Dine Brands Global, Inc. Reports Q1 Same Store Sales and Profit Growth

Refinanced $500 million of A-2 Long-Term-Debt at 7.824% Following Quarter’s End;

Resulting in $200 million Reduced Debt Balance

Re-Affirms 2023 Full-Year Guidance

Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar^®, IHOP^® and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop^® restaurants, today announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

“Dine Brands has demonstrated resiliency in a challenging operating environment, which reflects the strength of our brands and strong execution,” said John Peyton, chief executive officer, Dine Brands Global. “Looking ahead, we will adapt with agility and a guest-first mindset. Dine remains committed to investing in growth, generating cash and creating value for our shareholders.”

Vance Chang, chief financial officer, added, “We are balancing our focus between current strategy execution and long-term investments. After the end of the first quarter, we were pleased to announce the completed refinancing of our Senior Secured Notes, further evidence of the strength of our steady and strong cash flow generating franchisor model in today’s lending environment.”

Domestic Restaurant Sales for the First Quarter of 2023

• Applebee’s year-over-year comparable same-restaurant sales increased 6.1% for the first quarter of 2023. Off-premise sales accounted for 23.1% of sales mix, representing per restaurant average weekly sales of approximately $12,900.

• IHOP’s year-over-year domestic comparable same-restaurant sales increased 8.7% for the first quarter of 2023. Off-premise sales accounted for 21.7% of sales mix, representing per restaurant average weekly sales of approximately $7,400.

First Quarter of 2023 Summary

• Total revenues for the first quarter of 2023 were $214 million compared to $230 million for the first quarter of 2022. The decline was primarily due to the refranchising of the 69 company-operated Applebee’s units in October 2022, partially offset by the positive comparable same-restaurant sales growth at Applebee’s and IHOP. Total revenues for the first quarter of 2023, excluding the refranchised Applebee’s restaurants, increased $20 million, or 11%, from the comparable prior period.

• General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were $51.1 million compared to $41.5 million for the first quarter of 2022. The variance was primarily due to continued strategic growth investments, including the acquisition of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and other non-recurring costs, as well as a return to normalized operations.

• Net income for the first quarter of 2023 was $27.4 million compared to $24.9 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher gross margin and a gain on extinguishment of debt, partially offset by higher G&A expenses.

• GAAP net income available to common stockholders was $26.7 million, or earnings per diluted share of $1.74, for the first quarter of 2023 compared to net income available to common stockholders of $24.3 million, or earnings per diluted share of $1.45 for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher gross margin, lower share count and a gain on debt extinguishment, offset by higher G&A expenses.

• Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $30.2 million, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.97, for the first quarter of 2023 compared to adjusted net income available to common stockholders of $25.9 million, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.54, for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher gross margin and lower share count, offset by higher G&A expenses. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and reconciliation of GAAP net income available to common stockholders to adjusted net income available to common stockholders.)

• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2023 was $66.4 million compared to $65.2 million for the first quarter of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher gross margin, offset by higher G&A expenses. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and reconciliation of GAAP net income to consolidated adjusted EBITDA.)

• Development activity by Applebee’s and IHOP franchisees for the first quarter of 2023 resulted in 21 new restaurant openings and the closure of 17 restaurants.

Key Balance Sheet Metrics (as of March 31, 2023)

• Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of approximately $235 million, of which approximately $182 million was unrestricted cash.

• Leverage ratio of approximately 4.5x compared to approximately 4.4x as of December 31, 2022.

• Available borrowing capacity under the Variable Funding Senior Secured Notes is over $220 million.

GAAP Effective Tax Rate

The Company's effective tax rate was 24.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to 27.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was different than the rate of the prior comparable period primarily due to the recognition of higher excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation and lower non-deductible executive compensation.

Capital Returns to Debt and Equity Holders

On April 17, 2023, the Company completed the refinancing of its Senior Secured Notes and issued the Series 2023-1 7.824% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500 million, a reduction of $200 million from the Series 2019-1 Class A-2-I it replaced.

The Company repurchased $5 million of its common stock and paid quarterly cash dividends totaling approximately $16 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Financial Performance Guidance for 2023

The Company reiterated its fiscal 2023 guidance items:

• Reiterated: Domestic development activity by Applebee’s franchisees of between 10 and 20 net fewer restaurants.

• Reiterated: Domestic development activity by IHOP franchisees and area licensees is expected to be between 45 and 60 net new openings.

• Reiterated: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of between approximately $243 million and $255 million.

