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Sep 29, 2024

First Watch Q3 2024 Earnings Report

First Watch's Q3 2024 performance reflected strong restaurant-level operations amidst an uneven consumer backdrop.

Key Takeaways

First Watch reported a 14.8% increase in total revenues, reaching $251.6 million. Net income was $2.1 million, with Adjusted EBITDA growing 18% to $25.6 million. The company opened 9 new system-wide restaurants.

Total revenues increased by 14.8% to $251.6 million compared to Q3 2023.

System-wide sales increased by 8.0% to $291.8 million compared to Q3 2023.

Net income decreased to $2.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to $5.4 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in Q3 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $25.6 million compared to $21.6 million in Q3 2023.

Total Revenue
$252M
Previous year: $219M
+14.8%
EPS
$0.03
Previous year: $0.09
-66.7%
Same-Restaurant Sales Growth
-1.9%
Previous year: 4.8%
-139.6%
Same-Restaurant Traffic Growth
-4.4%
Previous year: -1.9%
+131.6%
Restaurant-Level Operating Profit Margin
18.9%
Previous year: 18.7%
+1.1%
Gross Profit
$51.6M
Previous year: $44.1M
+17.2%
Cash and Equivalents
$51.1M
Previous year: $40.2M
+27.0%
Free Cash Flow
$6.78M
Previous year: -$5.63M
-220.4%
Total Assets
$1.48B
Previous year: $1.21B
+23.1%

First Watch

First Watch

First Watch Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

The Company updated the following guidance metrics for the 52-week fiscal year ending December 29, 2024:

Positive Outlook

  • Total revenue growth in the range of 16.5% to 17.0%
  • Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $110.0 million to $112.0 million
  • Total new system-wide restaurant openings anticipated to be 47, net of 2 company-owned restaurant closures (43 new company-owned restaurants and 6 new franchise-owned restaurants), which reflects the effect of five new restaurant openings delayed by Hurricane Milton and rescheduled to early 2025.
  • Blended tax rate of around 33.0%
  • Capital expenditures of around $130.0 million invested primarily in new restaurant projects and planned remodels

Challenges Ahead

  • Same-restaurant sales growth of around negative 1.0%
  • Same restaurant traffic growth of negative 4.0%-4.5%

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income