Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ARCO) (“Arcos Dorados” or the “Company”), Latin America’s largest restaurant chain and the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, today reported unaudited results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights – Excluding Venezuela

• Consolidated1 revenues totaled $591.3 million, rising 102.4% in US dollars and 104.5% on a constant currency basis versus 2020, and 4.2% in constant currency on a 2-year basis.
• Systemwide comparable sales increased 98.7% versus the prior year quarter and were nearly flat on a 2-year basis.
• Consolidated1 Adjusted EBITDA totaled $48.3 million, benefitting from strong positive results in all four divisions and a tax credit in Brazil.
• Consolidated1 Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 8.2% in the quarter, reflecting operating leverage in all line items versus 2020 and up 40 basis points versus 2019.
• Basic net income per share was $0.03, compared to a basic net loss per share of $(0.42) in the prior year quarter.
• Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio was 3.5x at the end of the second quarter 2021, versus 7.4x at year-end 2020, remaining on track to meet the Company’s full year guidance.
• Substantially all the Company’s restaurants were operating at least one sales segment as of the date of this release, with approximately 75% operating all sales segments.

“A consistent, strategic approach to building a sustainable business model has been the hallmark of Arcos Dorados’ growth in local currency for fourteen years. Our performance in this last quarter and, indeed, over the last eighteen months is a reflection of that philosophy. The Latin American QSR industry’s largest free-standing restaurant portfolio, a strong balance sheet and superior cash flows are the foundation of the competitive advantages we are now leveraging through our Three D’s strategy of Drive-thru, Delivery and Digital, while at the same time contributing to the wellbeing of our people, guests and the communities we serve,” said Marcelo Rabach, Chief Executive Officer of Arcos Dorados.

“Second quarter 2021 systemwide comparable sales rebounded strongly versus the prior year and were essentially flat on a 2-year basis despite the fact that the on-premise business in our street-facing and mall-based stores has not yet fully recovered and is still subject to government-imposed operating restrictions. Profitability in the quarter also came very close to pre-pandemic levels, overcoming significant challenges related to the government-imposed operating restrictions and higher input costs. As we transition into the Full Revival Phase of our plan, we will enhance convenience, improve personalization and increase frequency by expanding our Digital capabilities and loyalty programs to allow our guests to move seamlessly across our on-premise, take-away and delivery sales segments.”

“With the continued normalization of operating conditions, we now have enough visibility to resume planning for the long-term and are developing a new plan that will go well beyond just the next year. The opportunity for growth in our main markets remains robust, both organically with the emergence of new sales segments such as our record-setting McDelivery and inorganically through new, free-standing unit openings. We will focus on the factors we can control to capture these local growth opportunities while continuing to provide our guests with the best restaurant experience in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he concluded.

Second Quarter 2021 Results

Consolidated

Arcos Dorados’ consolidated results may continue to be impacted by Venezuela’s macroeconomic volatility, including the ongoing hyperinflationary environment, which has historically led the Company to record significant non-cash accounting charges to operations in this market. As such, the discussion of the Company’s operating performance continues to be focused on consolidated results that exclude Venezuela.

Main variations in Other Operating Income / (Expenses), net

Included in Adjusted EBITDA: The positive variation in other operating income / (expense) is mainly explained by an $11.9 million net tax credit in Brazil in this year’s second quarter, compared with the negative impact of the recognition of food donations related to COVID-19 in the second quarter last year.

Excluded from Adjusted EBITDA: The positive variation is mainly explained by impairment charges of $3.8 million in the prior year quarter’s result.

Second quarter net income attributable to the Company totaled $4.9 million, compared to a net loss of $89.5 million in the same period of 2020. Arcos Dorados’ recorded earnings of $0.02 per share in the second quarter of 2021 compared to a loss of $(0.43) per share in the corresponding 2020 period. Total weighted average shares for the second quarter of 2021 amounted to 210,359,930 compared to 207,278,249 in the prior year’s quarter.

Consolidated – excluding Venezuela

Excluding Arcos Dorados’ Venezuelan operation, total revenues in US dollars increased 102.4% year-over-year. The Company’s Three D’s strategy across Drive-thru, Delivery and Digital, along with reduced government-imposed operating restrictions, drove the rebound from the prior year’s pandemic-impacted results. Constant currency revenues grew 104.5% in the quarter, with strong results in all the Company’s divisions. In fact, constant currency revenues were in line with or already above the second quarter of 2019 in three of four divisions, despite the still-recovering, on-premise segments and restaurant formats.

