Jack in the Box Same Store Sales Decline 3.3%

Fiscal 2011 net earnings totaled $80.6 million, or $1.61 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $70.2 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, in fiscal 2010. In last year’s fourth quarter, 40 Jack in the Box® company restaurants were closed, and the company recorded pre-tax charges totaling $28.0 million (included in “impairment and other charges, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings), which reduced diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.33 in both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2010.

“Over the last six years, we have refranchised more than 1,000 restaurants and expect to refranchise 150 to 200 restaurants over the next couple of years, which will bring our Jack in the Box franchise ownership to approximately 80 percent of the system.”

Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure which the company defines as diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis less gains from refranchising, were approximately $0.19 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011. For fiscal year 2011, operating earnings per share were approximately $0.83 compared with approximately $0.61 last year (including the $0.33 charge relating to restaurant closures in 2010).

Gains from refranchising contributed approximately $0.30 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2011 and approximately $0.78 for fiscal year 2011 as compared with approximately $0.65 per diluted share in fiscal year 2010.

The fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 2, 2011, included 12 weeks and 52 weeks, respectively, as compared to 13 weeks and 53 weeks in the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 3, 2010, respectively. The company estimates that the extra week benefited diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.03 in both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2010.

Increase (decrease) in same-store sales:

		12 Weeks Ended			13 Weeks Ended			52 Weeks Ended			53 Weeks Ended
		October 2, 2011			October 3, 2010			October 2, 2011			October 3, 2010
Jack in the Box®:
Company		5.8	%		(4.0	%)		3.1	%		(8.6	%)
Franchise		2.0	%		(2.8	%)		1.3	%		(7.8	%)
System		3.1	%		(3.3	%)		1.8	%		(8.2	%)
Qdoba®:
Company		4.3	%		3.0	%		5.1	%		0.8	%
Franchise		3.3	%		6.8	%		5.4	%		3.6	%
System		3.7	%		5.6	%		5.3	%		2.8	%

Linda A. Lang, chairman, chief executive officer and president, said, “Jack in the Box company same-store sales increased 5.8 percent in the fourth quarter, ahead of our expectations, as sales and traffic accelerated in the last two months of the quarter. On a two-year cumulative basis, this represented our fifth consecutive quarter of sequentially improving company same-store sales trends. We believe these results have been largely driven by the investments we have made to enhance the entire guest experience at the Jack in the Box brand.

“Qdoba’s same-store sales in the fourth quarter increased 3.7 percent system-wide, representing the third consecutive quarter that two-year cumulative same-store sales have been greater than 9 percent,” Lang said.

Consolidated restaurant operating margin was 13.5 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 12.5 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter.

Food and packaging costs in the quarter were 190 basis points higher than prior year. Overall commodity costs were approximately 7 percent higher in the quarter, driven by higher costs for most commodities other than poultry and largely consistent with the company’s expectations.

Payroll and employee benefits costs were 110 basis points lower than the year-ago quarter, reflecting lower insurance costs and the benefit of refranchising. These decreases were partially offset by higher unemployment taxes resulting from rate increases in several states.

Occupancy and other costs decreased 180 basis points in the fourth quarter due primarily to lower repairs and maintenance costs and utilities expenses, and the benefit of refranchising. These decreases were partially offset by higher rent expense as a percentage of sales due to the greater proportion of company-operated Qdoba restaurants versus the prior year.

SG&A expense for the fourth quarter decreased by $7.3 million and was 10.6 percent of revenues compared with 10.8 percent last year. SG&A expense for fiscal 2011 decreased by $18.9 million and was 10.2 percent of revenues compared with 10.6 percent last year. The variances in SG&A were attributable primarily to the following:

• The 53^rd week added approximately $3.6 million to SG&A in last year’s fourth quarter and fiscal year.
• Advertising costs were $5.2 million lower in the fourth quarter and $17.9 million lower in fiscal 2011, due primarily to the impact of refranchising Jack in the Box restaurants and a decrease in incremental spending compared to the fourth quarter and fiscal 2010. These decreases were partially offset by higher advertising expense for Qdoba due to the increase in the number of company-owned restaurants and same-store sales growth.
• Incentive compensation accruals decreased by $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
• Pension expense, which is non-cash in nature, decreased by $1.3 million in the fourth quarter and by $5.3 million for fiscal 2011.
• The company’s refranchising strategy and planned overhead reductions resulted in lower general and administrative costs of approximately $0.4 million for the fourth quarter and $5.9 million for the full year.

