Driven Brands (US:DRVN)2025-05-06 12:30Financial 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]