MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (Nasdaq:BWLD) announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 28, 2014. Highlights for the fourth quarter versus the same period a year ago were:
- Total revenue increased 19.7% to $408.9 million
- Company-owned restaurant sales increased 20.2% to $384.4 million
- Same-store sales grew 5.9% at company-owned restaurants and 5.1% at franchised restaurants
- Net earnings decreased (2.4%) to $20.3 million from 20.8 million, and earnings per diluted share decreased (2.7%) to $1.07 from $1.10
Sally Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Buffalo Wild Wings had a great year. We grew our net earnings over 31% in 2014, achieving earnings per diluted share of $4.95. Our 2014 same-store sales increased 6.5% at company-owned restaurants and 5.6% at franchised locations. With wall-to-wall televisions and big screens, Buffalo Wild Wings remains the place to cheer on your favorite sports teams. Our restaurants deliver memorable game-day experiences to Guests no matter what the season!"
Ms. Smith continued, "We're exceptionally pleased with our restaurants' performance in the fourth quarter and, in particular, with our same-store sales results of 5.9% at company-owned restaurants and 5.1% at franchised locations. As previously communicated, we anticipated higher food and labor costs compared to the prior year. Food costs rose as the cost per pound for traditional chicken wings increased over the fourth quarter last year. Labor as a percentage of restaurant sales increased primarily due to expansion in states with higher wage rates and staffing of all company-owned restaurants with Guest Experience Captains. Captains are an essential part of the Guest Experience Business Model, which we believe drives sales. We achieved net earnings per share of $1.07 for the quarter, a slight decline from 2013 as a result of the increased food and labor costs."
Total revenue increased 19.7% to $408.9 million in the fourth quarter compared to $341.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Company-owned restaurant sales for the quarter increased 20.2% over the same period in 2013, to $384.4 million, driven by a same-store sales increase at company-owned Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants of 5.9% and 53 additional company-owned Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 relative to the same period in 2013. Franchise royalties and fees increased 13.0% to $24.5 million for the quarter versus $21.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. This increase is attributed to a same-store sales increase at franchised Buffalo Wild Wings locations of 5.1% and 25 additional franchised Buffalo Wild Wings locations at the end of the period versus a year ago.
Average weekly sales for company-owned Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants were $62,119 for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to $58,204 for the same quarter last year, a 6.7% increase. Franchised Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the United States averaged $63,949 for the period versus $61,167 in the fourth quarter a year ago, a 4.5% increase.
For the fourth quarter, net earnings decreased (2.4%) to $20.3 million versus $20.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Earnings per diluted share were $1.07, as compared to fourth quarter 2013 earnings per diluted share of $1.10.
2015 Outlook
Ms. Smith remarked, "Same-store sales increased 11.9% at company-owned restaurants and 11.1% at franchised locations for the first five weeks of the first quarter of 2015 compared to 4.8% and 2.1%, respectively, for the same period last year. Sales were particularly strong during the college bowl games, including the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl™ and the national championship game. With the football season complete, our Guests are looking forward to the excitement and intense competition of the college basketball tournament. As the Official Hangout of NCAA® March Madness®, we'll feature food and beverage items inspired by the tournament's four regions, launch a new national advertising campaign, and have basketball-inspired GameBreak™ competitions."
Ms. Smith concluded, "We will continue our coast-to-coast development this year with the addition of 50 company-owned restaurants and 40 franchised locations, building toward our goal of 1,700 Buffalo Wild Wings in the United States and Canada. Our franchise partner in the Philippines opened their first restaurant in January and franchised locations in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are expected to open soon. In 2015, we will complete the roll out of tabletop tablets and we are testing menu ordering from tablets in the first half of the year. We are building a platform for long-term sustained growth for our shareholders and remain confident in our 18% net earnings growth goal for 2015."
Buffalo Wild Wings will be hosting a conference call today, February 5, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to discuss these results. There will be a simultaneous webcast conducted at our investor website IR.BuffaloWildWings.com.
