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European Wax Center(EWCZ) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-13 13:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, the company reported system-wide sales of $257.6 million, a decrease of 1% year-over-year, with same-store sales growth of 30 basis points [6][26] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $21.6 million, reflecting a 4.7% increase from $20.6 million in the prior year period, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 38.7% [28][29] - Total revenue decreased by approximately $4 million or 6.6% to $55.9 million, primarily due to lower contributions from wholesale product and retail revenue [26][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened two growth centers during the quarter and closed five, resulting in three net center closures, with a total of 1,059 centers at the end of Q2, flat year-over-year [26][30] - The company has seen an improvement in transaction growth, with same-store sales up 1.7% in June and 1.5% through the first five weeks of Q3 [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted challenges in the California market, while improvements were observed in Texas, Florida, and New York [62] - The Wax Pass sales increased by almost 2% year-over-year, indicating stable customer engagement [66] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic objectives: driving sales through traffic growth, improving profitability for franchisees, and implementing a more sophisticated development approach [10][20] - The leadership team has been expanded with the addition of a Chief Operating Officer and a Chief Development Officer to enhance operational execution and franchise development [10][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the fundamentals of the business and the potential for long-term growth, despite being in a transitional year [7][39] - The company is narrowing its full-year revenue outlook to between $940 million and $950 million, with same-store sales expected to be flat to up 1% for the full year [33][36] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $63.9 million in cash and $388 million outstanding under senior secured notes, with a net leverage ratio of 4.2 times [30] - The company plans to maintain advertising expenses slightly above 3% of system-wide sales to support ongoing traffic-driving initiatives [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: What changes have been made to the grand opening playbook? - The company has refined its grand opening playbook to ensure centers are set up for success, focusing on staffing and training, which has led to improved ramping of new units [44] Question: How should we think about closure pace going forward? - The company aims to minimize negative impacts from closures by building a strong foundation for sustainable traffic growth and improving overall network health [49] Question: Are there notable changes at the store level or in center execution? - The company is focusing on both marketing and operational tactics to drive frequency with existing guests, with a strong partnership with franchisees [53] Question: What is the outlook for regional performance? - The company is seeing challenges in California but improvements in Texas and Florida, with a focus on using data analytics to engage guests effectively [62] Question: How is the new product launch performing? - The company is pleased with the acceptance of new products and continues to prioritize transaction counts while maintaining a focus on retail [64] Question: What is the trajectory of Wax Pass sales? - Wax Pass sales have increased by almost 2% year-over-year, indicating continued customer engagement [66]
European Wax Center (EWCZ) Earnings Call Presentation
2025-06-26 09:13
Company Overview - European Wax Center is the largest and fastest-growing provider of out-of-home waxing services[8] - The company performed over 23 million waxing services via 15+ million guest visits in FY 2023[8] - As of January 6, 2024, the company has 1,044 centers[11, 14] - The company is approximately 6x larger than the next largest waxing-focused competitor by center count and ~11x larger by system-wide sales[14] Financial Performance - FY 2023 system-wide sales were $955 million[12] - FY 2023 revenue was $221 million[11] - FY 2023 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 344%[11] - FY 2023 Free Cash Flow was $55 million[12] Growth and Future Outlook - The company anticipates opening 27-32 net new centers in FY 2024[52] - The company expects $930M – $950M system-wide sales and $216M – $221M EWC Revenue in FY2024[52] - The company has a strong multi-year development pipeline with 370+ locations[31, 34]
European Wax Center(EWCZ) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-14 13:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - System wide sales for Q1 fiscal 2025 reached $225.9 million, a 2.1% increase from $221.4 million in the previous year, driven by the shift in the Easter holiday and payment timing [6][23] - Same store sales grew by 70 basis points, but adjusting for the Easter shift, it would have been approximately flat [23] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.2% to $18.8 million from $17.5 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin rising to 36.5% from 33.7% [25] - Adjusted net income rose by 10.3% to $9.5 million from $8.6 million [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue decreased by approximately $400,000 or 90 basis points to $51.4 million, primarily due to lower retail and wholesale product revenue [24] - The company ended Q1 with 1,062 centers, representing a 1% growth year over year, with five gross openings and ten closures, resulting in five net center closures [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing stable trends in mature center transactions year to date, with expectations for flat to positive same store sales growth [29][82] - The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, but the core guest base has shown resilience [81] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to focus on driving sales, improving profitability, and reigniting unit growth, emphasizing the importance of a strong marketing engine and franchisee support [9][10][19] - A more sophisticated development approach is being implemented, focusing on profitable expansion and identifying underpenetrated trade areas for future growth [18] - The company is actively exploring alternative sourcing options to mitigate tariff impacts on product costs [31][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the uncertain consumer backdrop and supply chain environment but remains confident in the fundamentals of the business model [7][28] - The outlook for 2025 is reiterated, with expectations for system wide sales between $940 million and $960 