As of the date of this press release, substantially all the Company’s restaurants are operating at least one sales segment and approximately 75% are operating all sales segments. Operating hours and on-premise sales segments continue to be subject to government-imposed restrictions in most markets.

Systemwide comparable sales for the second quarter increased 98.7% versus the second quarter of 2020 and were down only 0.6% on a 2-year basis, including positive 2-year systemwide comparable sales in both May and June. SLAD and NOLAD contributed the highest levels of growth with both the Caribbean and Brazil also performing strongly. The Drive-thru and Delivery sales segments grew on top of a strong prior year, rising 29% and 94% in constant currency, respectively.

Sustained growth in the Delivery segment demonstrates the Company’s success in generating an additional consumption occasion among guests, which is expected to remain after operating conditions are fully normalized. Sales growth and margin performance have been further boosted by expanding Digital capabilities, especially in the segmentation of guests to increase loyalty, thus driving frequency of visit and average check growth in the long term. The Company is also leveraging the significant competitive advantage of its historical commitment to building an unmatched and growing footprint of free-standing restaurants.

Adjusted EBITDA – Excluding Venezuela ($ million)

Second quarter consolidated Adjusted EBITDA reached $48.3 million, with all four divisions contributing to the strong rebound in profitability. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin was up 22.4 percentage points, or 20.4 percentage points when adjusted for the $11.9 million net tax credit in Brazil. Margin expansion was highlighted by a 50 basis point improvement in Food & Paper (F&P) costs as a percentage of sales and significant operating leverage in both Payroll and Occupancy and Other Operating Expenses due to the rebound in sales performance.

Consolidated General & Administrative (G&A) expenses declined by 380 basis points as a percentage of sales despite rising 32.3% in US dollars and 41.0% in constant currency terms versus the same period in 2020. The prior year’s low base of comparison resulted from the extraordinary cost saving measures the Company implemented to stabilize its operating cash flow at the peak of the pandemic.

Non-operating Results

Arcos Dorados’ non-operating results for the second quarter included a $15.0 million non-cash foreign currency exchange gain, compared to a non-cash loss of $4.1 million in the same period of 2020. The Company also recorded a $4.2 million loss from derivative instruments in the second quarter of 2021 and a gain of $8.7 million related to transactions with certain securities in the second quarter of 2020. Net interest expense was $1.4 million lower year-over-year. The Company estimated income tax expense of $10.3 million in the second quarter, compared to income tax expense of $2.4 million in the prior-year period.

Second quarter net income attributable to the Company totaled $5.3 million, compared to a net loss of $87.4 million in the prior year period. Earnings per share was $0.03 in the second quarter 2021 compared to loss per share of $(0.42) in the prior year quarter.

Analysis by Division:

Brazil Division

After a challenging start to the quarter due to tightened government-imposed operating restrictions in April, especially in Brazil, as reported revenues rose 70.7%, or 67.6% on a constant currency basis, including 65.6% growth in systemwide comparable sales. On a 2-year basis, total revenues were down only 7.8% in constant currency and systemwide comparable sales in the quarter were down only 10.6%. Ongoing government-imposed operating restrictions have hampered the recovery of the on-premise sales segments due to capacity and operating hour limits as well as having a negative impact on consumption patterns in the country. Digital channels generated 49% of the division’s systemwide sales in the quarter, including 13% from self-order kiosks in the market’s large network of Experience of the Future (EOTF) restaurants.

Marketing activities in the second quarter focused on the Company’s strengths: core products, the Three D’s and the unique emotional bond the McDonald’s brand has with its guests. Aligned with the local “Méquizice” campaign that encouraged guests to share their own special McDonald’s orders, the Company participated in the global famous orders platform with the launch of the BTS Meal. Guests were able to order a chicken McNuggets combo with special sweet chili and Cajun dipping sauces, inspired by the K-pop boyband, BTS. This campaign was integrated with the Company’s Digital, Drive-thru and Delivery channels and produced record-breaking, triple-digit chicken sales growth as well as unprecedented levels of digital engagement.

