•
Mar 31, 2024

First Watch Q1 2024 Earnings Report

First Watch reported a solid quarter with positive same restaurant sales and year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth.

Key Takeaways

First Watch reported a 14.7% increase in total revenues to $242.4 million. Same-restaurant sales growth was 0.5%. Net income decreased to $7.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $28.6 million.

Total revenues increased 14.7% to $242.4 million.

System-wide sales increased 9.4% to $289.6 million.

Same-restaurant sales growth of 0.5% and same-restaurant traffic growth of (4.5)%.

Net income decreased to $7.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.

Total Revenue
$242M
Previous year: $211M
+14.7%
EPS
$0.12
Previous year: $0.15
-20.0%
Same-Restaurant Sales Growth
0.5%
Previous year: 12.9%
-96.1%
Restaurant-Level Operating Profit Margin
20.8%
Previous year: 21.2%
-1.9%
Adjusted EBITDA
$28.6M
Previous year: $27.4M
+4.4%
Gross Profit
$40.7M
Previous year: $47.5M
-14.3%
Cash and Equivalents
$43.5M
Previous year: $54.4M
-20.1%
Free Cash Flow
-$3.6M
Previous year: $6.62M
-154.4%
Total Assets
$1.28B
Previous year: $1.12B
+14.7%

First Watch

First Watch

First Watch Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Management provides the following updated outlook for the 52-week fiscal year ending December 29, 2024: Same-restaurant sales growth in a range of flat-to-up 2.0%. Total revenue growth in the range of 17.0% to 19.0%. Total of 51 to 57 new system-wide restaurants, net of 1 company-owned and 1 franchise-owned restaurant closure (44 to 48 new company-owned restaurants and 9 to 11 new franchise-owned restaurants).

Positive Outlook

  • Same-restaurant sales growth in a range of flat-to-up 2.0%
  • Total revenue growth in the range of 17.0% to 19.0%
  • Total of 51 to 57 new system-wide restaurants
  • 44 to 48 new company-owned restaurants
  • 9 to 11 new franchise-owned restaurants

Challenges Ahead

  • Same restaurant traffic growth in the negative low single digits.
  • Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $106.0 million to $112.0 million
  • Blended tax rate in the range of 27.0% to 29.0%
  • Capital expenditures in the range of $125.0 million to $135.0 million invested primarily in new restaurant projects and planned remodels
  • Net of 1 company-owned and 1 franchise-owned restaurant closure

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income