A replay of the call will be available until February 12, 2015. To access this replay, please dial 1.858.384.5517 password 7200827.
NCAA® and March Madness® are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
About the Company
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings menu specializes in 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ™ to Blazin'®. Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently more than 1,070 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest events and offers for sports fans and wing lovers, like Buffalo Wild Wings on Facebook, follow @BWWings on Twitter and visit www.BuffaloWildWings.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Various remarks we make about future expectations, plans, and prospects for the company constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Safe Harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future financial and restaurant performance measures and growth goals, including, but not limited to, those relating to our first quarter sales trends and projected unit and net earnings growth rates for 2015, and beyond. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements and are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology, including "anticipates," "believes," "can," "continue," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "should" or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Actual results may vary materially from those contained in forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion, the ability of our franchisees to open and manage new restaurants, market acceptance in the new geographic regions we enter (particularly non-U.S. locations), success of acquired restaurants, success of investments in new or emerging concepts, unforeseen obstacles in developing nontraditional sites or non-U.S. locations, our ability to obtain and maintain licenses and permits necessary to operate our existing and new restaurants, our franchisees' adherence to our system standards, the cost of commodities such as traditional chicken wings, the success of our key initiatives and our advertising and marketing campaigns, our ability to control restaurant labor and other restaurant operating costs, the continued service of key management personnel, our ability to protect our name and logo and other proprietary information, economic conditions (including changes in consumer preferences or consumer discretionary spending), the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our employees, the sale of food and alcoholic beverages, the effect of competition in the restaurant industry, and other factors disclosed from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors described under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2013, as updated in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Investors should take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS | ||||
| (Dollar and share amounts in thousands except per share data) | ||||
| (unaudited) | ||||
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |||
| December 28, | December 29, | December 28, | December 29, | |
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| Revenue: | ||||
| Restaurant sales | $ 384,380 | 319,830 | 1,422,990 | 1,185,351 |
| Franchise royalties and fees | 24,536 | 21,717 | 93,233 | 81,368 |
| Total revenue | 408,916 | 341,547 | 1,516,223 | 1,266,719 |
| Costs and expenses: | ||||
| Restaurant operating costs: | ||||
| Cost of sales | 117,680 | 95,345 | 413,890 | 363,755 |
| Labor | 119,569 | 95,802 | 444,232 | 360,302 |
| Operating | 58,164 | 47,353 | 209,583 | 174,338 |
| Occupancy | 20,883 | 18,127 | 78,931 | 68,394 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 27,100 | 22,164 | 98,454 | 84,978 |
| General and administrative | 31,875 | 26,620 | 118,038 | 96,182 |
| Preopening | 5,175 | 4,965 | 13,544 | 14,647 |
| Loss on asset disposals and impairment | 458 | 1,560 | 3,827 | 3,262 |
| Total costs and expenses | 380,904 | 311,936 | 1,380,499 | 1,165,858 |
| Income from operations | 28,012 | 29,611 | 135,724 | 100,861 |
| Investment income (loss) | (189) | 30 | (317) | 674 |
| Earnings before income taxes | 27,823 | 29,641 | 135,407 | 101,535 |
| Income tax expense | 7,540 | 8,826 | 41,352 | 29,981 |
| Net earnings including noncontrolling interests | 20,283 | 20,815 | 94,055 | 71,554 |
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (39) | — | (39) | — |
| Net earnings attributable to Buffalo Wild Wings | $ 20,322 | 20,815 | 94,094 | 71,554 |
| Earnings per common share – basic | $ 1.07 | 1.11 | 4.98 | 3.81 |
| Earnings per common share – diluted | $ 1.07 | 1.10 | 4.95 | 3.79 |
| Weighted average shares outstanding – basic | 18,931 | 18,787 | 18,908 | 18,770 |
| Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted | 19,051 | 18,965 | 19,002 | 18,872 |
The following table expresses results of operations as a percentage of total revenue for the periods presented, except for restaurant operating costs which are expressed as a percentage of restaurant sales:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |||
| December 28, | December 29, | December 28, | December 29, | |
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| Revenue: | ||||
| Restaurant sales | 94.0% | 93.6% | 93.9% | 93.6% |
| Franchise royalties and fees | 6.0 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.4 |
| Total revenue | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Costs and expenses: | ||||
| Restaurant operating costs: | ||||
| Cost of sales | 30.6 | 29.8 | 29.1 | 30.7 |
| Labor | 31.1 | 30.0 | 31.2 | 30.4 |
| Operating | 15.1 | 14.8 | 14.7 | 14.7 |
| Occupancy | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.7 |
| General and administrative | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Preopening | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Loss on asset disposals and impairment | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Total costs and expenses | 93.1 | 91.3 | 91.0 | 92.0 |
| Income from operations | 6.9 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Investment income (loss) | — | — | — | 0.1 |
| Earnings before income taxes | 6.8 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Income tax expense | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| Net earnings including noncontrolling interests | 5.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 5.6 |
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — |
| Net earnings attributable to Buffalo Wild Wings | 5.0% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | ||
| (Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||
| (unaudited) | ||
| December 28, | December 29, | |
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Assets | ||
| Current assets: | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 93,329 | 57,502 |
| Marketable securities | 19,547 | 7,584 |
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $25 | 28,322 | 21,845 |
| Inventory | 11,893 | 9,492 |
| Prepaid expenses | 4,215 | 4,509 |
| Refundable income taxes | 9,779 | 4,329 |
| Deferred income taxes | 15,807 | 9,287 |
| Restricted assets | 81,037 | 68,208 |
| Total current assets | 263,929 | 182,756 |
| Property and equipment, net | 494,401 | 440,538 |
| Reacquired franchise rights, net | 37,631 | 33,403 |
| Other assets | 19,399 | 16,498 |
| Goodwill | 38,106 | 32,533 |
| Total assets | $ 853,466 | 705,728 |
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Unearned franchise fees | $ 2,099 | 1,818 |
| Accounts payable | 37,241 | 31,806 |
| Accrued compensation and benefits | 59,161 | 52,049 |
| Accrued expenses | 16,573 | 13,784 |
| Current portion of deferred lease credits | 743 | — |
| System-wide payables | 79,668 | 67,017 |
| Total current liabilities | 195,485 | 166,474 |
| Long-term liabilities: | ||
| Other liabilities | 6,388 | 1,913 |
| Deferred income taxes | 39,815 | 37,822 |
| Deferred lease credits | 37,479 | 33,711 |
| Total liabilities | 279,167 | 239,920 |
| Commitments and contingencies | ||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||
| Undesignated stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized | — | — |
| Common stock, no par value. Authorized 44,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 18,937,131 and 18,803,663, respectively | 148,114 | 133,203 |
| Retained earnings | 427,695 | 333,601 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (2,096) | (996) |
| Total stockholders' equity | 573,713 | 465,808 |
| Noncontrolling interest | 586 | — |
| Total equity | 574,299 | 465,808 |
| Total liabilities and equity | $ 853,466 | 705,728 |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||
| (Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||
| (unaudited) | ||
| Twelve months ended | ||
| December 28, | December 29, | |
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||
| Net earnings including noncontrolling interests | $ 94,055 | 71,554 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations: | ||