Additionally, Brazil introduced its first loyalty program, focused on the Drive-thru segment to leverage the significant competitive advantage of its 483 free-standing restaurants. The “Méqui VIP Drive” club surpassed one million registered members in just three months and has already become an important frequency driver, supported by the Company’s enhanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities. Members of the program receive special offers, early access to new product launches and other personalized experiences.

Delivery once again broke its sales record in local currency, growing 91% versus the prior year quarter and 11% sequentially. This growth came on top of the 152% year-over-year local currency growth recorded in the second quarter 2020 versus the same period in 2019.

Growth in Delivery was supported by the industry’s highest-rated Mobile App, which has been downloaded 29 million times in Brazil, more than any other brand in the country according to AppAnnie, with around twice as many active users as the next closest competitor.

As reported Adjusted EBITDA in the division reached $33.8 million in the quarter, after the negative $7.1 million result in the prior year period. This drove a 20.3 percentage point improvement in Adjusted EBITDA margin versus the prior year quarter, or 15.1 percentage points excluding the $11.9 million net tax credit, which resulted from the exclusion of ICMS from the Pis/Cofins calculation base. Profitability improved thanks to significant operating leverage across all line items except F&P costs, which saw an increase of less than 80 basis points as a percentage of sales versus the prior year quarter.

As of the date of this press release, more than 99% of Brazil’s restaurants are operating at least one sales segment and 56% are operating all sales segments. The operating environment is normalizing after tightened government-imposed restrictions were once-again relaxed over the course of the second quarter in most parts of the country. However, it is important to note that most restaurants remain subject to operating hour and capacity limits.

NOLAD

As reported revenues rose 104.4%, or 93.8% on a constant currency basis, including a doubling of systemwide comparable sales versus the prior year quarter. Importantly, the quarter’s topline results reflect a return to pre-pandemic sales levels with the steady, sequential improvement of the last four quarters leading to a 1.2% increase in systemwide comparable sales on a 2-year basis.

Marketing activities in the second quarter continued to focus on the Company’s core products and brand building activities. All three markets introduced the BTS Meal on June 1st, selling out within just a few days and enhancing the unique emotional bond the McDonald’s brand has with guests in Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Sales results in Mexico, which opened its first EOTF restaurant in the quarter, reached double-digit growth compared with the same period in 2019 helped by accelerating Drive-thru sales boosted by the mobility campaign. Panama launched Spicy McNuggets on the “McNuggetear” platform, doubling the unit sales of chicken McNuggets and strengthening this item with younger guests. Finally, Delivery accelerated sales supported by co-branded campaigns with the delivery aggregators and product bundles to celebrate various occasions and special dates.

As reported Adjusted EBITDA reached $8.4 million in the second quarter compared with negative $4.1 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 15.7 percentage points, reflecting operating leverage in all cost and expense line items, especially Payroll, Occupancy and Other Operating expenses as well as G&A. Adjusted EBITDA in constant currency reached 95% of 2019’s level in US dollars.

As of the date of this release, substantially all the division’s restaurants were operating all sales segments. However, all three markets remain subject to government-imposed operating restrictions to varying degrees.

SLAD

As reported revenues increased 217.8%, despite the 28% year-over-year average depreciation of the Argentine peso against the US dollar. The strong recovery in the division led to a constant currency revenue increase of 259.6%. Systemwide comparable sales increased 254.3% versus the second quarter of 2020 and rose 17.1% on a 2-year basis.

Sales growth in the quarter was driven by the Chilean and Argentine markets, where Delivery sales reached record levels and the “Club VIP Automac” program supported the Drive-thru segment. Operating conditions in Uruguay, Ecuador and Peru are gradually improving but remain challenging due largely to government-imposed operating restrictions.

Marketing activities for the second quarter included the digital sponsorship of the Argentine Soccer Association (A.F.A.) which helped boost digital sales and improve guest experience through promotional activities in the restaurants during the Copa América, the region’s most important international soccer tournament. In Chile the Company launched the “Quarter Pounder Lover” program, growing total combo sales by more than 40%.

