Workflow
Back - of - house optimization
icon
Search documents
Cracker Barrel(CBRL) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-09-17 22:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, total revenue was reported at $868 million, with restaurant revenue at $718.2 million and retail revenue at $149.8 million, reflecting a 4.4% increase excluding the $62.8 million benefit from the 53rd week in the prior year [11][12] - Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 5.4%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of positive growth, while pricing for the quarter was 5.4% [11][12] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $55.7 million, or 6.4% of total revenue, with an 8% increase when excluding the impact from the 53rd week in the prior year [14][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant cost of goods sold was 26.3% of restaurant sales, up from 26% in the prior year, driven by menu mix and commodity inflation [12][13] - Comparable store retail sales decreased by 0.8% [12] - Off-premise sales accounted for 18.1% of restaurant sales, an increase of approximately 100 basis points year-over-year [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic for the first half of August was down approximately 1%, with a decline of about 8% since the logo change on August 19 [16][17] - The company anticipates a Q1 traffic decline of approximately 7% to 8% based on current trends [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a multi-year plan to return to growth, emphasizing food quality and guest experience [7][21] - A renewed emphasis on traditional branding and nostalgia is being implemented, including reverting to the old-timer logo and traditional interiors [8][30] - The company plans to invest approximately $135 million to $150 million in capital expenditures for fiscal 2026, primarily for maintenance and technology [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about regaining traffic and momentum, citing strong guest connections and positive feedback on recent changes [9][21] - The company is navigating short-term headwinds while maintaining a conservative balance sheet and focusing on capital allocation [16][59] Other Important Information - A new $100 million share repurchase program was authorized, and a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share was declared [16] - The company has seen strong growth in its loyalty program, with membership increasing by 3 million people over the past year [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Marketing plan adjustments in light of traffic performance - Management expects marketing as a percentage of sales to be higher in 2026, particularly in Q1, to drive traffic recovery [37] Question: Food quality improvement plans - Food quality has always been a priority, with ongoing evaluations and adjustments based on guest feedback [39] Question: Traffic trends and regional performance - Traffic declines are broad-based, with larger declines in the Southeast, excluding Florida [46] Question: Loyalty program performance amidst traffic decline - The loyalty program has seen an increase in signups, exceeding expectations despite the traffic decline [83] Question: Competitive pricing strategies - The company maintains a strong value proposition and is confident in its pricing strategy, which includes a planned 4% to 5% menu pricing increase [68][70]