Document
false0001275158 0001275158 2020-02-26 2020-02-26


 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
_______________
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 26, 2020
 
NOODLES & COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
001-35987
84-1303469
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation)
 
Identification No.)

 
 
 
520 Zang Street, Suite D
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Broomfield,
CO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
80021
 
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (720) 214-1900
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock
NDLS
Nasdaq Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
 
 





Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On February 26, 2020, Noodles & Company issued a press release disclosing earnings and other financial results for its fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and that as previously announced, its management would review these results in a conference call at 4:30 p.m. (EST) on February 26, 2020. The full text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
The information furnished with this report, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)    Exhibits.







SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



 
 
Noodles & Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ KEN KUICK
 
Name:
Ken Kuick
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer


DATED: February 26, 2020











Exhibit


 
 
Exhibit 99.1
    
 
https://cdn.kscope.io/06330edfd33869710b33b9bc43dd89b3-noodleslogo05.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noodles & Company Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Results
Fourth Quarter Marks Seventh Consecutive Quarter of Comparable Sales Growth;
Year-To-Date 2020 Company Comparable Restaurant Sales Accelerate to 5.8%

BROOMFIELD, Colo., February 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Noodles & Company (Nasdaq: NDLS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Key highlights for fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 include:
Total revenue increased 1.0% to $462.4 million from $457.8 million.
Comparable restaurant sales increased 2.8% system-wide, increased 2.9% for company-owned restaurants and increased 2.5% for franchise restaurants.
Digital sales grew 46% and accounted for 23% of sales and contributed to an increase in total off-premise sales of 470 bps to 56% of sales.
Net income was $1.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.20 loss per diluted share.
Adjusted net income was $8.1 million, or $0.18 earnings per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $1.0 million, or $0.02 earnings per diluted share.
Restaurant contribution margin increased 110 basis points to 16.1%.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 15.2% to $38.4 million from $33.4 million.
Four new company-owned restaurants opened in 2019.
Key highlights for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the same quarter of 2018 include:
Total revenue increased 0.6% to $113.9 million from $113.2 million.
Comparable restaurant sales increased 1.5% system-wide, increased 1.4% for company-owned restaurants and increased 1.8% for franchise restaurants.
Digital sales grew 34% and accounted for 25% of sales and contributed to an increase in total off-premise sales of 420 bps to 58% of sales.
Net loss was $1.2 million, or $0.03 loss per share compared to net income of approximately zero.
Adjusted net income was $3.0 million, or $0.07 earnings per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $0.5 million, or $0.01 earnings per diluted share.
Restaurant contribution margin increased 200 basis points to 17.2%.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 30.2% to $10.9 million from $8.4 million.
Dave Boennighausen, Chief Executive Officer of Noodles & Company remarked, “We are pleased with our 2019 results as they reflect our continued momentum in sales, margin and bottom line growth. Our seventh consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales during the fourth quarter, combined with meaningful margin expansion, is further evidence of the sustainability and effectiveness of our strategy. Our strong growth in digital and off-premise sales was a direct result of our initiatives and the brand’s strength in meeting the increasing need for convenience from today’s consumer.”
Boennighausen continued “While we are pleased with our comparable sales growth of 2.8% system-wide and two-year growth of 6.5% during 2019, we are excited to report that comparable sales have accelerated thus far in 2020 and reflect positive traffic growth, an important focus of our strategy. Through February 25th, comparable sales have grown 5.7% system-wide year-to-date, comprised of 5.8% growth at company restaurants and 5.0% at franchise locations. As we accelerate company and franchise growth in the quarters to come, we are confident in the underlying foundation and trends of the business. Noodles & Company is positioned extremely well to win in today’s environment, and we look forward to an outstanding 2020 and years to come.”





