Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Reports Results for the Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 26, 2021

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) last week reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended December 26, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Key Highlights

• Restaurant revenue of $276.7 million increased 41.5% compared to 2020;
• Comparable restaurant revenue increased 40.1% compared to 2020;
• Restaurants that were at or above 2019 staffing levels had comparable restaurant revenues of 49.3%, compared to 2020;
• Net loss of $21.3 million improved $18.0 million compared to 2020;
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ (a non-GAAP metric) of $8.9 million improved $15.3 million compared to 2020;
• At the end of 2021, we were 93% staffed at the salaried manager positions, and 96% staffed in the General Manager role;
• Seventh consecutive quarter of sustained off-premises sales of more than double pre-pandemic levels, with off-premises sales mix of 31.4% compared to approximately 14.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Off-premises sales comprised $84.7 million, $85.1 million and $36.7 million of comparable restaurant revenue for the fourth quarters of 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively;
• Soft-launched new iOS and Android mobile apps, a new website ordering experience, and a new loyalty platform, creating an integrated digital ecosystem which we expect will improve traffic, order completion and average Guest check; and
• Restaurants that have been serving Donatos® pizza prior to 2021 are continuing to benefit from growing incremental sales beyond their first year as operations mature and brand affinity grows, with comparable restaurant revenue up 8.1% in the fourth quarter compared to 2019 in restaurants without supply chain issues.

Paul J. B. Murphy III, Red Robin’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "As the Omicron variant has receded in recent weeks, we are seeing encouraging signs that our business is beginning to normalize with improved staffing levels across our system, growing dine-in sales and sustained off-premises volumes. We remain intently focused on continuing to strengthen our staffing levels and reducing operational complexity to deliver a memorable quality Guest experience and meet the increasing level of demand as Guests are returning to our restaurants.”

Murphy continued, “We remain confident in our execution of our four strategic pillars which focus on (i) being the employer of choice in the industry, (ii) delivering a variety of Gourmet burgers and mainstream favorites that our Guests love, (iii) creating relevant, personalized and memorable Guest experiences, and (iv) executing our growth platforms. Discretionary capital in 2022 will be allocated to our growth platforms that create meaningful value to our shareholders, including Donatos®, our digital ecosystem, and operational and restaurant enhancements.”

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Summary Compared to 2020 and 2019

The following table presents financial highlights for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, compared to results from the same period in 2020:

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Fourth Quarter 2021 Operating Results

Comparable restaurant revenue⁽³⁾ increased 40.1% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago, driven by a 26.6% increase in Guest count and a 13.5% increase in average Guest check. The increase in average Guest check resulted from a 4.2% increase in pricing, a 7.0% increase in menu mix including incremental sales related to checks that include Donatos® pizza and a 2.3% decrease in discounts. The increase in menu mix was primarily driven by higher sales of beverages and our limited time menu offerings due to higher dine-in sales volumes.

The decrease in Net loss compared to 2020 was primarily due to an $81.1 million increase in restaurant revenue, partially offset by higher marketing expenses, wage rates and transitory costs. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ was due to the aforementioned factors less the impact of Interest expense, Income tax benefits, Depreciation and amortization, and Other charges. $3.2 million of transitory labor and other operating costs were incurred due to staffing and supply chain challenges, including hiring and training costs, substitute products, temporarily outsourced janitorial costs, one-time bonuses and overtime pay.

Comparable restaurant revenue decreased 0.7% compared to 2019, primarily due to the negative impact of the Omicron variant, and staffing challenges at certain restaurants on traffic. Restaurants that were at or above 2019 staffing levels had comparable restaurant revenues of 6.1% compared to 2019.

Financial Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended December 26, 2021 Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended December 27, 2020

Total revenues for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2021 were $1.2 billion, an increase of $293.4 million from the fiscal year ended December 27, 2020 primarily driven by favorable Guest counts, menu mix, and pricing, and lapping the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited occupant capacities and operating an off-premises only model at our restaurants during periods in which indoor dining rooms were closed in 2020 and closed restaurants. GAAP loss per diluted share was $3.19 in 2021 compared to GAAP loss per diluted share of $19.29 in 2020, and adjusted loss per diluted share was $2.43 compared to adjusted loss per diluted share of $11.33 in the prior year. See Schedule I for a reconciliation of adjusted loss per diluted share (a non-GAAP financial measure) to GAAP net loss and GAAP loss per diluted share. For fiscal year 2021, comparable restaurant revenue⁽¹⁾ increased 33.5%, and comparable restaurant Guest count increased 22.3% compared to 2020.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of December 26, 2021, the Company had outstanding borrowings under the credit facility of $176.1 million, in addition to amounts issued under letters of credit of $7.9 million, and liquidity of approximately $57.9 million including cash on hand and available borrowing capacity under its credit facility. The Company has made net repayments of $29.9 million on its Credit Facility since December 29, 2019.

On March 4, 2022, the Company replaced its prior credit agreement with a new $225.0 million, five-year credit agreement with Fortress Credit Corp. The new credit agreement provides for a $200.0 million term loan and a $25.0 million revolving line of credit, and was arranged by J.P. Morgan Chase Bank N.A. as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner. The new agreement gives us long-term flexibility to strategically invest in our business and create value for our shareholders.