These decreases were partially offset by the following:

• Mark-to-market adjustments on investments supporting the company’s non-qualified retirement plans negatively impacted SG&A by $4.6 million in the fourth quarter as compared to a positive impact of $2.1 million in last year’s fourth quarter, resulting in a year-over-year increase in SG&A of $6.7 million. For fiscal 2011, mark-to-market adjustments negatively impacted SG&A by $0.1 million as compared to a positive impact of $2.7 million last year, resulting in a year-over-year increase in SG&A of $2.8 million.
• Insurance recoveries related to Hurricane Ike resulted in a $1.2 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2010 and a $4.2 million benefit in fiscal 2010.
• Incentive compensation accruals increased by $2.2 million in fiscal 2011.
• Qdoba G&A increased by $0.9 million in the fourth quarter and $4.4 million in fiscal 2011 due primarily to higher overhead to support recently acquired franchise markets and new unit growth.

Gains on the sale of 106 company-operated Jack in the Box restaurants to franchisees totaled $22.2 million in the fourth quarter, or approximately $0.30 per diluted share. For fiscal 2011, gains on the sale of 332 company-operated restaurants to franchisees totaled $61.1 million, or approximately $0.78 per diluted share, compared with $55.0 million, or approximately $0.65 per diluted share in fiscal 2010 from the sale of 219 company-operated restaurants. Total proceeds related to refranchising, including cash and notes receivable, for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2011 were $43.4 million and $120.3 million, respectively.

“With the sale of 332 restaurants in fiscal 2011, the Jack in the Box system was 72 percent franchised as of the end of the year, and we’ve achieved our original goal of increasing the percentage of franchise ownership to 70 to 80 percent two years ahead of plan,” Lang said. “Over the last six years, we have refranchised more than 1,000 restaurants and expect to refranchise 150 to 200 restaurants over the next couple of years, which will bring our Jack in the Box franchise ownership to approximately 80 percent of the system.”

The company repurchased approximately 2,637,000 shares of its common stock in the fourth quarter of 2011 at an average price of $20.42 per share. In fiscal 2011, the company returned over $193 million to shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 9,106,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $21.27 per share. In October 2011, the company completed the repurchase of the remaining $6.4 million authorized by its board of directors in May 2011. In November 2011, the company’s board of directors authorized an additional $100 million stock-buyback program that expires in November 2013.

Restaurant openings

Ten new Jack in the Box restaurants opened in the fourth quarter, including 6 franchised locations, compared with 14 new restaurants opened system-wide during the same quarter last year, of which 2 were franchised. For the full year, 31 new Jack in the Box restaurants opened, including 16 franchised locations, compared with 46 new restaurants in fiscal 2010, 16 of which were franchised.

In the fourth quarter, 20 Qdoba restaurants opened, including 12 franchised locations, versus 13 new restaurants in the year-ago quarter, of which 6 were franchised. For the full year, 67 Qdoba restaurants opened, including 42 franchised locations, compared with 36 new restaurants in fiscal 2010, 21 of which were franchised.

At October 2, 2011, the company’s system total comprised 2,221 Jack in the Box restaurants, including 1,592 franchised locations, and 583 Qdoba restaurants, including 338 franchised locations.

Guidance

The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the first quarter ending January 22, 2012, and the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. Fiscal 2012 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 2012 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 4 to 5 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants versus a 1.5 percent increase in the year-ago quarter.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 2 to 3 percent at Qdoba system restaurants versus a 6.4 percent increase in the year-ago quarter.

Fiscal year 2012 guidance

• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 2 to 4 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants.
• Same-store sales are expected to increase approximately 3 to 5 percent at Qdoba system restaurants.
• Overall commodity costs are expected to increase by approximately 5 percent for the full year, with higher inflation in the first half of the fiscal year.
• Restaurant operating margin for the full year is expected to be in the mid-13 percent range, depending on same-store sales and commodity inflation.
• 25 to 30 new Jack in the Box restaurants are expected to open, including approximately 15 company locations.
• 70 to 90 new Qdoba restaurants are expected to open, of which approximately half are expected to be company locations.
• $15 to $25 million in gains on the sale of 80 to 120 Jack in the Box restaurants to franchisees, with $35 to $50 million in total proceeds resulting from the sales.
• Capital expenditures of $90 to $100 million.

• SG&A expense in the mid-10 percent range, including higher pension expense, restaurant technology investments and costs related to Qdoba growth.
• Impairment and other charges of 30 to 40 basis points.
• Tax rate of approximately 37 to 38 percent.
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.10 to $1.43, with the range reflecting uncertainty in the timing of anticipated refranchising transactions as well as same-store sales results and commodity inflation. Operating earnings per share, which the company defines as diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis less gains from refranchising, are expected to range from $0.90 to $1.10 per diluted share. Diluted earnings per share includes approximately $0.07 to $0.09 of re-image incentive payments to franchisees in fiscal 2012 to complete the re-image program as compared to $0.11 in fiscal 2011. Gains from refranchising are expected to contribute $0.20 to $0.33 to diluted earnings per share, as compared to approximately $0.79 in fiscal 2011.

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 2,200 restaurants in 19 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill^®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 580 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia. 

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
		Twelve				Thirteen				Fifty-Two				Fifty-Three
		Weeks Ended				Weeks Ended				Weeks Ended				Weeks Ended
		October 2,				October 3,				October 2,				October 3,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Revenues:
Company restaurant sales		$	296,088			$	391,989			$	1,380,273			$	1,668,527
Distribution sales			137,206				108,558				530,959				397,977
Franchise revenues			70,872				62,666				282,066				231,027
			504,166				563,213				2,193,298				2,297,531
Operating costs and expenses, net:
Company restaurant costs:
Food and packaging			101,064				126,328				460,790				530,613
Payroll and employee benefits			85,226				117,127				414,463				505,138
Occupancy and other			69,864				99,644				329,766				398,066
Total company restaurant costs			256,154				343,099				1,205,019				1,433,817
Distribution costs			138,255				108,776				533,496				399,707
Franchise costs			34,879				28,535				136,148				104,845
Selling, general and administrative expenses			53,607				60,902				224,455				243,353
Impairment and other charges, net			2,481				35,653				12,672				48,887
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants, net			(22,185	)			(18,934	)			(61,125	)			(54,988	)
			463,191				558,031				2,050,665				2,175,621
Earnings from operations			40,975				5,182				142,633				121,910
Interest expense, net			4,283				4,165				16,855				15,894
Earnings before income taxes			36,692				1,017				125,778				106,016
Income taxes			14,040				(3,024	)			45,178				35,806
Net earnings		$	22,652			$	4,041			$	80,600			$	70,210
Net earnings per share:
Basic		$	0.50			$	0.08			$	1.63			$	1.27
Diluted		$	0.49			$	0.07			$	1.61			$	1.26
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic			45,524				53,836				49,302				55,070
Diluted			46,262				54,579				50,085				55,843

 

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
		October 2,				October 3,
		2011				2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	11,424			$	10,607
Accounts and other receivables, net			86,213				81,150
Inventories			38,931				37,391
Prepaid expenses			18,737				36,100
Deferred income taxes			45,520				46,185
Assets held for sale and leaseback			51,793				59,897
Other current assets			1,793				3,592
Total current assets			254,411				274,922
Property and equipment, at cost:
Land			105,314				101,206
Buildings			1,025,107				965,312
Restaurant and other equipment			343,718				437,547
Construction in progress			44,660				58,664
			1,518,799				1,562,729
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(663,373	)			(684,690	)
Property and equipment, net			855,426				878,039
Intangible assets, net			17,495				17,986
Goodwill			105,872				85,041
Other assets, net			199,118				151,104
		$	1,432,322			$	1,407,092
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$	21,148			$	13,781
Accounts payable			94,348				101,216
Accrued liabilities			167,487				168,186
Total current liabilities			282,983				283,183
Long-term debt, net of current maturities			447,350				352,630
Other long-term liabilities			290,723				250,440
Deferred income taxes			5,310				376
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued			-				-
Common stock $0.01 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 74,992,487 and 74,461,632 issued, respectively			750				745
Capital in excess of par value			202,684				187,544
Retained earnings			1,063,020				982,420
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net			(95,940	)			(78,787	)
Treasury stock, at cost, 30,746,099 and 21,640,400 shares, respectively			(764,558	)			(571,459	)
Total stockholders' equity			405,956				520,463
		$	1,432,322			$	1,407,092

 

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
		Fiscal Year
		2011				2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$	80,600			$	70,210
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			96,147				101,514
Deferred finance cost amortization			2,554				1,658
Deferred income taxes			(12,832	)			(27,554	)
Share-based compensation expense			8,062				10,605
Pension and postretirement expense			23,845				29,140
Losses (gains) on cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance			1,094				(6,199	)
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants, net			(61,125	)			(54,988	)
Gains on the acquisition of franchise-operated restaurants			(426	)			-
Losses on the disposition of property and equipment, net			7,650				10,757
Impairment charges and other			1,367				12,970
Loss on early retirement of debt			-				513
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts and other receivables			(26,116	)			(8,174	)
Inventories			(1,540	)			284
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			19,163				(22,967	)
Accounts payable			1,498				(2,219	)
Pension and postretirement contributions			(4,790	)			(24,072	)
Other			(10,891	)			(27,440	)
Cash flows provided by operating activities from continuing operations			124,260				64,038
Cash flows used in operating activities from discontinued operations			-				(2,172	)
Cash flows provided by operating activities			124,260				61,866
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(129,312	)			(95,610	)
Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants			119,275				66,152
Proceeds from (purchases of) assets held for sale and leaseback, net			(3,262	)			45,348
Collections on notes receivable			20,848				8,322
Acquisition of franchise-operated restaurants			(31,077	)			(8,115	)
FFE loans to franchisees			(14,473	)			-
Other			2,199				3,076
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities			(35,802	)			19,173
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities			721,160				881,000
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facilities			(605,000	)			(721,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of debt			-				200,000
Principal repayments on debt			(13,760	)			(418,836	)
Debt issuance costs			(989	)			(9,548	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			5,530				5,186
Repurchase of common stock			(193,099	)			(97,000	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements			1,290				2,037
Change in book overdraft			(2,773	)			34,727
Cash flows used in financing activities			(87,641	)			(123,434	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			817				(42,395	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			10,607				53,002
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	11,424			$	10,607

 

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
The following table presents certain income and expense items included in the company’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings as a percentage of total revenues, unless otherwise indicated. Percentages may not add due to rounding:
		Quarter						Fiscal Year
		October 2,			October 3,			October 2,			October 3,
		2011			2010			2011			2010
Statement of Earnings Data:
Revenues:
Company restaurant sales		58.7	%		69.6	%		62.9	%		72.6	%
Distribution sales		27.2	%		19.3	%		24.2	%		17.3	%
Franchise revenues		14.1	%		11.1	%		12.9	%		10.1	%
		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Operating costs and expenses, net:
Company restaurant costs:
Food and packaging (1)		34.1	%		32.2	%		33.4	%		31.8	%
Payroll and employee benefits (1)		28.8	%		29.9	%		30.0	%		30.3	%
Occupancy and other (1)		23.6	%		25.4	%		23.9	%		23.9	%
Total company restaurant costs (1)		86.5	%		87.5	%		87.3	%		85.9	%
Distribution costs (1)		100.8	%		100.2	%		100.5	%		100.4	%
Franchise costs (1)		49.2	%		45.5	%		48.3	%		45.4	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		10.6	%		10.8	%		10.2	%		10.6	%
Impairment and other charges, net		0.5	%		6.3	%		0.6	%		2.1	%
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants, net		(4.4	)%		(3.4	)%		(2.8	)%		(2.4	)%
Earnings from operations		8.1	%		0.9	%		6.5	%		5.3	%
Income tax rate (2)		38.3	%		(297.3	)%		35.9	%		33.8	%
(1) As a percentage of the related sales and/or revenues.
(2) As a percentage of earnings before income taxes.

The following table summarizes the year-to-date changes in the number of Jack in the Box and Qdoba company and franchise restaurants:
		October 2, 2011										October 3, 2010
		Company			Franchise			Total				Company			Franchise			Total
Jack in the Box:
Beginning of period		956			1,250			2,206				1,190			1,022			2,212
New		15			16			31				30			16			46
Refranchised		(332	)		332			-				(219	)		219			-
Closed		(10	)		(6	)		(16	)			(46	)		(6	)		(52	)
Acquired from franchisees		-			-			-				1			(1	)		-
End of period		629			1,592			2,221				956			1,250			2,206
% of system		28	%		72	%		100	%			43	%		57	%		100	%
Qdoba:
Beginning of period		188			337			525				157			353			510
New		25			42			67				15			21			36
Closed		-			(9	)		(9	)			-			(21	)		(21	)
Acquired from franchisees		32			(32	)		-				16			(16	)		-
End of period		245			338			583				188			337			525
% of system		42	%		58	%		100	%			36	%		64	%		100	%
Consolidated:
Total system		874			1,930			2,804				1,144			1,587			2,731
% of system		31	%		69	%		100	%			42	%		58	%		100	%

Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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