Fiscal Year Ended 2019 Financial Results
Total revenue increased $4.6 million in 2019, or 1.0%, to $462.4 million, compared to $457.8 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the increase in comparable restaurant sales and additional restaurant openings in 2019, partially offset by restaurants closed since the beginning of 2018, most of which were at or approaching the expiration of their leases.
In 2019, comparable restaurant sales increased 2.8% system-wide, including a 2.9% increase for company-owned restaurants and a 2.5% increase for franchise restaurants. Average unit volumes increased 3.9% to $1.2 million in 2019 compared to $1.1 million 2018.
Four new company-owned restaurants opened in 2019. The Company had 457 restaurants at the end of 2019, comprised of 389 company-owned and 68 franchise restaurants.
In 2019, the Company reported net income of $1.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.20 loss per diluted share in 2018. Income from operations was $5.4 million in 2019, compared to a loss of $3.8 million in 2018.
In 2019, we recognized $0.4 million of closure costs primarily related to five restaurants closed in 2019, most of which were at or approaching the expiration of their leases and ongoing costs related to previously closed restaurants. Additionally, in 2019 we recognized $2.6 million of impairment charges related to restaurant impairments and $3.6 million related to the write down of assets for the sale of nine company-owned restaurants to a franchisee that was completed in January of 2020.
In 2018, the Company recognized a $3.4 million charge for the final assessment related to data breach liabilities, incurred $4.1 million of closure costs related to 19 restaurants closed in 2018 and ongoing costs related to previously closed restaurants and recognized $0.4 million of impairment charges.
Restaurant contribution margin increased to 16.1% in 2019 compared to 15.0% in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the leverage on higher AUV’s, lower costs due to ongoing supply chain initiatives and labor efficiencies, partially offset by increased labor inflation and increased third-party delivery fees associated with higher delivery revenues.
Adjusted net income was $8.1 million in 2019, compared to an adjusted net income of $1.0 million in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $38.4 million in 2019 from $33.4 million in 2018.
Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Total revenue increased $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, or 0.6%, to $113.9 million, compared to $113.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily due to the increase in comparable restaurant sales. Average unit volumes (“AUVs”) increased $44,000 to $1,163,000 from $1,119,000 in 2018.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, comparable restaurants sales increased 1.5% system-wide, including a 1.4% increase for company-owned restaurants and a 1.8% increase for franchise restaurants.
The Company had a net loss of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to nearly break-even results in the fourth quarter of 2018. Income from operations was $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $1.0 million during the same period in 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company incurred $0.4 million of closure costs related to ongoing costs from restaurants previously closed. The Company did not impair any restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2019 but did write down $3.6 million of assets related to the sale of nine company-owned restaurants to a franchisee that was completed in January of 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company incurred $0.6 million of closure costs related to seven restaurants closed during the quarter and ongoing costs from restaurants previously closed.
Restaurant contribution margin increased to 17.2% in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to 15.2% in the fourth quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily due to leverage on higher AUVs partially offset by increased operating expense in support of our off-premise initiatives.
Adjusted net income was $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 30.2% to $10.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 from $8.4 million in the same period of 2018.