Outlook for 2022 and Guidance Policy

The Company provides guidance of select information related to the Company's financial and operating performance, and such measures may differ from year to year. The Company’s guidance assumes there are no significant disruptions or impacts to its business due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the impact of, geopolitical events, or other factors affecting the macroeconomic environment during 2022. The projections are as of this date. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement this information.

The Company currently expects the following for full year 2022:

• Mid-to-high single digit commodity and restaurant labor cost inflation;
• Selling, general and administrative costs between $145 and $155 million;
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ between $80 and $90 million; and,
• Capital expenditures of $40 to $50 million, as we continue to progress our strategic initiatives and focus on operational execution as we emerge from the pandemic, including continued investment in maintaining our restaurants and systems, modest new restaurant growth, Donatos® expansion to approximately 50 restaurants, improvements to our operational technology solutions, and off-premises execution enhancements.

We currently expect to increase pricing in the mid-single digits during 2022, along with other operating initiatives underway, to mitigate cost inflation. We expect margin pressures to persist during 2022, but we expect our trajectory to improve through the year with increased staffing and dine-in sales, and reduced transitory costs. We expect to achieve 2019 restaurant-level operating profit margin in 2023.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), is a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., and under the trade name, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews. We believe nothing brings people together like burgers and fun around our table, and no one makes moments of connection over craveable food more memorable than Red Robin. We serve a variety of burgers and mainstream favorites to Guests of all ages in a casual, playful atmosphere. In addition to our many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide array of salads, appetizers, entrees, desserts, signature beverages and Donatos® pizza at select locations. It's now easy to enjoy Red Robin anywhere with online ordering available for to-go, delivery and catering. There are more than 525 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada, including those operating under franchise agreements.

Schedule I

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Results to GAAP Results
(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

In addition to the results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") throughout this press release, the Company has provided Adjusted net loss, Adjusted (loss) earnings per share - basic, and Adjusted (loss) earnings per share - diluted, which are non-GAAP measurements which present the twelve and fifty-two weeks ended December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020 Net loss and basic and diluted loss per share, excluding the effects of goodwill impairment, asset impairment, litigation contingencies, board and stockholder matters costs, restaurant closure and refranchising costs, severance and executive transition costs, executive retention costs, COVID-19 related costs, and related income tax effects. The Company believes the presentation of net loss and loss per share exclusive of the identified items gives the reader additional insight into the ongoing operational results of the Company. Management believes this supplemental information will assist with comparisons of past and future financial results against the present financial results presented herein. Income tax effect of reconciling items was calculated based on the change in the total tax provision calculation after adjusting for the identified item. The non-GAAP measurements are intended to supplement the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP.

Schedule II

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Restaurant-Level Operating Profit to Restaurant revenues, Loss
from Operations and Net Loss
(In thousands, unaudited)

The Company believes restaurant-level operating profit is an important measure for management and investors because it is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. The Company defines restaurant-level operating profit to be restaurant revenue minus restaurant-level operating costs, excluding restaurant impairment and closure costs. The measure includes restaurant-level occupancy costs that include fixed rents, percentage rents, common area maintenance charges, real estate and personal property taxes, general liability insurance, and other property costs, but excludes depreciation related to restaurant equipment, buildings, and leasehold improvements. The measure excludes depreciation and amortization expense, substantially all of which is related to restaurant-level assets, because such expenses represent historical sunk costs which do not reflect current cash outlay for the restaurants. The measure also excludes selling, general, and administrative costs, and therefore excludes costs associated with selling, general, and administrative functions, and pre-opening costs. The Company excludes restaurant closure costs as they do not represent a component of the efficiency of continuing operations. Restaurant impairment costs are excluded, because, similar to depreciation and amortization, they represent a non-cash charge for the Company's investment in its restaurants and not a component of the efficiency of restaurant operations. Restaurant-level operating profit is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to loss from operations or net loss as indicators of financial performance. Restaurant-level operating profit as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in the Company's industry. The table below sets forth certain unaudited information for the twelve and fifty-two weeks ended December 26, 2021, and December 27, 2020 expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except for the components of restaurant-level operating profit that are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenue.

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Schedule III

Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands, unaudited)

The Company defines EBITDA as net loss before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are presented because the Company believes investors' understanding of its performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for evaluating its ongoing results of operations excluding the effects of goodwill impairment, asset impairment, litigation contingencies, board and stockholder matters costs, restaurant closure and refranchising costs, severance and executive transition costs, executive retention costs and COVID-19 related costs. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered as alternatives to net loss or cash flow from operations, as determined by GAAP, and the Company's calculation thereof may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in its industry or otherwise. Adjusted EBITDA further adjusts EBITDA to reflect the additions and eliminations shown in the table below. The use of adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to the Company's performance based on its GAAP results, while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies, and the Company's presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that its future results will be unaffected by excluded or unusual items. The Company has not provided a reconciliation of its adjusted EBITDA outlook to the most comparable GAAP measure of Net loss. Providing Net loss guidance is potentially misleading and not practical given the difficulty of projecting event-driven transactional and other non-core operating items that are included in Net loss, including asset impairments and income tax valuation adjustments. The reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA to Net loss for the historical periods presented below are indicative of the reconciliations that will be prepared upon completion of the periods covered by the non-GAAP guidance.