Press Release Details

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, today announced results for the first quarter of 2017, comprised of strong growth in same store sales, global store counts and earnings per share. Domestic same store sales grew 10.2% during the quarter versus the year-ago period, which represents the 24^th consecutive quarter of positive sales momentum in the Company's domestic business. The international division also posted strong results, with same store sales growth of 4.3% during the quarter, marking the 93^rd  consecutive quarter of positive international same store sales growth. The Company had global net store growth of 189 stores in the quarter, comprised of 28 net new domestic stores and 161 net new stores internationally. The Company has added 1,308 net new stores over the trailing four quarters.

Diluted EPS was $1.26 for the first quarter, which was up 41.6% over the Company's diluted EPS in the prior year quarter. This increase resulted from outstanding operational results as well as the adoption of a new accounting standard.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 80,360 shares of its common stock for approximately $12.7 million. The Company's Board of Directors also declared a 46-cent per share quarterly dividend for shareholders of record as of June 15, 2017, to be paid on June 30, 2017.

"It was a great start to 2017, as momentum continued with solid growth in our international business, and our third consecutive quarter of double-digit same store sales growth in the U.S.," said J. Patrick Doyle, Domino's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The ultimate measure of customer satisfaction is more customers choosing to do business with you.  The growth we are experiencing – both in store counts and customer visits – is a reflection of great commitment and execution by our franchisees and team members."

First Quarter Highlights:

• Revenues were up 15.8% for the first quarter versus the prior year period, due primarily to higher supply chain revenues from increased volumes and store growth. Increased domestic franchise and Company-owned store revenues and higher international revenues resulting from both same store sales and store count growth also contributed to this increase.
• Net Income increased 37.4% for the first quarter versus the prior year period, primarily driven by an increase in same store sales growth and store count as well as higher supply chain volumes and lower food costs. The adoption of the new equity-based compensation accounting standard also positively impacted net income. These increases were partially offset by higher general and administrative expenses from investments in technological initiatives as well as the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates.
• Diluted EPS was $1.26 for the first quarter versus 89 cents in the prior year quarter. This represents a 37-cent or 41.6% increase over the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by the increase in net income, as well as lower diluted share count, primarily as a result of the share repurchases made during the trailing four quarters.

The table below outlines certain statistical measures utilized by the Company to analyze its performance.  Refer to the Comments on Regulation G section on page three for additional details.

Adoption of New Accounting Guidance

The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017. This standard addresses the accounting for income taxes and forfeitures and the cash flow presentation of share-based compensation. The adoption resulted in a $6.5 million decrease in our first quarter 2017 provision for income taxes, or a 7.2 percentage point decrease in our first quarter 2017 effective tax rate, due to the recognition of excess tax benefits for options exercised and the vesting of equity awards in the first quarter of 2017. This item positively impacted our diluted EPS by approximately 13 cents in the first quarter of 2017. Refer to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 26, 2017 for additional detailed information regarding the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-09.

Conference Call Information

The Company will file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q this morning. As previously announced, Domino's Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 10 a.m. (Eastern) to review its first quarter 2017 financial results. The call can be accessed by dialing (888) 400-9978 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 634-4947 (International). Ask for the Domino's Pizza conference call. The call will also be webcast at biz.dominos.com. The webcast will also be archived for one year on biz.dominos.com.

Share Repurchases

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased and retired 80,360 shares of its common stock under its open market share repurchase program for approximately $12.7 million, or an average price of $158.30 per share. As of March 26, 2017, the end of the first quarter, the Company had a total remaining authorized amount for share repurchases of $136.4 million.

Liquidity

As of March 26, 2017, the Company had approximately:

• $52.1 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents;
• $2.18 billion in total debt; and
• $80.7 million of available borrowings under its $125.0 million variable funding notes, net of letters of credit issued of $44.3 million. The Company has collateralized $44.0 million of these letters of credit with restricted cash, and has the ability to access this cash with minimal notice.