2020 Outlook
For 2020, management expects the following:
Approximately ten to fifteen new restaurants system-wide, including eight to eleven company locations;
Total revenue of $470.0 million to $480.0 million;
Comparable restaurant sales of 3.0% to 5.0%;
Restaurant contribution margin of approximately 17.0%;
Adjusted EBITDA of $42.0 million to $46.0 million;
Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.21 to $0.26; and
Capital expenditures of $20.0 million to $30.0 million.
The Company believes that a quantitative reconciliation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures guidance to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP cannot be made available without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures would require the Company to provide guidance for various reconciling items that are outside of the Company’s control and cannot be reasonably predicted due to the fact that these items could vary significantly from period to period. A reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures would also require the Company to predict the timing and likelihood of outcomes that determine future impairments and the tax benefit thereof. None of these measures, nor their probable significance, can be reliably quantified. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical financial measures, as discussed below in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” In addition, the guidance with respect to non-GAAP financial measures is a forward-looking statement, which by its nature involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward-looking statement, as discussed below in the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Key Definitions
Average Unit Volumes — AUVs consist of the average annualized sales of all company-owned restaurants for the trailing 12 periods. AUVs are calculated by dividing restaurant revenue by the number of operating days within each time period and multiplying by the number of operating days we have in a typical year. This measurement allows management to assess changes in consumer traffic and per person spending patterns at our restaurants.
Comparable Restaurant Sales — represent year-over-year sales comparisons for the comparable restaurant base open for at least 18 full periods. This measure highlights performance of existing restaurants, as the impact of new restaurant openings is excluded. Changes in comparable restaurant sales are generated by changes in traffic, which we calculate as the number of entrées sold, or changes in per-person spend, calculated as sales divided by traffic.
Restaurant Contribution and Restaurant Contribution Margin — restaurant contribution represents restaurant revenue less restaurant operating costs, which are costs of sales, labor, occupancy and other restaurant operating items. Restaurant contribution margin represents restaurant contribution as a percentage of restaurant revenue. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are presented because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency and performance. Management also uses restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin as metrics to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at our restaurants, restaurant performance across periods, and restaurant financial performance compared with competitors. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA — EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals, certain litigation settlements, data breach assessments, non-recurring registration and related transaction costs, severance costs and stock-based compensation. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are presented because: (i) management believes they are useful measures for investors to assess the operating performance of our business without the effect of non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization expenses and restaurant impairments, asset disposals and closure costs, and (ii) management uses them internally as a benchmark for certain of our cash incentive plans and to evaluate our operating performance or compare performance to that of competitors. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) represents net income (loss) plus various adjustments and the tax effects of such adjustments. Adjusted net income (loss) is presented because management believes it helps convey supplemental information to investors regarding the Company’s performance, excluding the impact of special items that affect the comparability of results in past quarters and expected results in future quarters. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.





Conference Call
Noodles & Company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2019 financial results on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. EST. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 303-1298 or for international callers by dialing (253) 237-1032. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or for international callers by dialing (404) 537-3406; the passcode is 8982244. The replay will be available until Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company’s corporate website at investor.noodles.com, under the “Events & Presentations” page. An archive of the webcast will be available at this location shortly after the call has concluded until Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin (collectively, the “non-GAAP financial measures”). The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or to be superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that they provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Adjusted net income (loss) is presented because management believes it helps convey supplemental information to investors regarding the Company’s operating performance excluding the impact of restaurant impairment and closure costs, dead deal or registration statement costs, severance costs and stock-based compensation expense and the tax effect of such adjustments. However, the Company recognizes that non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical financial measures. The Company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP metrics only supplementally. There are numerous of these limitations, including that: adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company’s capital expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, associated with our indebtedness; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect depreciation and amortization, which are non-cash charges, although the assets being depreciated and amortized will likely have to be replaced in the future, and do not reflect cash requirements for such replacements; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cost of stock-based compensation; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; adjusted net income (loss) does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements, for lease termination payments and certain other expenses associated with reduced new restaurant development; and restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are not reflective of the underlying performance of our business because corporate-level expenses are excluded from these measures. When analyzing the Company’s operating performance, investors should not consider non-GAAP financial metrics in isolation or as substitutes for net income (loss) or cash flow from operations, or other statement of operations or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company in this press release may be different from the measures used by other companies.
For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results” tables in this press release. These accompanying tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

About Noodles & Company
Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been serving noodles your way, from noodles and flavors that you know and love, to new ones you’re about to discover for the first time. From indulgent Wisconsin Mac & Cheese to good-for-you Zoodles, Noodles serves a world of flavor in every bowl. Made up of more than 450 restaurants and 10,000 passionate team members, Noodles is dedicated to nourishing and inspiring every guest who walks through the door. To learn more or find the location nearest you, visit www.noodles.com.





Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties such as the number of restaurants we intend to open, projected capital expenditures and estimates of our effective tax rates. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Examples of forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding estimated costs associated with our closure of underperforming restaurants, the implementation and results of strategic initiatives and our future financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to reasons including, but not limited to, our ability to achieve and maintain increases in comparable restaurant sales and to successfully execute our business strategy, including new restaurant initiatives and operational strategies to improve the performance of our restaurant portfolio; our ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants and continue to access financing necessary to execute our business strategy; the success of our marketing efforts; our ability to open new restaurants on schedule; current economic conditions; price and availability of commodities; our ability to adequately staff our restaurants; changes in labor costs; consumer confidence and spending patterns; consumer reaction to industry related public health issues and perceptions of food safety; seasonal factors; and weather. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company’s forward-looking statements, see the Company’s risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in its filings with the SEC, included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, and, from time to time, in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.





