June 20, 2012

Sonic Reports Strong Earnings Growth for Third Quarter 2012

$30 Million Share Repurchase Program Completed

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC), the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2012. Key highlights of the company's third quarter report included:

The company's net income per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $0.24 compared with a net loss per diluted share of $0.08 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011; excluding debt extinguishment costs in the year-earlier quarter, net income per diluted share was $0.21;
System-wide same-store sales increased 2.8% during the third quarter, with an increase of 3.7% at company drive-ins and a 2.7% increase at franchise drive-ins; and
Restaurant-level operating margins improved 140 basis points to 17%.

"Strong third quarter sales were driven by a layered day-part promotional strategy anchored by an integrated creative campaign that showcased multiple existing and new products appealing across all day-parts. We believe this effective use of creative and day-part promotional strategy complements the company's strong foundation of improved service, product quality and pricing and will help us achieve consistent, sustainable sales growth going forward," said Clifford Hudson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are working to increase shareholder value using a multi-layered growth strategy which incorporates sales growth, leverage from higher sales, use of cash, increasing royalty revenue and new drive-in development to achieve double digit earnings per share growth. We were very pleased that positive same-store sales in the third quarter fueled other layers in our multi-layered growth strategy including operating leverage and increased franchising revenue resulting in a 14% increase in earnings per share, on an adjusted basis.

"With respect to return on capital, we are pleased to report Sonic completed its $30 million share repurchase program in early June. Fiscal year to date, stock repurchases totaled approximately four million shares or over 6% of the stock that was outstanding as of the beginning of our fiscal year," added Hudson. "Over the next two to three years we will continue to utilize the strength and flexibility of our business model to grow operating income and use our free cash flow⁽¹⁾ to opportunistically invest in our brand, repurchase stock and pay down debt. We expect each of the layers in our growth strategy to contribute to our ability to grow earnings per share at a rate in the low-to-mid teens in both the near term and longer term."

Financial Overview

For the third fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2012, the company's net income totaled $14.4 million or $0.24 per diluted share compared with a net loss of $4.7 million or $0.08 per diluted share in the year-earlier quarter, which reflected costs associated with the May 2011 refinancing of Sonic's previously outstanding debt. Excluding the $17.8 million after-tax costs from the early extinguishment of debt in the quarter ended May 31, 2011, net income per diluted share was $0.21 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

The following non-GAAP adjustments are intended to supplement the presentation of the company's financial results in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that the presentation of these items provides useful information to investors and management regarding the underlying business trends and the performance of the company's ongoing operations and is helpful for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors in analyzing the financial results of the company and predicting future performance.

	Three Months Ended May 31, 2012				Three Months Ended May 31, 2011						Year-Over-Year Percent Change
	Net Income		Diluted EPS		Net Income (Loss)			Diluted EPS			Net Income		Diluted EPS
Reported — GAAP	$	14,407	$	0.24	$	(4,651	)	$	(0.08	)	n/a		n/a
After-tax loss from early extinguishment of debt		--		--		17,760			0.29

Adjusted - Non-GAAP	$	14,407	$	0.24	$	13,109		$	0.21		10	%	14	%

For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, net income on a year-to-date basis totaled $21.6 million or $0.36 per diluted share compared with net income of $6.9 million or $0.11 per diluted share for the same period in 2011. Excluding the items outlined below, net income and net income per diluted share increased 6% and 9%, respectively.

	Nine Months Ended May 31, 2012				Nine Months Ended May 31, 2011						Year-Over-Year Percent Change
	Net Income		Diluted EPS		Net Income			Diluted EPS			Net Income		Diluted EPS
Reported — GAAP	$	21,583	$	0.36	$	6,939		$	0.11		211	%	227	%
After-tax net loss from early extinguishment of debt		--		--		14,439			0.24
Tax benefit from favorable tax settlement		--		--		(1,073	)		(0.02	)

Adjusted - Non-GAAP	$	21,583	$	0.36	$	20,305		$	0.33		6	%	9	%

Same-Store Sales

For the third fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2012, system-wide same-store sales increased 2.8% versus 3.9% in the same quarter in the prior year. These sales reflected an increase of 3.7% at company drive-ins and a 2.7% increase at franchise drive-ins. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, system-wide same-store sales increased 2.2% versus an increase of 0.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. These sales reflected a 2.3% increase in same-store sales at company drive-ins and a 2.2% increase at franchise drive-ins.