As reported Adjusted EBITDA totaled $10.3 million, compared with negative $17.5 million in the prior year. All cost and expense line items improved versus the prior year, with significant operating leverage of Payroll, Occupancy and Other Operating expenses as well as G&A. The Adjusted EBITDA result was up 8.7% in constant currency terms on a 2-year basis.

The SLAD division was operating at least one sales segment in substantially all its restaurants, with 87% operating all sales segments, as of the date of this press release. Government-imposed operating restrictions continue to limit the Company’s ability to operate its restaurants under normal hours and capacity.

Caribbean Division

The Caribbean division’s results may continue to be impacted by Venezuela’s macroeconomic volatility, including the ongoing hyperinflationary environment, which has historically led the Company to record significant non-cash accounting charges to operations in this market. As such, the discussion of the Caribbean division’s operating performance focuses on results that exclude the Company’s operations in this country.

Caribbean Division – excluding Venezuela

Revenues in the Caribbean division, excluding Venezuela, increased 85.2% in US dollars, or 80.7% in constant currency terms. Systemwide comparable sales increased 77.3% versus the prior year quarter and 9.3% against the same period in 2019. Revenue growth was driven by continued strong performances in the US dollar Puerto Rico market, and the euro-denominated French West Indies markets. Colombia delivered another quarter of sustained sales growth, generated primarily by the Drive-thru and Delivery segments, benefitting from the implementation of a new CRM platform that enhanced the Company’s eCommerce capabilities in that market. Additionally, Colombia’s revenues have benefitted from the suspension of VAT for the restaurant industry since July of 2020.

Marketing activities for the second quarter in Puerto Rico and Colombia included the launch of the BTS Meal, driving customer excitement and a significant increase in chicken McNuggets sales. Also on the chicken platform, the Company maintained the momentum of the successful launch of its Crispy Chicken Sandwiches in Puerto Rico.

The Dessert platform added the McFlurry Caramel Brownie in Puerto Rico and the locally-relevant McFlurry “Oblea” in Colombia as these markets continue on the path to normalized operations. Finally, Drive-Thru sales have accelerated thanks to improved service times, reduced menu complexity, focus on customer experience and growth in the Club VIP Automac program.

As reported Adjusted EBITDA reached $12.6 million, compared with a negative $2.1 million result in the prior-year quarter and positive $5.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. The hard currency markets of Puerto Rico and the French West Indies together with Colombia contributed most of the improvement. Operating leverage was relatively uniform across most cost and expense line items, with the strongest performance coming from Occupancy and Other Operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 10.7%, an improvement of 5.6 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2019.

As of the date of this release, 95% of restaurants were operating at least one sales segment and 81% were operating all sales segments. The Caribbean division has the highest penetration of street-facing restaurants, with 79% in either the free-standing or in-store format.

New Unit Development

Arcos Dorados opened 32 new restaurants during the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2021. For the year-to-date, the Company opened 29 new restaurants, including 27 street-facing and 20 company-operated units. At the end of the second quarter, the Company had 789 Experience of the Future Restaurants.

Balance Sheet & Cash Flow Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents were $161.9 million and total financial debt (including the value of derivative instruments) was $698.0 million, as of June 30, 2021. Net debt (Total Financial Debt minus Cash and cash equivalents) was $536.2 million.

During the quarter, the Company monetized the value of certain of its derivative instruments, generating $23.2 million, which it used to repurchase $1.0 million of its outstanding 2023 Senior Notes and $5.5 million of its outstanding 2027 Senior Notes. The remainder was held in Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2021.

The Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio saw a pronounced improvement to 3.5x as of the end of the quarter, with the increase in its trailing-twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA, and remains on track to meet full year guidance.

Net cash generated from operating activities for the six months ended June 30, totaled $34.6 million, while cash used in net investing activities totaled $44.5 million. Capital expenditures totaled $47.5 million, compared with $52.6 million in the previous year’s period. Net cash provided by financing activities was $13.0 million.

Recent Developments

2023 and 2027 Senior Notes Repurchase

Beginning in July 2021, the Company has repurchased an additional $2,105 and $8,977 of the outstanding nominal amount of 2023 Notes and 2027 Notes, respectively, for an amount equal to $11,815 plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Stock Dividend Distribution

Maintaining its commitment to provide shareholders a return in 2021, on June 30 the Board of Directors approved a stock dividend distribution to all Class A and Class B shareholders. On July 23, 2021, the Company distributed 2,960,926 repurchased shares as a stock dividend and paid $21 thousand in cash for fractional shares.

2020 Social Impact and Sustainable Development Report

On June 10, 2021, Arcos Dorados published its 7th Social Impact and Sustainable Development Report for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Report, which was audited for the first time by EY, can be downloaded at www.recetadelfuturo.com, provides an update on the progress related to the pillars of the Company’s “Recipe for the Future” ESG Platform and the implementation of its associated initiatives and policies.

Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Webcast

A webcast to discuss the information contained in this press release will be held today, August 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET. In order to access the webcast, members of the investment community should follow this link Arcos Dorados Second Quarter 2021 Results Webcast

A replay of the webcast will be available later today through November 9, 2021 in the investor section of the Company’s website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir.

Definitions:

Systemwide comparable sales growth and Systemwide comparable sales growth 2-year basis: refers to the change, measured in constant currency, in our Company-operated and franchised restaurant sales in one period from a comparable period for restaurants that have been open for thirteen months or longer (year-over-year basis) or for twenty-five months or longer (2-year basis). While sales by our franchisees are not recorded as revenues by us, we believe the information is important in understanding our financial performance because these sales are the basis on which we calculate and record franchised revenues and are indicative of the financial health of our franchisee base.

Constant currency basis: refers to amounts calculated using the same exchange rate over the periods under comparison to remove the effects of currency fluctuations from this trend analysis (in this release, this could be calculated a one-year basis when comparing with the previous year or on a 2-year basis when comparing with the same period in 2019). To better discern underlying business trends, this release uses non-GAAP financial measures that segregate year-over-year growth into two categories: (i) currency translation, (ii) constant currency growth. (i) Currency translation reflects the impact on growth of the appreciation or depreciation of the local currencies in which we conduct our business against the US dollar (the currency in which our financial statements are prepared). (ii) Constant currency growth reflects the underlying growth of the business excluding the effect from currency translation.

Excluding Venezuela basis: due to the ongoing political and macroeconomic uncertainty prevailing in Venezuela, and in order to provide greater clarity and visibility on the Company’s financial and operating overall performance, this release focuses on the results on an “Excluding-Venezuela” basis, which is non-GAAP measure.

Adjusted EBITDA: In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with the general accepted accounting principles (GAAP), within this press release and the accompanying tables, we use a non-GAAP financial measure titled ‘Adjusted EBITDA’. We use Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as our operating income plus depreciation and amortization plus/minus the following losses/gains included within other operating income (expenses), net, and within general and administrative expenses in our statement of income: gains from sale or insurance recovery of property and equipment; write-offs of property and equipment; impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill; and reorganization and optimization plan expenses.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA facilitates company-to-company operating performance comparisons by backing out potential differences caused by variations such as capital structures (affecting net interest expense and other financial charges), taxation (affecting income tax expense) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense), which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to operating performance. Figure 11 of this earnings release include a reconciliation for Adjusted EBITDA. For more information, please see Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation in Note 9 of our financial statements (6-K Form) filed today with the S.E.C.

About Arcos Dorados

Arcos Dorados is the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and grant franchises of McDonald’s restaurants in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories with more than 2,250 restaurants, operated by the Company or by its sub-franchisees, that together employ over 100 thousand people (as of 06/30/2021). The Company is also committed to the development of the communities in which it operates, to providing young people their first formal job opportunities and to utilize its Scale for Good to achieve a positive environmental impact. Arcos Dorados is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). To learn more about the Company, please visit the Investors section of our website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements about the Company’s business prospects, its ability to attract customers, its affordable platform, its expectation for revenue generation and its outlook and guidance for 2021. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in Arcos Dorados' business. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, Arcos Dorados' business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Arcos Dorados, which could result in Arcos Dorados' expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Arcos Dorados. Additional information relating to the uncertainties affecting Arcos Dorados' business is contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Arcos Dorados does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Second Quarter and First Six Months 2021 Consolidated Results

Second Quarter and First Six Months 2021 Consolidated Results – Excluding Venezuela

Second Quarter and First Six Months 2021 Results by Division

Summarized Consolidated Balance Sheets

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