million, and same store sales expected to be flat to positive 2% [30][34] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in assembling a new executive team to execute strategic priorities [20] - The marketing strategy is being refined to better target high-value guests and improve guest engagement [12][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the game plan going forward and the potential tariff impact? - Management is pleased with progress and sees stability in the business, with no material changes in promotional activity expected [41][44] - The company is actively exploring alternative sourcing options to manage tariff exposure [46][47] Question: What are you hearing from franchisees regarding center closures? - Franchisees are passionate about the brand, and the company is focused on building strong partnerships to improve profitability and minimize closures [50][52] Question: Can you provide insight into the increase in capital investment? - The increase is primarily due to inflationary pressures rather than fundamental changes in the business model [60] Question: What are the key themes for the upcoming franchise convention? - The convention will cover a full situation assessment, opportunities, and a plan to maximize potential [62] Question: How do you prioritize marketing and franchisee execution? - The primary focus is on the marketing funnel and franchisee execution, with ongoing efforts to improve guest experience and profitability [100][101] Question: What is the strategy for dealing with higher input prices due to tariffs? - The company is evaluating all options, including potential price adjustments, but aims to manage costs effectively without compromising the brand [112]
European Wax Center(EWCZ) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-14 13:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - System wide sales for Q1 2025 reached $225.9 million, a 2.1% increase from $221.4 million in Q1 2024, driven by the shift in the Easter holiday and payment timing [23][6] - Same store sales grew by 70 basis points, but adjusting for the Easter shift, it would have been approximately flat [23][6] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.2% to $18.8 million from $17.5 million in the prior year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin rising to 36.5% from 33.7% [25][26] - Adjusted net income rose by 10.3% to $9.5 million from $8.6 million in the previous year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue decreased by approximately $400,000 or 90 basis points to $51.4 million, primarily due to lower retail and wholesale product revenue [24] - SG&A expenses increased by $1.9 million to $15.3 million, driven by higher stock-based compensation and executive severance costs [25] - Advertising expenses decreased by $1.4 million due to the timing of spend within the fiscal year [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended Q1 with 1,062 centers, representing a 1% growth year over year, with five gross openings and ten closures resulting in five net center closures [22] - The company expects 10 to 12 gross openings and 40 to 60 center closures for the year, leading to 28 to 50 net center closures [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to focus on driving sales, improving four wall profitability, and reigniting unit growth as critical components for revitalizing long-term growth [10][19] - A data-rich digital-first marketing engine is being developed to enhance guest engagement and drive new guest acquisition [11][12] - The company is implementing a more sophisticated development approach focused on thoughtful, profitable expansion, identifying underpenetrated trade areas for future growth [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the uncertain consumer backdrop and supply chain environment but emphasizes strong fundamentals and proactive management [7][6] - The outlook for 2025 is reiterated, assuming a stable consumer environment, with expectations for system wide sales between $940 million and $960 million [28][30] - Management is confident in their ability to manage tariff impacts and maintain guidance despite macroeconomic challenges [31][34] Other Important Information - The company has made substantial progress in assembling a team of seasoned leaders to execute strategic priorities for 2025 and beyond [19][20] - The company is actively exploring alternative sourcing options to mitigate tariff impacts on product costs [31][44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the game plan going forward and the potential tariff impact? - Management is pleased with progress and sees stability in the business, with no material changes in promotional activity expected [39][41] - They are actively exploring all options to manage tariff exposure, including alternative sourcing [44] Question: What are you hearing from franchisees regarding center closures? - Franchisees are passionate about the brand, but the past few years have been tough, leading to underperforming centers [48][50] Question: Can you provide insight into the cost to build and return to net unit growth? - The increase in capital investment is attributed to inflationary pressures, with a focus on optimizing costs and operations [57] Question: What are the key themes for the upcoming franchise convention? - The convention will cover a full situation assessment, opportunities, and a plan to maximize potential [60] Question: How do you prioritize marketing, franchisee execution, and other factors? - The primary focus is on the marketing funnel and franchisee execution, followed by waxer consistency and consumer value [96][98] Question: What is the performance of underperforming stores versus healthy stores? - Underperforming stores are primarily an AUV issue, with various factors contributing to their performance [65][100]
European Wax Center(EWCZ) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-11 20:52
