Denny's Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2024 and Hosts Investor Day Today

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denny's Corporation (the "Company") (NASDAQ:DENN), owner and operator of Denny's Inc. ("Denny's") and Keke's Inc. ("Keke's") today reported results for its third quarter ended September 25, 2024 and provided a business update on the Company's operations.

Kelli Valade, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our third quarter sales results directly reflect ongoing brand investments and dedicated focus on value that resulted in outpacing the category. Denny's domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** outperformed the BBI Family Dining index for the third consecutive quarter driven by the relaunch of our fan favorite $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu and the continued expansion of off-premises with our third virtual brand, Banda Burrito. Keke's also experienced significant sequential improvement in same-restaurant sales** as our initiatives to enact foundational marketing strategies and expand the alcohol program continued our efforts to close the gap to the competitive set. We are also very excited to be hosting an Investor Day today."

Beginning at 9:00am EST this morning, the Company will be hosting an Investor Day in New York, as well as a live webcast, to detail strategic initiatives to build on its third quarter progress and ensure long-term financial opportunities for its brands. The investor day will highlight the Company's plan to grow average unit volume sales, margins and the portfolio, while balancing capital allocations to maximize shareholder returns.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights⁽¹⁾

• Total operating revenue was $111.8 million compared to $114.2 million for the prior year quarter.
• Denny's domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** were (0.1%) compared to the equivalent fiscal period in 2023, including (0.1%) at domestic franchised restaurants and (0.4%) at company restaurants.
• Opened two Denny's domestic franchised restaurants.
• Completed six Denny's remodels, including three company remodels.
• Operating income was $11.7 million compared to $14.0 million for the prior year quarter.
• Adjusted franchise operating margin* was $30.1 million, or 51.0% of franchise and license revenue, and Adjusted company restaurant operating margin* was $6.2 million, or 11.8% of company restaurant sales.
• Net income was $6.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.
• Adjusted net income* and adjusted net income per share* were $7.2 million and $0.14, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA* was $20.0 million.
  
  

⁽¹⁾ Beginning fiscal 2024, the Company has evolved its definition of non-GAAP measures. Please see the definitions, explanations, and reconciliations further in this release.

Third Quarter 2024 Results

Total operating revenue was $111.8 million compared to $114.2 million for the prior year quarter.

Franchise and license revenue was $59.1 million compared to $61.0 million for the prior year quarter. This change was primarily driven by a decrease in initial and other fees associated with the sale of kitchen equipment in the prior year quarter, and decreases in equivalent units and franchise occupancy revenue, partially offset by an increase in franchise advertising revenue primarily related to higher local advertising co-op contributions for the current quarter.

Company restaurant sales were $52.7 million compared to $53.2 million for the prior year quarter primarily driven by four fewer Denny's equivalent units, including three refranchised units, partially offset by three additional Keke's equivalent units for the current quarter.

Adjusted franchise operating margin* was $30.1 million, or 51.0% of franchise and license revenue, compared to $31.1 million, or 51.0% for the prior year quarter. This margin change was primarily driven by the impact of fewer equivalent units on royalty revenues and lease terminations.

Adjusted company restaurant operating margin* was $6.2 million, or 11.8% of company restaurant sales, compared to $7.6 million, or 14.3% for the prior year quarter. This margin change was primarily due to investments in marketing and higher occupancy costs, including general liability insurance costs, for the current quarter.

Total general and administrative expenses were $19.8 million compared to $18.2 million in the prior year quarter. This change was primarily due to an increase in corporate administration expense.

The provision for income taxes was $1.5 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 18.5% for the current quarter.

Net income was $6.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Adjusted net income* per share was $0.14.

The Company ended the quarter with $272.0 million of total debt outstanding, including $261.0 million of borrowings under its credit facility.

Capital Allocation

The Company invested $7.8 million in cash capital expenditures, which included Keke's new development and Denny's company remodels.

During the quarter, the Company allocated $1.8 million to share repurchases resulting in approximately $89.2 million remaining under its existing repurchase authorization.

Business Outlook

The following full year 2024 expectations reflect management's expectations that the current consumer and economic environment will not change materially, as well as the Company's strategic initiative to accelerate the closure of lower volume Denny's restaurants.

