News Details

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2013-- Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) today reported earnings from continuing operations of $24.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended September 29, 2013, compared with earnings from continuing operations of $19.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

Fiscal 2013 earnings from continuing operations totaled $82.6 million, or $1.84 per diluted share, compared with $68.1 million, or $1.52 per diluted share in fiscal 2012.

Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure which the company defines as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising, were $0.45 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 compared with $0.31 in the prior year quarter. For fiscal year 2013, operating earnings per share were $1.82 compared with $1.31 last year.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measurements to GAAP results is provided below, with additional information included in the attachment to this release. Figures may not add due to rounding.

In June 2013, following the completion of its previously disclosed review of market performance for its Qdoba Mexican Grill® brand, the company announced plans to close 67 of its company-operated Qdoba restaurants. In the third quarter of 2013, 62 of these restaurants were closed, and the results of operations, impairment charges, lease obligations and other exit costs for these restaurants are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings for all periods presented. Of the remaining five restaurants closing, three were sold to an existing franchisee in the fourth quarter, one closed in the fourth quarter when its lease expired, and the final restaurant will close when its lease expires prior to the end of the calendar year. The results of operations and impairment charges related to these five restaurants have been included in continuing operations.

Discontinued operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2013 include after-tax charges related to the Qdoba restaurant closures of approximately $0.02 and $0.61 per diluted share, respectively, as compared to $0.03 and $0.11 for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2012, respectively.

Discontinued operations also include charges related to the previously announced outsourcing of the company’s distribution business, which was completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. As a result of the outsourcing, the company recorded after-tax charges which reduced diluted net earnings per share by approximately $0.01 in the fourth quarter of 2013, $0.09 in fiscal 2013, and $0.12 in both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2012. These charges and the results of operations for the distribution business are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings for all periods presented.

The company is continuing its efforts to improve its cost structure and identify opportunities to reduce G&A as well as improve restaurant profitability across both brands. As a result, restructuring charges of $2.2 million, or approximately $0.03 per diluted share, were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to $2.7 million, or approximately $0.04 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2012. For fiscal year 2013, restructuring charges totaled $3.5 million, or approximately $0.05 per diluted share, as compared to $15.5 million, or approximately $0.23 per diluted share, during fiscal 2012. These charges are included in “Impairment and other charges, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.

Gains from refranchising were $7.8 million in the fourth quarter, or approximately $0.13 per diluted share, compared with $10.2 million, or approximately $0.16 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. For fiscal year 2013, gains from refranchising contributed approximately $0.07 per diluted share as compared with approximately $0.44 for fiscal year 2012.

Increase (decrease) in same-store sales:

Linda A. Lang, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Jack in the Box company same-store sales decreased 0.2 percent for the quarter. After a slow start, however, sales accelerated and were positive for each of the last six weeks of the quarter. We are pleased that same-store sales have strengthened even further in the first seven weeks of the current quarter. Qdoba same-store sales in the fourth quarter increased 1.3 percent for company restaurants and 2.0 percent system-wide, showing sequential improvement from our third quarter results.

“We refranchised 78 Jack in the Box restaurants in fiscal 2013, including 56 in the fourth quarter. Our system is now approximately 79 percent franchised, and we’re near our goal of franchise ownership in the 80 to 85 percent range.”

Consolidated restaurant operating margin decreased by 10 basis points to 16.1 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared with 16.2 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter. Restaurant operating margin for Jack in the Box restaurants increased 80 basis points to 15.7 percent of sales. The improvement was due primarily to the benefit of refranchising, which was partially offset by higher food and packaging costs and sales deleverage as compared to last year. The increase in food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales resulted from commodity inflation of approximately 4.6 percent, which was partially offset by the benefit of price increases. Restaurant operating margin for Qdoba restaurants decreased 310 basis points to 17.2 percent of sales, due primarily to increased rent and staffing levels related to new restaurant openings, higher credit card fees, product mix changes, and commodity inflation of approximately 1.5 percent.

SG&A expense for the fourth quarter decreased by $4.3 million and was 14.6 percent of revenues as compared to 15.4 percent in the prior year quarter. The benefit of the company’s restructuring activities, lower overhead costs resulting from the Jack in the Box refranchising strategy, and decreases in pre-opening costs and incentive and share-based compensation were partially offset by higher pension costs and a legal judgment that negatively impacted SG&A by approximately $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Mark-to-market adjustments on investments supporting the company’s non-qualified retirement plans positively impacted SG&A by $2.0 million in the fourth quarters of both 2013 and 2012.

The tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2013 was 28.0 percent versus 29.4 percent for the fourth quarter of 2012, and 32.8 percent in fiscal 2013 as compared to 33.2 percent in fiscal 2012. The tax rate for fiscal 2013 was lower than the company’s most recent guidance due primarily to the market performance of insurance investment products used to fund certain non-qualified retirement plans. Changes in the cash value of the insurance products are not deductible or taxable.

The company repurchased approximately 1,198,000 shares of its common stock in the fourth quarter of 2013 at an average price of $40.04 per share for an aggregate cost of $48.0 million. During fiscal year 2013, the company repurchased approximately 3,971,000 shares at an average price of $35.29 per share, for an aggregate cost of $140.1 million. This leaves $36.8 million remaining under a $100 million stock-buyback program that expires in November 2014, and an additional $100 million remaining under a stock-buyback program that expires in November 2015, both of which were previously authorized by the company’s board of directors.

Guidance

The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the first quarter ending January 19, 2014, and the fiscal year ending September 28, 2014. Fiscal 2014 is a 52-week year, with 16 weeks in the first quarter, and 12 weeks in each of the second, third and fourth quarters.

First quarter fiscal year 2014 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 1.5 to 2.5 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants versus a 2.1 percent increase in the year-ago quarter.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 1.5 to 2.5 percent at Qdoba company restaurants versus a 1.7 percent increase in the year-ago quarter.

Fiscal year 2014 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 1.5 to 2.5 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 2.0 to 3.0 percent at Qdoba company restaurants.
• Overall commodity costs are expected to increase by approximately 1 percent for the full year, with higher inflation in the first quarter.
• Restaurant operating margin for the full year, which reflects an approximate 20 basis points impact from the July 2014 minimum wage increase in California, is expected to be approximately 17.7 to 18.1 percent, depending on same-store sales and commodity inflation.
• SG&A as a percentage of revenue is expected to be approximately 13.5 to 14.0 percent as compared to 14.8 percent in fiscal 2013. G&A as a percentage of system-wide sales is expected to decline to approximately 3.8 percent in fiscal 2014 from 4.3 percent in fiscal 2013.
• Impairment and other charges as a percentage of revenue are expected to be approximately 70 basis points, excluding restructuring charges.
• Approximately 10 new Jack in the Box restaurants are expected to open, including approximately 3 company locations.
• 60 to 70 new Qdoba restaurants are expected to open, of which approximately half are expected to be company locations.
• Capital expenditures are expected to be $80 to $90 million.
• The tax rate is expected to be approximately 37 to 38 percent.
• Operating earnings per share, which the company defines as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains from refranchising, are expected to range from $2.15 to $2.30 in fiscal 2014 as compared to operating earnings per share of $1.82 in fiscal 2013.

Long-term goals (2015 to 2017)

The company today updated its long-term goals for fiscal 2015 to 2017. The company expects:

• Same-store sales growth of 2 to 3 percent annually at Jack in the Box company restaurants and 3 to 4 percent annually at Qdoba company restaurants.
• Restaurant operating margin of 18.5 to 19.5 percent.
• G&A of 3.5 to 4.0 percent of consolidated system-wide sales.
• Jack in the Box system new unit growth of approximately 1 to 2 percent per year.
• Qdoba company new unit growth of approximately 40 to 70 restaurants per year and franchise unit growth of 30 to 40 restaurants per year.

Conference call

The company will host a conference call for financial analysts and investors on Thursday, November 21, 2013, beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website. To access the live call through the Internet, log onto the Investors section of the Jack in the Box Inc. website at http://investors.jackinthebox.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event in order to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available through the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website for 21 days, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT on November 21.

About Jack in the Box Inc.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box^® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,250 restaurants in 21 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill^®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with over 600 restaurants in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. For more information on Jack in the Box and Qdoba, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com or www.qdoba.com.

Safe harbor statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including the following: the success of new products and marketing initiatives; the impact of competition, unemployment, trends in consumer spending patterns and commodity costs; the company’s ability to achieve and manage its planned growth, which is affected by the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites, the performance of new restaurants, and risks relating to expansion into new markets; and stock market volatility. These and other factors are discussed in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and its periodic reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available online at http://investors.jackinthebox.com or in hard copy upon request. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information or otherwise.

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS TO GAAP RESULTS
(Unaudited)

Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, is defined by the company as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides important supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing the performance of the company’s core business. In addition, the company uses operating earnings per share in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The company encourages investors to rely upon its GAAP numbers but includes this non-GAAP financial measure as a supplemental metric to assist investors. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP financial measure used by the company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP operating earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Figures may not add due to rounding.

Source: Jack in the Box Inc.

Jack in the Box Inc.
Investor Contact:
Carol DiRaimo, (858) 571-2407
Media Contact:
Brian Luscomb, (858) 571-2291