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4, system-wide sales increased by 1.1% to $229.3 million, while same-store sales rose by 0.8% [38] - Total revenue decreased by 4.6% to $49.7 million, impacted by softer retail product sales and the removal of a COVID-related surcharge [39] - Q4 gross margin improved by 190 basis points to 74.3%, primarily due to cost savings [40] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 decreased by 1.6% to $19 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin increasing by 390 basis points to 38.1% [41] - Full-year adjusted net income increased by 15.2% to $25.6 million, driven by higher operating income and lower state income taxes [46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchisees opened three net new centers in Q4, resulting in 2.2% net unit growth to 1,067 centers across 45 states for the full year [42] - The company expects 10 to 12 gross new centers to open in fiscal 2025, with an estimated 40 to 60 closures [49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to be between $940 million and $960 million, representing flat year-over-year growth at the midpoint [50] - Same-store sales are projected to be flat to positive 2% [51] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to develop a robust data-rich marketing engine, cultivate a more effective service-based infrastructure, and implement a sophisticated development approach [21][28] - The focus is on thoughtful and profitable expansion, with an emphasis on franchisee success and operational excellence [27][29] - The company is committed to providing regular updates on progress and strategy [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the challenges posed by a declining transaction volume and profitability among franchisees, attributing it to a tougher macro environment [17] - The company views 2025 as a transitional year to solidify the foundation for sustainable growth, with expectations to reignite unit growth by the end of 2026 [33][58] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new executives, including a new CFO and Chief Commercial Officer, to strengthen its leadership team [30][31] - The company has a solid cash position with $49.7 million in cash and a fully undrawn $40 million revolver [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Store closure guidance for 2025 and performance in California - Management is comfortable with the range of 40 to 60 closures and believes that executing on priorities will lead to growth in 2026 [65][66] - California is experiencing more inflationary pressure, impacting franchisee profitability [71][74] Question: Four-wall economics and tax impact on SG&A - Mature units have strong unit economics with average unit volumes over $1 million and cash-on-cash returns around 40% [80] - An adjustment to SG&A related to franchise taxes was largely offset by state taxes, resulting in a net impact of around $60,000 [85] Question: Successful franchisee characteristics and potential for European Wax to buy stores - Successful franchisees are committed to service and detail-oriented, with a strong partnership with the franchisor needed for success [92][96] - The company is open to buying stores in the future but is currently focused on other priorities [99] Question: Pipeline of unopened units and consumer behavior - The pipeline remains unchanged with 10 to 12 new unit openings expected, and management does not see a significant shift in consumer behavior or competitive landscape [114][113] Question: Promotional strategy and pricing - The company is improving its marketing approach and data pipeline to evaluate promotional effectiveness, with a focus on smarter pricing strategies [128][129] Question: Core guest behavior and cost savings - Core guests remain stable in spending and frequency, with opportunities to re-engage lapsed guests [135] - Cost savings have been achieved through negotiations on product costs, with expectations for modest gross margin improvement in 2025 [134]
European Wax Center(EWCZ) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-11 17:50
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, system-wide sales increased by 1.1% to $229.3 million, while same-store sales rose by 0.8% [38] - Total revenue decreased by 4.6% to $49.7 million, impacted by softer retail product sales and the removal of a COVID-related surcharge [39] - Q4 gross margin improved by 190 basis points to 74.3%, primarily due to cost savings [40] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 decreased by 1.6% to $19 million, but adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 390 basis points to 38.1% [41] - Full-year adjusted net income increased by 15.2% to $25.6 million, driven by higher operating income and lower state income taxes [46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchisees opened three net new centers in Q4, resulting in 2.2% net unit growth to 1,067 centers across 45 states for the full year [42] - The company expects 10 to 12 gross new centers to open in fiscal 2025, with an estimated 40 to 60 closures [18][49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to be between $940 million and $960 million, indicating flat year-over-year growth [50] - Same-store sales are projected to be flat to positive 2% [51] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to develop a robust data-rich marketing engine, enhance service-based infrastructure, and implement a sophisticated development approach for profitable expansion [21][28] - The focus is on improving franchisee support and operational excellence to drive sustainable growth [27][29] - The company is committed to transparent communication and regular updates on progress [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the challenges posed by a declining transaction volume and profitability among franchisees due to a tougher macro environment [17] - The company believes it can adapt to these challenges and has identified opportunities to reignite growth [18][20] - Management expects 2025 to be a transitional year, with a focus on solidifying the foundation for sustainable growth [49][58] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new executives, including a new CFO and Chief Commercial Officer, to strengthen its leadership team [30][31] - The company has a solid cash position with $49.7 million in cash and a fully undrawn $40 million revolver [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Store closure guidance for 2025 and performance in California - Management is comfortable with the range of 40 to 60 closures and believes that thoughtful execution of priorities will lead to growth in 2026 [65][66] - California is experiencing more inflationary pressure, impacting franchisee profitability [71][74] Question: Four-wall economics and tax impact on SG&A - Mature units still have strong unit economics with average unit volumes over $1 million and cash-on-cash returns around 40% [80] - Adjustments to SG&A related to franchise taxes were largely offset by state taxes, resulting in a net impact of around $60,000 [85] Question: Characteristics of successful franchisees and potential for European Wax to buy stores - Successful franchisees are committed to service and detail-oriented, with a strong partnership needed for growth [92][96] - The company is open to acquiring stores in the future but is currently focused on supporting franchisees [99][100] Question: Pipeline of unopened units and consumer behavior - The pipeline remains intact with 10 to 12 new unit openings planned, and management does not see a significant shift in consumer behavior or competitive landscape [114][112] - The company is taking a top-down approach to real estate site selection to ensure successful growth [120]