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Jun 25, 2023

First Watch Q2 2023 Earnings Report

Reported strong financial results driven by same-restaurant sales growth and effective cost management.

Key Takeaways

First Watch Restaurant Group reported a strong Q2 2023 with a 17.3% increase in total revenues and a significant rise in net income. Same-restaurant sales grew by 7.8%, contributing to an income from operations margin of 5.3% and a restaurant level operating profit margin of 20.9%. The company also opened 9 new system-wide restaurants and raised its 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance.

Total revenues increased by 17.3% to $216.3 million compared to Q2 2022.

Same-restaurant sales grew by 7.8% driven by positive traffic growth.

Net income increased to $8.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, from $2.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in Q2 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $25.8 million from $17.8 million in the prior year.

Total Revenue
$216M
Previous year: $184M
+17.3%
EPS
$0.13
Previous year: $0.05
+160.0%
Same-Restaurant Sales Growth
7.8%
Previous year: 13.4%
-41.8%
Restaurant-Level Operating Profit Margin
20.9%
Previous year: 18.2%
+14.8%
Adjusted EBITDA
$25.8M
Gross Profit
$48.1M
Previous year: $27.5M
+75.3%
Cash and Equivalents
$66.8M
Previous year: $53.6M
+24.6%
Free Cash Flow
$19.3M
Previous year: $8.61M
+123.8%
Total Assets
$1.16B
Previous year: $1.08B
+7.6%

First Watch

First Watch

Forward Guidance

The Company updates certain of its guidance for the 53-week fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:

Positive Outlook

  • Total revenue growth in the range of 18.0% to 21.0%
  • Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $89.0 million to $92.0 million
  • Blended tax rate in the range of 28.0% to 31.0%
  • Same-restaurant sales growth in the range of 6.0% to 8.0% with marginally positive same-restaurant traffic growth
  • Total of 45-51 new system-wide restaurants, net of 3 company-owned restaurant closures (38 to 42 new company-owned restaurants and 10 to 12 new franchise-owned restaurants)