 5.9 % Occupancy revenue 24,847 13.9 % 27,165 14.5 % Total franchise and license revenue $ 178,269 100.0 % $ 187,083 100.0 % Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization: Advertising costs $ 59,098 33.2 % $ 58,818 31.4 % Occupancy costs 15,482 8.7 % 16,853 9.0 % Other direct costs 15,221 8.5 % 16,986 9.1 % Total costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization $ 89,801 50.4 % $ 92,657 49.5 % Franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 88,468 49.6 % $ 94,426 50.5 % Adjustments (3) 2,532 1.4 % (75 ) 0.0 % Adjusted franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2) $ 91,000 51.0 % $ 94,351 50.4 % Total operating revenue (5) $ 337,660 100.0 % $ 348,569 100.0 % Total costs of operating revenue (5) 232,317 68.8 % 231,610 66.4 % Restaurant-level operating margin (non-GAAP) (5) $ 105,343 31.2 % $ 116,959 33.6 % (1 ) As a percentage of company restaurant sales. (2 ) Other operating expenses such as general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization relate to both company and franchise operations and are not allocated to costs of company restaurant sales and costs of franchise and license revenue. As such, operating margin and adjusted operating margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. (3 ) Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. Adjustments for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 include a $2.6 million distribution to franchisees related to a review of advertising costs. (4 ) As a percentage of franchise and license revenue. (5 ) As a percentage of total operating revenue. DENNY’S CORPORATION Statistical Data (Unaudited) Denny's Keke's Changes in Same-Restaurant Sales (1) Quarter Ended Three Quarters Ended Quarter Ended Three Quarters Ended (Increase (decrease) vs. prior year) 9/25/24 9/27/23 9/25/24 9/27/23 9/25/24 9/27/23 9/25/24 9/27/23 Company Restaurants (0.4)% (1.4)% (2.0%) 4.1% (1.7)% (3.4)% (2.4%) (3.4)% Domestic Franchise Restaurants (0.1)% 2.1% (0.6%) 4.3% (0.9)% (5.3)% (3.2%) (5.3)% Domestic System-wide Restaurants (0.1)% 1.8% (0.7%) 4.3% (1.0)% (5.0)% (3.1%) (5.0)% Average Unit Sales ($ in thousands) Company Restaurants $771 $755 $2,288 $2,303 $423 $429 $1,323 $1,354 Franchised Restaurants $465 $458 $1,395 $1,376 $439 $430 $1,368 $1,397 (1) Same-restaurant sales include sales at company restaurants and non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants that were open during the comparable periods noted. Total operating revenue is limited to company restaurant sales and royalties, advertising revenue, initial and other fees and occupancy revenue from non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants. Accordingly, domestic franchise same-restaurant sales and domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the Company's results as reported under GAAP. Restaurant Unit Activity Denny's Keke's Franchised Franchised Company & Licensed Total Company & Licensed Total Ending Units June 26, 2024 64 1,477 1,541 11 51 62 Units Opened — 2 2 — — — Units Refranchised (3 ) 3 — — — — Units Closed — (18 ) (18 ) — (1 ) (1 ) Net Change (3 ) (13 ) (16 ) — (1 ) (1 ) Ending Units September 25, 2024 61 1,464 1,525 11 50 61 Equivalent Units Third Quarter 2024 62 1,470 1,532 11 50 61 Third Quarter 2023 66 1,523 1,589 8 48 56 Net Change (4 ) (53 ) (57 ) 3 2 5 Ending Units December 27, 2023 65 1,508 1,573 8 50 58 Units Opened — 10 10 4 — 4 Units Refranchised (3 ) 3 — (1 ) 1 — Units Closed (1 ) (57 ) (58 ) — (1 ) (1 ) Net Change (4 ) (44 ) (48 ) 3 — 3 Ending Units September 25, 2024 61 1,464 1,525 11 50 61 Equivalent Units Year-to-Date 2024 63 1,485 1,548 10 50 60 Year-to-Date 2023 65 1,525 1,590 8 47 55 Net Change (2 ) (40 ) (42 ) 2 3 5 
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