Noodles & Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data, unaudited)


 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restaurant revenue
 
$
112,289

 
$
112,055

 
$
456,671

 
$
453,671

Franchise royalties and fees, and other
 
1,582

 
1,138

 
5,740

 
4,170

Total revenue
 
113,871

 
113,193

 
462,411

 
457,841

Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
28,096

 
30,140

 
117,179

 
121,102

Labor
 
36,645

 
37,393

 
150,565

 
149,746

Occupancy
 
12,014

 
11,865

 
48,863

 
49,020

Other restaurant operating costs
 
16,209

 
15,578

 
66,684

 
65,575

General and administrative
 
11,022

 
10,612

 
43,446

 
46,092

Depreciation and amortization
 
5,460

 
5,465

 
22,086

 
22,872

Pre-opening
 
71

 

 
402

 
50

Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals
 
4,107

 
1,190

 
7,747

 
7,142

Total costs and expenses
 
113,624

 
112,243

 
456,972

 
461,599

Income (loss) from operations
 
247

 
950

 
5,439

 
(3,758
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
 
746

 

 
746

 
626

Interest expense, net
 
644

 
920

 
2,942

 
4,305

(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(1,143
)
 
30

 
1,751

 
(8,689
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
40

 
11

 
104

 
(248
)
Net (loss) income
 
$
(1,183
)
 
$
19

 
$
1,647

 
$
(8,441
)
(Loss) earnings per share, combined
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$

 
$
0.04

 
$
(0.20
)
Diluted
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$

 
$
0.04

 
$
(0.20
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
43,993,394

 
43,922,305

 
44,036,947

 
42,329,556

Diluted
 
43,993,394

 
45,352,745

 
44,976,436

 
42,329,556








Noodles & Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations as a Percentage of Revenue
(unaudited)

 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restaurant revenue
 
98.6
 %
 
99.0
%
 
98.8
%
 
99.1
 %
Franchise royalties and fees, and other
 
1.4
 %
 
1.0
%
 
1.2
%
 
0.9
 %
Total revenue
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
 %
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below): (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
25.0
 %
 
26.9
%
 
25.7
%
 
26.7
 %
Labor
 
32.6
 %
 
33.4
%
 
33.0
%
 
33.0
 %
Occupancy
 
10.7
 %
 
10.6
%
 
10.7
%
 
10.8
 %
Other restaurant operating costs
 
14.4
 %
 
13.9
%
 
14.6
%
 
14.5
 %
General and administrative
 
9.7
 %
 
9.4
%
 
9.4
%
 
10.1
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
4.8
 %
 
4.8
%
 
4.8
%
 
5.0
 %
Pre-opening
 
0.1
 %
 
%
 
0.1
%
 
 %
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals
 
3.6
 %
 
1.1
%
 
1.7
%
 
1.6
 %
Total costs and expenses
 
99.8
 %
 
99.2
%
 
98.8
%
 
100.8
 %
Income (loss) from operations
 
0.2
 %
 
0.8
%
 
1.2
%
 
(0.8
)%
Loss on extinguishment of debt
 
0.7
 %
 
%
 
0.2
%
 
0.1
 %
Interest expense, net
 
0.6
 %
 
0.8
%
 
0.6
%
 
1.0
 %
(Loss) income before income taxes
 
(1.0
)%
 
%
 
0.4
%
 
(1.9
)%
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
 %
 
%
 
%
 
(0.1
)%
Net (loss) income
 
(1.0
)%
 
%
 
0.4
%
 
(1.8
)%
________________________
(1)
As a percentage of restaurant revenue.