• Denny's domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales** between (1%) and 0% (vs. between (1%) and 1%).
• Consolidated restaurant openings of 30 to 40, including 12 to 16 new Keke's restaurants, with a consolidated net decline of 45 to 55 (vs. 20 to 30).
• Commodity inflation of approximately 2% (vs. between 0% and 2%).
• Labor inflation between 3% and 4%.
• Total general and administrative expenses between $82 million and $85 million, including approximately $11 million related to share-based compensation expense which does not impact Adjusted EBITDA*.
• Adjusted EBITDA* between $81 million and $84 million (vs. between $83 million and $87 million).

*	Please refer to the Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures, as well as the Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in the tables below. The Company is not able to reconcile the forward-looking non-GAAP estimate set forth above to its most directly comparable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) estimates without unreasonable efforts because it is unable to predict, forecast or determine the probable significance of the items impacting these estimates, including gains, losses and other charges, with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP estimate is not provided.
**	Same-restaurant sales include sales at company restaurants and non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants that were open during the comparable periods noted. Total operating revenue is limited to company restaurant sales and royalties, advertising revenue, initial and other fees and occupancy revenue from non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants. Accordingly, domestic franchise same-restaurant sales and domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will provide further commentary on the results for the third quarter ended September 25, 2024 and its investor day on a webcast today, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast accessible through the Company's investor relations website at investor.dennys.com.

About Denny's Corporation

Denny's Corporation is one of America's largest full-service restaurant chains based on number of restaurants. As of September 25, 2024, the Company consisted of 1,586 restaurants, 1,514 of which were franchised and licensed restaurants and 72 of which were company operated.

The Company consists of the Denny's brand and the Keke's brand. As of September 25, 2024, the Denny's brand consisted of 1,525 global restaurants, 1,464 of which were franchised and licensed restaurants and 61 of which were company operated. As of September 25, 2024, the Keke's brand consisted of 61 restaurants, 50 of which were franchised restaurants and 11 of which were company operated.

For further information on Denny's Corporation, including news releases, links to SEC filings, and other financial information, please visit investor.dennys.com.

Non-GAAP Definition Changes

The Company has evolved its definition of non-GAAP financial measures starting in fiscal 2024 to provide more clarity and comparability relative to peers. Denny's Corporation management uses certain non-GAAP measures in analyzing operating performance and believes that the presentation of these measures provides investors and analysts with information that is beneficial to gaining an understanding of the Company's financial results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Company excludes legal settlement expenses, pre-opening expenses, and other items management does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance from adjusted operating margin*, adjusted net income*, adjusted net income per share*, and adjusted EBITDA*. In addition, the Company no longer deducts cash payments for restructuring and exit costs, or cash payments for share-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA*. Lastly, the Company has transitioned to utilizing GAAP cash flows included in its SEC filed documents in lieu of a non-GAAP financial measure.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in the tables of this press release and a recast of historical non-GAAP financial measures can be found on the Company's website, or its most recent investor presentation.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Company urges caution in considering its current trends and any outlook on earnings disclosed in this press release. In addition, certain matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which reflect management's best judgment based on factors currently known, are intended to speak only as of the date such statements are made and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual performance of Denny's Corporation, its subsidiaries, and underlying restaurants to be materially different from the performance indicated or implied by such statements. Words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "hope", "will", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that could cause actual performance to differ materially from the performance indicated by these forward-looking statements include, among others: economic, public health and political conditions that impact consumer confidence and spending, commodity and labor inflation; the ability to effectively staff restaurants and support personnel; the Company's ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity for its cash needs, including debt obligations, payment of dividends, planned share repurchases and capital expenditures as well as the ability of its customers, suppliers, franchisees and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; competitive pressures from within the restaurant industry; the Company's ability to integrate and derive the expected benefits from its acquisition of Keke's Breakfast Cafe; the level of success of the Company's operating initiatives and advertising and promotional efforts; adverse publicity; health concerns arising from food-related pandemics, outbreaks of flu viruses or other diseases; changes in business strategy or development plans; terms and availability of capital; regional weather conditions; overall changes in the general economy (including with regard to energy costs), particularly at the retail level; political environment and geopolitical events (including acts of war and terrorism); and other factors from time to time set forth in the Company's SEC reports and other filings, including but not limited to the discussion in Management's Discussion and Analysis and the risks identified in Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2023 (and in the Company's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K).