| Depreciation | 93,773 | 79,881 |
| Amortization | 4,681 | 5,097 |
| Loss on asset disposals and impairment | 3,827 | 3,253 |
| Deferred lease credits | 4,331 | 5,247 |
| Deferred income taxes | (3,946) | (2,209) |
| Stock-based compensation | 14,253 | 11,496 |
| Excess tax benefit from stock issuance | (2,500) | (5,471) |
| Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions: | ||
| Trading securities | (972) | (1,287) |
| Accounts receivable | (3,443) | (2,012) |
| Inventory | (2,178) | (1,581) |
| Prepaid expenses | 383 | (647) |
| Other assets | (139) | (1,218) |
| Unearned franchise fees | 191 | 55 |
| Accounts payable | 5,343 | (1,467) |
| Income taxes | (2,948) | 5,264 |
| Accrued expenses | 13,155 | 13,405 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 217,866 | 179,360 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||
| Acquisition of property and equipment | (137,466) | (138,735) |
| Acquisition of businesses/investments in affiliates | (30,572) | (10,288) |
| Purchase of marketable securities | (22,991) | — |
| Proceeds from marketable securities | 12,000 | 3,282 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (179,029) | (145,741) |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||
| Proceeds from line of credit | — | 5,000 |
| Repayments of line of credit | — | (5,000) |
| Issuance of common stock | 3,032 | 2,514 |
| Excess tax benefit from stock issuance | 2,500 | 5,471 |
| Tax payments for restricted stock units | (7,474) | (4,946) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (1,942) | 3,039 |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (1,068) | (496) |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 35,827 | 36,162 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 57,502 | 21,340 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ 93,329 | 57,502 |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||
| Supplemental Information | ||||
| Restaurant Count | ||||
| Company-owned Restaurants (includes Buffalo Wild Wings, Rusty Taco, and Buffalo Wild Wings-owned PizzaRev locations): | ||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| 2014 | 443 | 449 | 463 | 491 |
| 2013 | 397 | 407 | 415 | 434 |
| 2012 | 327 | 330 | 343 | 381 |
| 2011 | 263 | 277 | 288 | 319 |
| 2010 | 235 | 234 | 244 | 259 |
| Franchised Restaurants (includes Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco locations): | ||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| 2014 | 569 | 579 | 588 | 591 |
| 2013 | 514 | 525 | 534 | 559 |
| 2012 | 505 | 505 | 511 | 510 |
| 2011 | 488 | 492 | 498 | 498 |
| 2010 | 430 | 447 | 457 | 473 |
| Same-Store Sales at Buffalo Wild Wings locations in United States and Canada | |||||
| Company-owned Restaurants: | |||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Year | |
| 2014 | 6.6% | 7.7% | 6.0% | 5.9% | 6.5% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 3.9% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 5.8% | 6.6% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.7% | 8.9% | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | (0.1%) | 2.6% | (0.3%) | 0.6% |
| Franchised Restaurants: | |||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Year | |
| 2014 | 5.0% | 6.5% | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.3% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 7.4% | 6.5% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | 2.7% | 4.2% | 5.9% | 3.6% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | (0.7%) | 0.3% | (1.1%) | (0.2%) |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||
| Supplemental Information | |||||
| Average Weekly Sales Volumes at Buffalo Wild Wings locations in United States and Canada | |||||
| Company-owned Restaurants: | |||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Year | |
| 2014 | $ 60,966 | 59,403 | 59,643 | 62,119 | 60,470 |
| 2013 | 56,953 | 54,759 | 55,592 | 58,204 | 56,392 |
| 2012 | 55,131 | 51,524 | 52,561 | 55,595 | 53,783 |
| 2011 | 48,845 | 47,970 | 49,461 | 51,983 | 49,627 |
| 2010 | 45,327 | 43,021 | 44,394 | 45,595 | 44,601 |
| Franchised Restaurants: | |||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Year | |
| 2014 | $ 63,852 | 61,845 | 61,586 | 63,949 | 62,595 |
| 2013 | 60,050 | 58,186 | 58,926 | 61,167 | 59,594 |
| 2012 | 57,282 | 54,766 | 55,608 | 58,490 | 56,570 |
| 2011 | 52,744 | 50,995 | 51,350 | 53,385 | 52,081 |
| 2010 | 51,532 | 49,051 | 49,005 | 49,837 | 49,835 |