Noodles & Company
Consolidated Selected Balance Sheet Data and Selected Operating Data
(in thousands, except restaurant activity, unaudited)

 
 
As of
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Balance Sheet Data
 
 
Total current assets
 
$
29,322

 
$
23,351

Total assets (1)
 
378,519

 
172,032

Total current liabilities
 
58,034

 
33,147

Total long-term debt
 
40,497

 
44,183

Total liabilities (1)
 
327,948

 
119,351

Total stockholders’ equity
 
50,571

 
52,681

_____________
(1)
Total assets and total liabilities as of December 31, 2019 include the adoption of ASU 2016-02.


 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
October 1, 2019
 
July 2, 2019
 
April 2, 2019
 
January 1, 2019
Selected Operating Data
 
 
Restaurant Activity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Company-owned restaurants at end of period
 
389

 
391

 
395

 
395

 
394

  Franchise restaurants at end of period
 
68

 
67

 
62

 
64

 
65

Revenue Data:
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 


  Company-owned average unit volumes
 
$
1,163

 
$
1,157

 
$
1,148

 
$
1,131

 
$
1,119

  Franchise average unit volumes
 
$
1,162

 
$
1,161

 
$
1,164

 
$
1,155

 
$
1,153

Company-owned comparable restaurant sales
 
1.4
%
 
2.2
%
 
4.8
%
 
3.0
%
 
3.7
%
  Franchise comparable restaurant sales
 
1.8
%
 
1.6
%
 
3.7
%
 
2.8
%
 
5.3
%
  System-wide comparable restaurant sales
 
1.5
%
 
2.1
%
 
4.6
%
 
3.0
%
 
4.0
%






Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results

Noodles & Company
Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)
 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Net (loss) income
 
$
(1,183
)
 
$
19

 
$
1,647

 
$
(8,441
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
5,460

 
5,465

 
22,086

 
22,872

Interest expense, net
 
644

 
920

 
2,942

 
4,305

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
40

 
11

 
104

 
(248
)
EBITDA
 
$
4,961

 
$
6,415

 
$
26,779

 
$
18,488

Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals
 
4,107

 
1,190

 
7,747

 
7,142

Litigation settlements and data breach assessments
 

 

 

 
3,796

Fees and costs related to the registration statements and related transactions
 
24

 

 
190

 
53

Loss on extinguishment of debt
 
746

 

 
746

 
626

Severance costs
 
410

 

 
522

 
278

Stock-based compensation expense
 
623

 
747

 
2,443

 
2,979

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
10,871

 
$
8,352

 
$
38,427

 
$
33,362

______________________________
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered as alternatives to net (loss) income or cash flow from operations, as determined by GAAP, and our calculation thereof may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. These measures are presented because we believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for evaluating our ongoing results of operations.
EBITDA is calculated as net (loss) income before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further adjusts EBITDA to reflect the eliminations shown in the table above.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are presented because: (i) we believe they are useful measures for investors to assess the operating performance of our business without the effect of non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization expenses and restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals and (ii) we use adjusted EBITDA internally as a benchmark for certain of our cash incentive plans and to evaluate our operating performance or compare our performance to that of our competitors. The use of adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to our performance based on our GAAP results, while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. Companies within our industry exhibit significant variations with respect to capital structures and cost of capital (which affect interest expense and income tax rates) and differences in book depreciation of property, plant and equipment (which affect relative depreciation expense), including significant differences in the depreciable lives of similar assets among various companies. Our management believes that adjusted EBITDA facilitates company-to-company comparisons within our industry by eliminating some of these foregoing variations. Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies, and our presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by excluded or unusual items.