• Reiterated: G&A expenses are expected to range between approximately $200 million and $210 million, due to some of our planned 2022 G&A investments extended into 2023 given the disruptions caused by the pandemic last year and other organic investments, including Fuzzy’s. This range includes non-cash stock-based compensation expense and depreciation of approximately $30 million.

• Reiterated: Gross capital expenditures are expected to range between $33 million and $38 million.

First quarter of 2023 Earnings Conference Call Details

Dine Brands will host a conference call to discuss its results on May 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. To access the call, please click this conference call registration link, and you will be provided with dial in details. A live webcast of the call, along with a replay will be available for a limited time at https://investors.dinebrands.com. Participants should allow approximately ten minutes prior to the call’s start time to visit the site and download any streaming media software needed to listen to the webcast. An online archive of the webcast will also be available on Events and Presentations under the Investors section of the Company’s website.

About Dine Brands Global, Inc.

Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries and franchisees, supports and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, IHOP®, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® brands. As of March 31, 2023, these three brands consisted of 3,600 restaurants across 17 international markets. Dine Brands is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world and in 2022 expanded into the Fast Casual segment. For more information on Dine Brands, visit the Company’s website located at www.dinebrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal” and other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainty regarding the duration and severity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate impact on the Company; the effectiveness of related containment measures; general economic conditions, including the impact of inflation; our level of indebtedness; compliance with the terms of our securitized debt; our ability to refinance our current indebtedness or obtain additional financing; our dependence on information technology; potential cyber incidents; the implementation of restaurant development plans; our dependence on our franchisees; the concentration of our Applebee’s franchised restaurants in a limited number of franchisees; the financial health of our franchisees; our franchisees’ and other licensees’ compliance with our quality standards and trademark usage; general risks associated with the restaurant industry; potential harm to our brands’ reputation; possible future impairment charges; the effects of tax reform; trading volatility and fluctuations in the price of our stock; our ability to achieve the financial guidance we provide to investors; successful implementation of our business strategy; the availability of suitable locations for new restaurants; shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of products from third parties or availability of utilities; the management and forecasting of appropriate inventory levels; development and implementation of innovative marketing and use of social media; changing health or dietary preference of consumers; risks associated with doing business in international markets; the results of litigation and other legal proceedings; third-party claims with respect to intellectual property assets; our ability to attract and retain management and other key employees; compliance with federal, state and local governmental regulations; risks associated with our self-insurance; natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, or other serious incidents; our success with development initiatives outside of our core business; the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting and future changes in accounting standards; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Corporation’s Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in the Corporation’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation does not intend to, nor does it assume any obligation to, update or supplement any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes references to the Company's non-GAAP financial measure “adjusted net income available to common stockholders”, “adjusted earnings per diluted share (Adjusted EPS)”, “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Adjusted free cash flow.” Adjusted EPS is computed for a given period by deducting from net income or loss available to common stockholders for such period the effect of any closure and impairment charges, any gain or loss related to debt extinguishment, any intangible asset amortization, any non-cash interest expense, any gain or loss related to the disposition of assets, any merger and acquisition costs and other items deemed not reflective of current operations. This is presented on an aggregate basis and a per share (diluted) basis. Adjusted EBITDA is computed for a given period by deducting from net income or loss for such period the effect of any closure and impairment charges, any interest charges, any income tax provision or benefit, any non-cash stock-based compensation, any depreciation and amortization, any gain or loss related to the disposition of assets, any merger and acquisition costs and other items deemed not reflective of current operations. “Adjusted free cash flow” for a given period is defined as cash provided by operating activities, plus receipts from notes and equipment contracts receivable, less capital expenditures. Management may use certain of these non-GAAP financial measures along with the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures to evaluate the performance of the business and to make certain business decisions. Management uses adjusted free cash flow in its periodic assessments of, among other things, the amount of cash dividends per share of common stock and repurchases of common stock and we believe it is important for investors to have the same measure used by management for that purpose. Adjusted free cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes. Additionally, adjusted EPS is one of the metrics used in determining payouts under the Company’s annual cash incentive plan. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional meaningful information that should be considered when assessing the business and the Company’s performance compared to prior periods and the marketplace. Adjusted EPS and adjusted free cash flow are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The restaurant counts and activity presented above do not include two domestic Applebee's ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders), 12 international Applebee's ghost kitchens and 42 international IHOP ghost kitchens at March 31, 2023 and three domestic Applebee's ghost kitchens and two IHOP international ghost kitchens at March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2023, 49 franchise groups operated 134 Fuzzy's restaurants in 18 states within the United States and we had three company-owned restaurants in Texas.

FBN-R

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230503005212/en/