The Company invested $12.4 million in capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2017, versus $10.5 million in the first quarter of 2016. Free cash flow, as reconciled below to cash flows from operations as determined under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), was approximately $73.2 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Comments on Regulation G

In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, the Company has included non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G. The Company has also included metrics such as global retail sales growth and same store sales growth, which are commonly used statistical measures in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance.

The Company uses "Global retail sales" to refer to total worldwide retail sales at Company-owned and franchise stores. The Company believes global retail sales information is useful in analyzing revenues because franchisees pay royalties that are based on a percentage of franchise retail sales. The Company reviews comparable industry global retail sales information to assess business trends and to track the growth of the Domino's Pizza^® brand. In addition, supply chain revenues are directly impacted by changes in franchise retail sales. Retail sales for franchise stores are reported to the Company by its franchisees and are not included in Company revenues.

The Company uses "Same store sales growth," which is calculated by including only sales from stores that also had sales in the comparable period of the prior year. International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to domestic same store sales growth. Changes in international same store sales are reported excluding foreign currency impacts, which reflect changes in international local currency sales.

The Company uses "Free cash flow," which is calculated as cash flows from operations less capital expenditures, both as reported under GAAP. The Company believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors and other interested persons, and that such persons benefit from having a measure which communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing debt, making acquisitions, repurchasing common stock, paying dividends or other similar uses of cash.

About Domino's Pizza^®

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, with a significant business in carryout pizza. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of 14,000 stores in over 85 international markets. Domino's had global retail sales of nearly $10.9 billion in 2016, with more than $5.3 billion in the U.S. and more than $5.5 billion internationally. In the first quarter of 2017, Domino's had global retail sales of nearly $2.7 billion, with over $1.3 billion in the U.S. and nearly $1.4 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for over 97% of Domino's stores as of the first quarter of 2017. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's reach an estimated $5.6 billion in global digital sales in 2016, and has produced several innovative ordering platforms, including Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Twitter and text message using a pizza emoji. In late 2015, Domino's announced the design and launch of the DXP^®, a purpose-built pizza delivery vehicle, as well as Piece of the Pie Rewards™, its first digital customer loyalty program.

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Please visit our Investor Relations website at biz.dominos.com to view a schedule of upcoming earnings releases, significant announcements and conference webcasts.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "estimates," or "anticipates" or similar expressions that concern our strategy, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements relating to our anticipated profitability, estimates in same store sales growth, the growth of our international business, ability to service our indebtedness, our future cash flows, our operating performance, trends in our business and other descriptions of future events reflect the Company's expectations based upon currently available information and data. However, actual results are subject to future risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the level of our long-term and other indebtedness; uncertainties relating to litigation; consumer preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends; the effectiveness of our advertising, operations and promotional initiatives; the strength of our brand in the markets in which we compete; our ability to retain key personnel; new product, digital ordering and concept developments by us, and other food-industry competitors; the ongoing level of profitability of our franchisees; our ability and that of our franchisees to open new restaurants and keep existing restaurants in operation; changes in operating expenses resulting from changes in prices of food (particularly cheese), labor, utilities, insurance, employee benefits and other operating costs; the impact that widespread illness or general health concerns may have on our business and the economy of the countries where we operate; severe weather conditions and natural disasters; changes in our effective tax rate; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in government legislation and regulations; adequacy of our insurance coverage; costs related to future financings; our ability and that of our franchisees to successfully operate in the current credit environment; changes in the level of consumer spending given the general economic conditions including interest rates, energy prices and consumer confidence; availability of borrowings under our variable funding notes and our letters of credit; and changes in accounting policies. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are more fully described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the section headed "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and you should not rely on such statements as representing the views of the Company as of any subsequent date. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

TABLES TO FOLLOW

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SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc.

Tim McIntyre, Executive Vice President, Communication, Investor Relations and Legislative Affairs, (734) 930-3563