Development

Across the Sonic system, seven new franchise drive-ins were opened in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus 12 new franchise drive-in openings during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, 19 new franchise drive-ins were opened compared to 26 during the same period prior year.

Fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2012 Outlook

The company's outlook anticipates the following elements:

The opening of 15 to 20 new franchise drive-ins;
Positive same-store sales in the low single digits, the extent of which will be dependent upon the degree of external economic challenges;
Favorable restaurant-level margins;
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $17 million to $18 million;
Depreciation and amortization of $10.5 million to $11 million;
Net interest expense of approximately $7.5 to $8 million;
An income tax rate of between 37.5% and 38.5%, depending upon the reinstatement of employment tax credit programs; and
Annual capital expenditures in the range of $20 million to $25 million.

Earnings Conference Call

The company will host a conference call and online web simulcast this afternoon beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 397-5335 or (719) 325-2157 for international callers. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the conference ID is 1501824. The replay will be available until Wednesday, June 27, 2012. An online replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. A link to this event will be available on the investor section of the company's website, www.sonicdrivein.com.

About Sonic

Sonic, America's Drive-In, originally started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to Sonic in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the Sonic name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Sonic has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast, where approximately three million customers eat every day. For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit Sonic at www.sonicdrivein.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or underlying, these forward-looking statements are detailed in the company's annual and quarterly report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The tables that follow provide information regarding the number of company drive-ins, franchise drive-ins and system drive-ins in operation as of the end of the periods indicated. In addition, these tables provide information regarding franchise sales, change in system sales, and both franchise and system average drive-in sales and change in same-store sales. System information includes both company and franchise drive-in information, which we believe is useful in analyzing the growth of our brand. While we do not record franchise drive-in sales as revenues, we believe this information is important in understanding our financial performance since we calculate and record franchise royalties based on a percentage of franchise sales. This information also is indicative of the financial health of our franchisees.

¹ Free cash flow is defined as net income plus depreciation, amortization and stock compensation expense, less capital expenditures.

SONC-G


SONIC CORP.
Unaudited Supplemental Information
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

			Third Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
			May 31,						May 31,
				2012			2011			2012			2011
Statement of Operations
Revenues:
	Company Drive-In sales		$	110,070		$	113,745		$	294,037		$	297,454
	Franchise Drive-Ins:
		Franchise royalties		35,599			34,825			89,980			88,650
		Franchise fees		202			385			851			1,271
		Lease revenue		2,056			1,828			4,605			4,347
	Other			1,500			1,315			3,317			3,045
				149,427			152,098			392,790			394,767
Costs and expenses:
	Company Drive-Ins:
		Food and packaging		30,600			31,996			83,011			83,559
		Payroll and other employee benefits		38,539			40,466			106,363			108,741
	Other operating expenses, exclusive of
	depreciation and amortization included below			22,261			23,549			65,899			66,765
				91,400			96,011			255,273			259,065

Selling, general and administrative				16,951			17,212			48,452			48,778
Depreciation and amortization				10,288			10,139			31,264			30,806
Provision for impairment of long-lived assets				203			49			376			313
				118,842			123,411			335,365			338,962
Other operating income (expense), net				151			(20	)		613			255
Income from operations				30,736			28,667			58,038			56,060

Interest expense				7,836			7,991			23,807			24,414
Interest income				(174	)		(161	)		(477	)		(513	)
Net loss from early extinguishment of debt				-			28,230			-			23,025
Net interest expense				7,662			36,060			23,330			46,926
Income (loss) before income taxes				23,074			(7,393	)		34,708			9,134
Provision (benefit) for income taxes				8,667			(2,742	)		13,125			2,195
Net income (loss)			$	14,407		$	(4,651	)	$	21,583		$	6,939


Net income (loss) per share:
	Basic		$	0.24		$	(0.08	)	$	0.36		$	0.11
	Diluted		$	0.24		$	(0.08	)	$	0.36		$	0.11
Weighted average shares used in calculation:
	Basic			59,936			61,842			60,736			61,723
	Diluted			59,961			62,000			60,767			61,873


SONIC CORP.
Unaudited Supplemental Information

			Third Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
			May 31,						May 31,
				2012			2011			2012			2011
Drive-Ins in Operation
	Company:
		Total at beginning of period		412			451			446			455
		Opened		-			-			-			-
		Sold to franchisees		(1	)		(4	)		(35	)		(6	)
		Closed (net of re-openings)		(2	)		(2	)		(2	)		(4	)
		Total at end of period		409			445			409			445
	Franchise:
		Total at beginning of period		3,138			3,104			3,115			3,117
		Opened		7			12			19			26
		Acquired from company		1			4			35			6
		Closed (net of re-openings)		(5	)		(6	)		(28	)		(35	)
		Total at end of period		3,141			3,114			3,141			3,114
	System-wide:
		Total at beginning of period		3,550			3,555			3,561			3,572
		Opened		7			12			19			26
		Closed (net of re-openings)		(7	)		(8	)		(30	)		(39	)
		Total at end of period		3,550			3,559			3,550			3,559

			Third Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
			May 31,						May 31,
				2012			2011			2012			2011
			($ in thousands)						($ in thousands)
Sales Analysis
	Company drive-ins:
		Total sales	$	110,070		$	113,745		$	294,037		$	297,454
		Average drive-in sales		268			256			688			665
		Change in same-store sales		3.7	%		6.5	%		2.3	%		2.4	%
	Franchised drive-ins:
		Total sales	$	934,449		$	906,401		$	2,431,649		$	2,352,065
		Average drive-in sales		298			292			779			760
		Change in same-store sales		2.7	%		3.6	%		2.2	%		0.8	%
	System-wide:
		Change in total sales		2.4	%		4.7	%		2.9	%		1.3	%
		Average drive-in sales	$	294		$	287		$	768		$	747
		Change in same-store sales		2.8	%		3.9	%		2.2	%		0.9	%

Note: Change in same-store sales based on restaurants open for a minimum of 15 months.


SONIC CORP.
Unaudited Supplemental Information

			Third Quarter Ended				Nine Months Ended
			May 31,				May 31,
			2012		2011		2012		2011
Margin Analysis (percentage of Company
	Drive-In sales)
	Company Drive-Ins:
		Food and packaging	27.8	%	28.1	%	28.2	%	28.1	%
		Payroll and employee benefits*	35.0	%	35.6	%	36.2	%	36.5	%
		Other operating expenses	20.2	%	20.7	%	22.4	%	22.5	%
			83.0	%	84.4	%	86.8	%	87.1	%

* Effective April 1, 2010, the compensation program at the Company Drive-In level was revised. As a result of these changes, noncontrolling interests are immaterial for the periods presented and have been included in payroll and other employee benefits.

							May 31,		Aug. 31,
							2012		2011
Balance Sheet Data							(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents							41,672		29,509
Current assets							97,946		93,457
Property, equipment and capital leases, net							444,944		464,875
Total assets							666,714		679,742

Current liabilities, including capital lease obligations and long-term debt due within one year							71,401		71,279
Obligations under capital leases due after one year							28,735		30,302
Long-term debt due after one year							470,562		481,835
Total liabilities							617,829		628,046
Stockholders' equity							48,885		51,696

Sonic Corp.
Claudia San Pedro
Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer
405-225-4846

Source: Sonic Corp.

News Provided by Acquire Media

Close window | Back to top

Share this on:
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter

What is this?