Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 27, 2021.

Second quarter 2021 highlights compared to prior year

• Total company revenues increased 11.8% to $515.0 million
• Comparable sales up 5.2% in North America and 21.2% Internationally; Global system-wide restaurant sales of $1.2 billion, up 12.2% driven by innovation, strong customer retention and accelerating domestic and international unit growth
• 55 net unit openings driven by International growth
• Loss per diluted share of ($2.30), including Special items of $3.23 per share, largely related to repurchase and conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; Adjusted earnings per diluted share grew to $0.93 from $0.48 a year ago
• For first six months of 2021, cash flow from operations of $128.0 million, up from $87.7 million a year ago; free cash flow of $100.1 million up from $67.0 million
• Increases return to common shareholders with 56% increase in annual dividend rate to $1.40 per share; declares third quarter dividend of $0.35 per share

“Papa John’s delivered an eighth consecutive quarter of growth, with system-wide sales up 12% in Q2. We extended the record sales results we achieved a year ago, sustaining our industry outperformance as markets continue reopening,” said President & CEO Rob Lynch. “Robust two-year comparable sales results – up 33% in North America and 27% internationally – reflect the impact our multi-faceted innovation strategy has had across every area of our business, powered by the effort of our team members and franchisees.”

Mr. Lynch continued, “Papa John’s strong brand and highly-attractive unit economics are driving accelerated restaurant openings by both new and existing franchisees, resulting in a record 123 net unit openings in the first half of 2021. In addition to growing AUVs, development is now a significant component of rising system-wide sales. With our business firing on all cylinders, we are more confident than ever that Papa John’s strategy and growth model position us solidly for long-term growth, as we build the world’s best pizza delivery company.”

Financial Highlights

Revenues

Consolidated revenues of $515.0 million increased $54.4 million, or 11.8%, in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2020 primarily as a result of higher comparable sales of 5.2% for North America restaurants, which benefited from continued menu, delivery and digital innovation as reflected in higher company-owned restaurant revenues, franchise royalties and commissary sales. Higher commodity costs also positively impacted commissary sales. International revenues also increased primarily due to higher royalties from strong comparable sales results of 21.2% for the quarter and higher unit counts.

Operating Results

Consolidated operating income of $44.6 million for the second quarter of 2021 increased $14.1 million compared to the second quarter of 2020. The increase primarily reflects strong sales on higher comparable sales and year-over-year unit growth domestically and internationally. Additionally, the second quarter of 2021 benefited from a higher effective royalty rate and additional franchise royalties of $5.1 million compared to the comparable period in 2020 primarily as a result of ending in the third quarter of 2020 our temporary franchise support program.

Diluted loss per share was $2.30 for the second quarter of 2021 representing a decrease of $2.78 over the second quarter of 2020. Diluted loss per share included $3.15 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2021 from a reduction in net income attributable to common shareholders related to the repurchase and conversion of all shares of Series B Preferred Stock. This charge reflects the excess of the one-time cash payment over the carrying value of the Series B Preferred Stock. Excluding the impact of Special items, adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.93 representing an increase of $0.45 over the second quarter of 2020.

Global Restaurant Sales Information

Global restaurant and comparable sales information for the three and six months ended June 27, 2021, compared to the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 are as follows (See “Supplemental Information and Financial Statements” below for related definitions):

Global Restaurant Unit Data

As of June 27, 2021, there were 5,523 Papa John’s restaurants operating in 49 countries and territories, as follows:

Free Cash Flow

The company’s free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment and dividends paid to preferred shareholders) for the six months ended 2021 and 2020, respectively, was as follows (in thousands):

We view free cash flow as an important financial measure because it is one factor that management uses in determining the amount of cash available for discretionary investment. Free cash flow is not a term defined by GAAP, and as a result, our measure of free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Free cash flow should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the company’s performance than the company’s GAAP measures.

See the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for additional information concerning our operating results for the three and six months and cash flow for the six months ended June 27, 2021.

Repurchase and Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock

On May 13, 2021, the company completed the previously announced repurchase and conversion to common stock of all of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock owned by affiliates of Starboard Value LP. Additionally, on June 7, 2021, all of the remaining outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, owned by certain franchisee investors, were repurchased or converted to common stock. Collectively, these actions were taken in return for cash payments of $188.6 million. The company also recorded a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders of $109.9 million as a result of the transaction. This one-time charge to equity reflects the excess of the cash payments over the carrying value of the respective Series B Preferred Stock. Following these transactions, there was no Series B Preferred Stock outstanding as of the end of the quarter.

Cash Dividend

The company paid common and preferred stock dividends of $10.4 million in the second quarter of 2021. On August 3, 2021, our Board of Directors approved a 55.6% increase in the company's dividend rate per common share, from $0.90 on an annual basis to $1.40 on an annual basis, and subsequently declared a third quarter dividend of $0.35 per common share, of which approximately $12.8 million will be paid to common stockholders. The common share dividend will be paid on August 27, 2021 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 16, 2021. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled for August 5, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review the company’s second quarter 2021 earnings results. The call can be accessed from the company’s web page at www.papajohns.com in a listen-only mode or dial 877-312-8816 (U.S. and Canada) or 253-237-1189 (International). The conference call will be available for replay, including by downloadable podcast, from the company’s web. The Conference ID is 2924699.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release and other company communications that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “forecast,” “plan,” “project,” or similar words identify forward-looking statements that we intend to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include or may relate to projections or guidance concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, earnings per share, share repurchases, the financial impact of the temporary business opportunities, disruptions and temporary changes in demand we are experiencing related to the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), commodity costs, currency fluctuations, profit margins, unit growth, unit level performance, capital expenditures, restaurant and franchise development, the duration of changes in consumer behavior caused by the pandemic, our plans to open a new office in Atlanta, the associated reorganization costs and the related organizational, employment and real estate changes that are expected, royalty relief, the effectiveness of our menu innovations and other business initiatives, marketing efforts, liquidity, compliance with debt covenants, strategic decisions and actions, dividends, effective tax rates, regulatory changes and impacts, adoption of new accounting standards, and other financial and operational measures. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.

Our forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions which are based on currently available information, including assumptions about our ability to manage difficulties and opportunities associated with or related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including risks related to: the impact of governmental restrictions on freedom of movement and business operations including quarantines, social distancing requirements and mandatory business closures; changes in consumer demand or behavior; labor shortages at company and/or franchised stores; impact of delayed new store openings, both domestically and internationally; the overall contraction in global economic activity, including increased unemployment; our ability to navigate changing governmental programs and regulations relating to the pandemic; the increased risk of phishing and other cyber-attacks; and our ability to successfully implement or fully realize the anticipated benefits of our corporate reorganization and new office in Atlanta, Georgia and corporate reorganization in the timeframes we desire or within the expected range of expenses, or at all. In addition, turnover in our support teams due to our relocations to Georgia could distract our employees, decrease employee morale, harm our reputation, and negatively impact the overall performance of our corporate support teams. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements are discussed in detail in “Part I. Item 1A. – Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2020. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required by law.

For more information about the company, please visit www.papajohns.com.

Supplemental Information and Financial Statements

Definition

“Comparable sales” represents the change in year-over-year sales for the same base of restaurants for the same fiscal periods. “Global system-wide restaurant sales” represents total restaurant sales for all company-owned and franchised stores open during the comparable periods, and “Global system-wide restaurant sales growth” represents the change in such sales year-over-year. We believe North America, international and global restaurant and comparable sales growth and Global system-wide restaurant sales information is useful in analyzing our results since our franchisees pay royalties and marketing fund contributions that are based on a percentage of franchise sales. Comparable sales and Global system-wide restaurant sales results for restaurants operating outside of the United States are reported on a constant dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency translation. Franchise sales also generate commissary revenue in the United States and in certain international markets. Franchise restaurant and comparable sales growth information is also useful for comparison to industry trends and evaluating the strength of our brand. Management believes the presentation of franchise restaurant sales growth, excluding the impact of foreign currency, provides investors with useful information regarding underlying sales trends and the impact of new unit growth without being impacted by swings in the external factor of foreign currency. Franchise restaurant sales are not included in the company’s revenues.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The table below reconciles our GAAP financial results to our adjusted financial results, which are non-GAAP measures. The non-GAAP adjusted results shown below and within this press release, which exclude the items in the table below (collectively defined as “Special items”), should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the company’s performance than the company’s GAAP results. Management believes presenting certain financial information excluding the Special items is important for purposes of comparison to current year results. In addition, management uses these metrics to evaluate the company’s underlying operating performance and to analyze trends.

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