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)				9/25/24				12/27/23
Assets
	Current assets
		Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,466			$	4,893
		Investments			2,902				1,281
		Receivables, net			17,038				21,391
		Inventories			1,835				2,175
		Assets held for sale			—				1,455
		Prepaid and other current assets			10,610				12,855
			Total current assets		33,851				44,050
	Property, net				101,532				93,494
	Finance lease right-of-use assets, net				6,411				6,098
	Operating lease right-of-use assets, net				121,169				116,795
	Goodwill				66,357				65,908
	Intangible assets, net				92,112				93,428
	Deferred financing costs, net				1,225				1,702
	Other noncurrent assets				38,966				43,343
			Total assets	$	461,623			$	464,818
Liabilities
	Current liabilities
		Current finance lease liabilities		$	1,457			$	1,383
		Current operating lease liabilities			15,076				14,779
		Accounts payable			14,685				24,070
		Other current liabilities			56,474				63,068
			Total current liabilities		87,692				103,300
	Long-term liabilities
		Long-term debt			261,000				255,500
		Noncurrent finance lease liabilities			9,540				9,150
		Noncurrent operating lease liabilities			117,390				114,451
		Liability for insurance claims, less current portion			7,160				6,929
		Deferred income taxes, net			4,619				6,582
		Other noncurrent liabilities			28,705				31,592
			Total long-term liabilities		428,414				424,204
			Total liabilities		516,106				527,504
Shareholders' deficit
		Common stock			533				529
		Paid-in capital			13,129				6,688
		Deficit			(7,009	)			(21,784	)
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net			(43,445	)			(41,659	)
		Treasury stock			(17,691	)			(6,460	)
			Total shareholders' deficit		(54,483	)			(62,686	)
			Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit	$	461,623			$	464,818
Debt Balances
	Credit facility revolver due 2026			$	261,000			$	255,500
	Finance lease liabilities				10,997				10,533
		Total debt		$	271,997			$	266,033

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
			Quarter Ended
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)			9/25/24				9/27/23
Revenue:
	Company restaurant sales		$	52,701			$	53,153
	Franchise and license revenue			59,058				61,030
		Total operating revenue		111,759				114,183
Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization				46,820				45,893
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization				28,999				29,810
General and administrative expenses				19,831				18,237
Depreciation and amortization				3,622				3,605
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net				746				2,620
		Total operating costs and expenses, net		100,018				100,165
Operating income				11,741				14,018
Interest expense, net				4,571				4,381
Other nonoperating (income) expense, net				(824	)			43
Income before income taxes				7,994				9,594
Provision for income taxes				1,478				1,686
Net income			$	6,516			$	7,908
Net income per share - basic			$	0.12			$	0.14
Net income per share - diluted			$	0.12			$	0.14
Basic weighted average shares outstanding				52,148				55,869
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				52,207				56,082
Comprehensive (loss) income			$	(2,468	)		$	20,469
General and Administrative Expenses
	Corporate administrative expenses		$	15,875			$	14,580
	Share-based compensation			3,006				2,864
	Incentive compensation			447				1,049
	Deferred compensation valuation adjustments			503				(256	)
		Total general and administrative expenses	$	19,831			$	18,237

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
			Three Quarters Ended
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)			9/25/24				9/27/23
Revenue:
	Company restaurant sales		$	159,391			$	161,486
	Franchise and license revenue			178,269				187,083
		Total operating revenue		337,660				348,569
Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization				142,516				138,953
Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization				89,801				92,657
General and administrative expenses				61,539				58,515
Depreciation and amortization				10,938				10,878
Goodwill impairment charges				20				—
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net				1,984				2,467
		Total operating costs and expenses, net		306,798				303,470
Operating income				30,862				45,099
Interest expense, net				13,564				13,288
Other nonoperating (income) expense, net				(1,685	)			9,470
Income before income taxes				18,983				22,341
Provision for income taxes				4,208				5,298
Net income			$	14,775			$	17,043
Net income per share - basic			$	0.28			$	0.30
Net income per share - diluted			$	0.28			$	0.30
Basic weighted average shares outstanding				52,635				56,764
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				52,739				56,973
Comprehensive income			$	12,989			$	31,980
General and Administrative Expenses
	Corporate administrative expenses		$	46,843			$	43,919
	Share-based compensation			8,406				8,477
	Incentive compensation			4,868				5,335
	Deferred compensation valuation adjustments			1,422				784
		Total general and administrative expenses	$	61,539			$	58,515

