Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Driven Brands reported Q1 2025 revenue of $516 million, a 7.1% increase year-over-year, supported by 177 net new stores and 0.7% same-store sales growth, marking the seventeenth consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth [7][19] - Diluted adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $0.27, and adjusted EBITDA was $125 million, reflecting a 1.9% increase [8][21] - Operating income declined by $6.8 million to $61.3 million for Q1, while adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by approximately 120 basis points to 24.2% [20][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Take Five Oil Change achieved same-store sales growth of 8% and revenue growth of 15.3%, with adjusted EBITDA of $100.9 million, reflecting a 13.5% increase [10][22] - Franchise Brands experienced a 2.9% decline in same-store sales, with segment revenue down by $4.6 million or 6.1% [11][24] - The international car wash segment reported same-store sales growth of 26.2%, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by $6.4 million to $24.4 million [12][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for the company grew by 2.2% in Q1 to $1.5 billion [19] - The company closed a net of 19 units in the Franchise Brands segment due to the departure of a franchisee [19][24] - The U.S. Car Wash transaction closed on April 10, 2025, providing liquidity for debt repayment and simplifying the company's portfolio [13][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to utilize excess free cash flow to reduce debt, targeting a net leverage ratio of three times by the end of 2026 [7][14] - Driven Brands is focused on maintaining growth in its Take Five business while managing the performance of its franchise segment [32][33] - The divestiture of the U.S. Car Wash business is expected to support the company's outlook for net capital expenditures, which are projected to be approximately $70 million less than the previous year [13][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver results despite macroeconomic uncertainties, emphasizing the essential nature of their services [15][17] - The company remains cautious about the potential impact of tariffs on margins and demand but believes its diversified sourcing strategy will mitigate risks [14][30] - Management reiterated its fiscal 2025 outlook, expecting moderate growth in Take Five and continued softness in the discretionary business, Mako [31][32] Other Important Information - The company has paid down nearly $290 million in debt since the beginning of 2025, with total debt repaid exceeding $5 billion since 2024 [8][27] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $27.6 million, driven by strong operating performance [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the margin management for Take Five? - Management noted that margin pressure was due to increased repair and maintenance and rent expenses, but they remain confident in the team's ability to manage costs effectively [35][36] Question: What is the outlook for Franchise Brands if same-store sales softness continues? - Management indicated that while there are limited levers in a franchise model, they are optimistic about the long-term trajectory of the franchise brands despite current softness [37][38] Question: What are the expectations for Q2 comps? - Management refrained from providing specific quarter guidance but indicated they expect to see trends stabilize, with a potential for 1% to 3% growth based on current trends [42][44] Question: How is the Auto Glass business performing? - Management confirmed that the Auto Glass business is still in the early stages of growth, with positive developments in securing insurance and commercial accounts [50][63] Question: Are there any signs of increased price competition in the Quick Lubes market? - Management reported no significant material changes in competitive pricing dynamics, although some localized competition may exist [100] Question: How does the company view the impact of economic downturns on its business? - Management emphasized that the majority of their services are nondiscretionary, which positions them well during economic uncertainty, as consumers will still need vehicle maintenance [90][112]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Driven Brands reported Q1 2025 revenue of $516 million, a 7.1% increase year-over-year, supported by 177 net new stores and 0.7% same-store sales growth, marking the seventeenth consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth [5][18] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 increased by 1.9% to $125.1 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 24.2%, a decrease of approximately 120 basis points compared to the previous year [20][21] - The company generated diluted adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $0.27, up $0.02 from Q1 last year, driven by strong operating performance and continued debt paydown [6][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Take Five Oil Change achieved same-store sales growth of 8% for the quarter, marking its nineteenth consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales, with revenue growth of 15.3% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 13.5% [8][21] - The Franchise Brands segment experienced a 2.9% decline in same-store sales, primarily due to softness in the Mako brand, with segment revenue declining by 6.1% [10][22] - The international car wash segment reported same-store sales growth of 26.2%, with revenue and adjusted EBITDA increasing by 2536% year-over-year [11][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for the company grew by 2.2% in Q1 to $1.5 billion [18] - The company closed a net of 19 units in the Franchise Brands segment due to the negotiated departure of a franchisee [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to utilize excess free cash flow to reduce debt, with a target of reducing net leverage to three times by the end of 2026 [5][12] - The divestiture of the U.S. Car Wash business is expected to simplify the portfolio and support the goal of reducing net CapEx [12][28] - The company remains focused on growing the Take Five business and maintaining the strength of its franchise segment while generating cash and executing its deleveraging plan [32][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver despite macroeconomic uncertainties, highlighting the essential nature of their services [14][32] - The company anticipates that the second half of 2025 will contribute a percentage in the low 50s for full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA [32] - Management noted that while there may be softness in discretionary services like Mako, the overall business model remains resilient due to the nondiscretionary nature of most services [91][92] Other Important Information - The company has paid down nearly $290 million in debt since the beginning of 2025, with total debt repaid exceeding $5 billion since the start of 2024 [6][29] - The company extended its revolving credit facility for an additional five years, maintaining a capacity of $300 million [26][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding Take Five's EBITDA margin and potential for margin increase if same-store sales slow - Management indicated that margin pressure was due to increased repair and maintenance and rent expenses, but they remain confident in the team's ability to manage costs effectively [38][39] Question: Update on Franchise Brands and potential for driving EBITDA amidst softness - Management noted that while there are limited levers in a franchise business, they are optimistic about the long-term trajectory of the franchise brands despite current softness [40] Question: Expectations for Q2 comps and potential acceleration in the back half of the year - Management refrained from providing specific quarter guidance but indicated that they expect some moderation in growth due to the larger base created by new openings [44][46] Question: Update on the Auto Glass business performance - Management confirmed that the Auto Glass business is still in the early stages of growth, with positive developments in securing insurance and commercial accounts [50][52] Question: Observations on oil change customer behavior amidst economic pressures - Management reported strong performance in the Take Five business, with no significant changes in customer trends despite economic pressures [59][61] Question: Insights on the impact of tariffs on franchisee costs - Management acknowledged the potential impact of tariffs but indicated that they have not seen significant effects on costs thus far [72][73] Question: Discussion on the performance of the Mako brand and collision repair services - Management confirmed that Mako is experiencing softness due to its discretionary nature, but they believe they can get the business back on track in the second half of the year [81][84]