Noodles & Company
Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to Adjusted Net Income
(in thousands, except share and per share data, unaudited)
 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Net (loss) income
 
$
(1,183
)
 
$
19

 
$
1,647

 
$
(8,441
)
Restaurant impairments, divestitures and closure costs (1)
 
4,031

 
659

 
7,794

 
5,280

Severance costs, including related stock-based compensation expense (2)
 
410

 

 
522

 
278

Litigation settlements (3)
 

 

 

 
3,796

Fees and costs related to transactions and other acquisition/disposition costs (4)
 
24

 

 
154

 
53

Loss on extinguishment of debt (5)
 
746

 

 
746

 
626

Tax effect of adjustments (6)
 
(1,036
)
 
(171
)
 
(2,798
)
 
(604
)
Adjusted net income
 
$
2,992

 
$
507

 
$
8,065

 
$
988

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$

 
$
0.04

 
$
(0.20
)
   Diluted
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$

 
$
0.04

 
$
(0.20
)
Adjusted earnings per share (7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.01

 
$
0.18

 
$
0.02

   Diluted
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.01

 
$
0.18

 
$
0.02

Weighted average common shares outstanding (7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
 
43,993,394

 
43,922,305

 
44,036,947

 
42,329,556

   Diluted
 
44,494,399

 
45,352,745

 
44,976,436

 
43,741,326

_____________________________
Adjusted net income is a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP. We define adjusted net income as net (loss) income plus the impact of adjustments and the tax effects of such adjustments. Adjusted net income is presented because management believes it helps convey supplemental information to investors regarding our performance, excluding the impact of special items that affect the comparability of results in past quarters to expected results in future quarters. Adjusted net income as presented may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies, and our presentation of adjusted net income should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by excluded or unusual items. Our management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter based on comparable financial results.

(1)
Reflects the adjustment to eliminate the impact of restaurant impairments, divestitures and closure costs in 2019 and 2018 and the amounts related to restaurants previously closed. Additionally, 2019 includes closure costs of the five restaurants closed in 2019, impairment charges and the write down of assets related to the sale of nine company-owned restaurants to a franchisee that closed in January of 2020. 2018 includes closure costs of the 19 restaurants closed during 2018 and impairment charges. These expenses are included in the “Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2)
Reflects the adjustment to eliminate the severance costs from department structural changes.
(3)
Reflects the adjustments to eliminate the charges recognized in 2018 for the final assessment related to the data breach liabilities and the litigation settlement of a Delaware gift card litigation.
(4)
Reflects the adjustment to eliminate certain expenses related to corporate projects and expenses related to the registration statement the Company filed in the first quarter of 2018.
(5)
Reflects the adjustment to eliminate the loss on extinguishment of debt which resulted from writing off the unamortized balance of debt issuance costs related to the 2018 credit facility when amended in November 2019 and the prior credit facility when it was repaid in full in the second quarter of 2018.
(6)
Reflects the adjustment to normalize the impact of the valuation allowance that affects our annual effective tax rate and the tax impact of the other adjustments discussed in (1) through (5) above.
(7)
Adjusted per share amounts are calculated by dividing adjusted net income by the basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding.





Noodles & Company
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Restaurant Contribution
(in thousands, unaudited)


 
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
 
December 31,
2019
 
January 1,
2019
Income (loss) from operations
 
$
247

 
$
950

 
$
5,439

 
$
(3,758
)
Less: Franchising royalties and fees
 
1,582

 
1,138

 
5,740

 
4,170

Plus: General and administrative
 
11,022

 
10,612

 
43,446

 
46,092

Depreciation and amortization
 
5,460

 
5,465

 
22,086

 
22,872

Pre-opening
 
71

 

 
402

 
50

Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals
 
4,107

 
1,190

 
7,747

 
7,142

Restaurant contribution
 
$
19,325

 
$
17,079

 
$
73,380

 
$
68,228

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
as a percentage of restaurant revenue
 
17.2
%
 
15.2
%
 
16.1
%
 
15.0
%
_____________________________
Restaurant contribution represents restaurant revenue less restaurant operating costs, which are the cost of sales, labor, occupancy and other operating items. Restaurant contribution margin represents restaurant contribution as a percentage of restaurant revenue. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are non-GAAP measures that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP, and the calculations thereof may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. These measures are supplemental measures of the operating performance of our restaurants and are not reflective of the underlying performance of our business because corporate-level expenses are excluded from these measures.

Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Management does not consider these measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are important tools for investors and other interested parties because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency and performance. Management also uses these measures as metrics to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at our restaurants, restaurant performance across periods, and restaurant financial performance compared with competitors.