Domestic Restaurant AUV Exceeds $1.9 Million Driven by 21.6% Domestic Same Store Sales Growth Delivers 14.2% Unit Growth DALLAS, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) today announced financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended March 30, 2024. Highlights for the fiscal first quarter 2024 compared to the fiscal first quarter 2023: System-wide sales increased 36.8% to $1.1 billion 65 net new openings in the fiscal first quarter 2024 Domestic same store sales increased 21.6% Domestic restaurant AUV increased to $1.9 million Digital sales increased to 68.3% of system-wide sales Total revenue increased 34.1% to $145.8 million Net income increased 83.5% to $28.7 million, or $0.98 per diluted share Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share, both non-GAAP measures, increased 61.8% to $28.7 million, or $0.98 per diluted share Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased 45.3% to $50.3 million Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") are set forth in the schedule accompanying this release. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." "Our fiscal first quarter 2024 showcased the momentum behind the Wingstop brand and the continued strength of our strategies, delivering 21.6% domestic same-store sales growth driven almost entirely by transaction growth," said Michael Skipworth, President & Chief Executive Officer. "Our domestic AUV exceeded $1.9 million, further strengthening best-in-class returns for our brand partners and is strengthening our development pipeline, which gives us confidence in our ability to scale Wingstop into a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand." Key operating metrics for the fiscal first quarter 2024 compared to the fiscal first quarter 2023: Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2024 April 1, 2023 Number of system-wide restaurants open at end of period 2,279 1,996 Number of domestic franchise restaurants open at end of period 1,924 1,710 Number of international franchise restaurants open at end of period (1) 305 243 System-wide sales (in millions) $                          1,124 $                             822 Domestic AUV (in thousands) $                          1,918 $                          1,662 Domestic same store sales growth 21.6 % 20.1 % Company-owned domestic same store sales growth 6.2 % 10.3 % Net income (in thousands) $                        28,747 $                        15,669 Adjusted net income (in thousands) $                        28,747 $                        17,771 Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)  $                        50,263 $                        34,584 (1) Including U.S. territories.   Fiscal first quarter 2024 financial results Total revenue for the fiscal first quarter 2024 increased to $145.8 million from $108.7 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other increased $18.9 million, of which $9.4 million was due to domestic same store sales growth of 21.6%, and $7.2 million was due to net new franchise development. Advertising fees increased $12.7 million due to a 36.8% increase in system-wide sales in the fiscal first quarter 2024. Company-owned restaurant sales increased $5.5 million due to the addition of seven net new company-owned restaurants since the prior fiscal first quarter and 6.2% company-owned domestic same store sales growth driven primarily by an increase in transactions. Cost of sales was $21.3 million compared to $16.7 million in the fiscal first quarter of the prior year. As a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales, cost of sales increased to 74.5% from 72.4% in the prior year comparable period. The increase as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales was driven by food, beverage and packaging costs primarily resulting from an increase in the cost of bone-in chicken wings as compared to the prior fiscal first quarter. Our purchases in the prior fiscal first quarter were tied primarily to the spot market, which benefited from significant deflation in the cost of bone-in chicken wings. Selling, general & administrative ("SG&A") expense increased $1.5 million to $25.2 million from $23.6 million in the fiscal first quarter of the prior year. The increase in SG&A expense was driven by an increase in headcount-related expenses of $2.1 million to support the growth in our business, professional fees of $1.4 million associated with the Company's strategic initiatives, and an increase in performance-based stock compensation expense of $0.5 million primarily related to the Company's prior year performance. These increases were partially offset by $2.8 million in non-recurring consulting fees incurred in the prior fiscal first quarter. Financial Outlook Based on year-to-date results, the Company is providing updated guidance for 2024: Low double digit domestic same store sales growth; 275 to 295 global net new units; SG&A expense of approximately $111 million; and Stock-based compensation expense of approximately $20 million. Additionally, the Company is reiterating guidance for depreciation and amortization of between $18 - $19 million for 2024. Restaurant Development As of March 30, 2024, there were 2,279 Wingstop restaurants system-wide. This included 1,974 restaurants in the United States, of which 1,924 were franchised restaurants and 50 were company-owned, and 305 franchised restaurants were in international markets and U.S. territories. During the fiscal first quarter 2024, there were 65 net system-wide Wingstop restaurant openings. Quarterly Dividend In recognition of the Company's strong cash flow generation and our commitment to returning value to stockholders, on April 30, 2024, our board of directors approved a quarterly dividend payable to Wingstop stockholders of $0.22 per share of common stock, resulting in a total dividend of approximately $6.5 million. This dividend will be paid on June 7, 2024 to stockholders of record as of May 17, 2024. The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release: Domestic average unit volume ("AUV") consists of the average annual sales of all restaurants that have been open for a trailing 52-week period or longer. This measure is calculated by dividing sales during the applicable period for all restaurants being measured by the number of restaurants being measured. Domestic AUV includes revenue from both company-owned and franchised restaurants. Domestic AUV allows management to assess our domestic company-owned and franchised restaurant economics. Changes in domestic AUV are primarily driven by increases in same store sales and are also influenced by opening new restaurants. Domestic same store sales reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the same store restaurant base. We define the same store restaurant base to include those restaurants open for at least 52 full weeks. This measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants, while excluding the impact of new restaurant openings and permanent closures. We review same store sales for domestic company-owned restaurants as well as system-wide domestic restaurants. Domestic same store sales growth is driven by increases in transactions and average transaction size. Transaction size increases are driven by price increases or favorable mix shift from either an increase in items purchased or shifts into higher priced items. System-wide sales represents net sales for all of our company-owned and franchised restaurants, as reported by franchisees. This measure allows management to better assess changes in our royalty revenue, our overall store performance, the health of our brand and the strength of our market position relative to competitors. Our system-wide sales growth is driven by new restaurant openings as well as increases in same store sales. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, net, income tax expense (benefit), and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), further adjusted for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, and related tax adjustments that management believes are not indicative of the Company's core operating results or business outlook over the long-term. Adjusted earnings per diluted share is defined as adjusted net income divided by weighted average diluted share count. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions above may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by our competitors because not all companies and analysts calculate certain non-GAAP measurements in the same manner. Conference Call and Webcast The Company will host a conference call today to discuss the fiscal first quarter 2024 financial results at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. The conference call can be joined telephonically by dialing 1-877-259-5243 or 1-412-317-5176 (international) and asking for the Wingstop conference call. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 or 1-412-317-0088 (international), then entering the replay code 3920698. The replay will be available through Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The conference call will also be webcast live and later archived on the investor relations section of Wingstop's corporate website at ir.wingstop.com under the 'News & Events' section. About Wingstop Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) operates and franchises more than 2,250 locations worldwide. The Wing Experts are dedicated to Serving the World Flavor through an unparalleled guest experience and a best-in-class technology platform, all while offering classic and boneless wings, tenders, and chicken sandwiches, cooked to order and hand sauced-and-tossed in fans' choice of 11 bold, distinctive flavors. Wingstop's menu also features signature sides including fresh-cut, seasoned fries and freshly-made ranch and bleu cheese dips. In fiscal year 2023, Wingstop's system-wide sales increased 27.1% to approximately $3.5 billion, marking the 20th consecutive year of same store sales growth. With a vision of becoming a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand, Wingstop's system is comprised of independent franchisees, or brand partners, who account for approximately 98% of Wingstop's total restaurant count of 2,279 as of March 30, 2024. A key to this business success and consumer fandom stems from The Wingstop Way, which includes a core value system of being Authentic, Entrepreneurial, Service-minded, and Fun. The Wingstop Way extends to the brand's environmental, social and governance platform as Wingstop seeks to provide value to all guests. In 2023, Wingstop earned its "Best Places to Work" certification. The Company landed on Entrepreneur Magazine's "Fastest-Growing Franchises" list and ranked #16 on "Franchise 500." Wingstop was listed on Technomic's "Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report," QSR Magazine's "2023 QSR 50" and Franchise Time's "40 Smartest-Growing Franchises."  For more information visit www.wingstop.com or www.wingstop.com/own-a-wingstop and follow @Wingstop on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Learn more about Wingstop's involvement in its local communities at www.wingstopcharities.org. Unless specifically noted otherwise, references to our website addresses or the website addresses of third parties in this press release do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on such website and should not be considered part of this release. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP financial measures, including those indicated above. By providing non-GAAP financial measures, together with a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, we believe we are enhancing investors' understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives. These measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures used in this press release may be different from the measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is available in this news release. In addition, the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished ...