Mister Car Wash(US:MCW)2025-10-29 21:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 6% to $263 million and adjusted EBITDA rose by 10% to $87 million, marking the highest Q3 EBITDA margin ever reported at 32.9% [4][19] - Comparable store sales growth was 3.1%, representing the 10th consecutive quarter of comp gains [4][12] - Adjusted EPS increased by 38% year over year to $0.11 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UWC (Unlimited Wash Club) membership grew by 6% year over year, reaching approximately 2.2 million members, with the Titanium 360 tier achieving about 25% penetration of the total membership base [4][17] - UWC sales represented 77% of total wash sales, with UWC comps increasing in high single digits [16][17] - Retail comps performed in line with expectations, showing a low double-digit decrease [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pace of new competitor openings has moderated, with an estimated 40% fewer new builds year to date compared to the previous year, contributing to a healthier competitive environment [14] - Locations facing competition less than a year old comped down low single digits, while those with competition older than two years or no competition comped up mid to high single digits on average [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its footprint, with plans to open approximately 30 new stores in 2025, in addition to five recently acquired stores in Lubbock, Texas [7][24] - Strategic M&A opportunities are anticipated as the industry consolidates, with a belief that the market is entering a healthier phase [6][11] - Innovation remains a core focus, with ongoing investments in technology and R&D to differentiate the brand [8][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the strength of the markets and the resilience of the business model, indicating a favorable setup for future growth [26] - The company is actively managing variability in retail performance and capitalizing on M&A opportunities to fuel growth [11][26] - There is confidence in the ability to accelerate growth moving forward, supported by a strong subscription base and unit economics [7][11] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30 was $202 million, compared to $174 million in the same period last year, representing 26% of sales [23] - The company has reduced its total outstanding debt by more than $100 million over the last 12 months, with a leverage ratio of 2.4 times adjusted EBITDA [20][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Where did the sales upside materialize in Q3? - Management noted that all months in Q3 were positive, with July being the strongest due to a softer comparison [28][29] Question: What is the pecking order of cash flow usage? - The company indicated that Greenfield development remains the highest use of capital, with options for share buybacks and debt pay down being considered [31][32] Question: How does the base price increase impact 2026? - The base price increase rollout is expected to contribute roughly a quarter to one-third of its total impact in 2026 [36][37] Question: Can you provide insight into membership trends? - Membership has been relatively flat sequentially, with a focus on increasing retail traffic to convert more customers into members [41][42] Question: What is the competitive response to marketing tests? - There have been no unusual competitive responses noted in the markets where marketing spend has been tested [79]