European Wax Center(US:EWCZ)2025-03-11 20:52Financial 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]