DENNY'S CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

The Company believes that, in addition to GAAP measures, certain non-GAAP financial measures are useful information to investors and analysts to assist in the evaluation of operating performance on a period-to-period basis. However, non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, operating income, net income, and net income per share, or other financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share internally as performance measures for planning purposes, including the preparation of annual operating budgets, and for compensation purposes, including incentive compensation for certain employees. These non-GAAP measures are adjusted for certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. These adjustments are either non-recurring in nature or vary from period to period without correlation to the Company's ongoing core operating performance.

	Quarter Ended								Three Quarters Ended
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)	9/25/24				9/27/23				9/25/24				9/27/23
Net income	$	6,516			$	7,908			$	14,775			$	17,043
Provision for income taxes		1,478				1,686				4,208				5,298
Goodwill impairment charges		—				—				20				—
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net		746				2,620				1,984				2,467
Other nonoperating (income) expense, net		(824	)			43				(1,685	)			9,470
Share-based compensation expense		3,006				2,864				8,406				8,477
Deferred compensation plan valuation adjustments		503				(256	)			1,422				784
Interest expense, net		4,571				4,381				13,564				13,288
Depreciation and amortization		3,622				3,605				10,938				10,878
Legal settlement expenses		152				245				1,809				475
Pre-opening expenses		209				105				766				130
Other adjustments		40				(78	)			2,532				(75	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	20,019			$	23,123			$	58,739			$	68,235
Net income	$	6,516			$	7,908			$	14,775			$	17,043
Losses and amortization on interest rate swap derivatives, net		194				94				502				10,838
Losses (gains) on sales of assets and other charges, net		6				(88	)			(88	)			(2,132	)
Impairment charges (1)		78				1,711				812				1,840
Legal settlement expenses		152				245				1,809				475
Pre-opening expenses		209				105				766				130
Other adjustments		40				(78	)			2,532				(75	)
Tax effect (2)		(4	)			(237	)			(1,406	)			(2,581	)
Adjusted net income	$	7,191			$	9,660			$	19,702			$	25,538
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		52,207				56,082				52,739				56,973
Net income per share - diluted	$	0.12			$	0.14			$	0.28			$	0.30
Adjustments per share		0.02				0.03				0.09				0.15
Adjusted net income per share	$	0.14			$	0.17			$	0.37			$	0.45

(1	)	Impairment charges include goodwill impairment charges of less than $0.1 million for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024.
(2	)	Tax adjustments for the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 reflect effective tax rates of 0.6% and 22.2%, respectively. Tax adjustments for the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 27, 2023 reflect effective tax rates of 11.9% and 23.3%, respectively.

DENNY'S CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

The Company believes that, in addition to GAAP measures, certain other non-GAAP financial measures are useful information to investors and analysts to assist in the evaluation of restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance of ongoing restaurant-level operations. However, non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, operating income, net income, and net income per share, or other financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses restaurant-level operating margin, company restaurant operating margin and franchise operating margin internally as performance measures for planning purposes, including the preparation of annual operating budgets, and for compensation purposes, including incentive compensation for certain employees.

Restaurant-level operating margin is the total of company restaurant operating margin and franchise operating margin and excludes: (i) general and administrative expenses, which include primarily non-restaurant-level costs associated with support of company and franchised restaurants and other activities at their corporate office; (ii) depreciation and amortization expense, substantially all of which is related to company restaurant-level assets, because such expenses represent historical sunk costs which do not reflect current cash outlays for the restaurants; (iii) special items, included within operating (gains), losses and other charges, net, to provide investors with a clearer perspective of its ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results.

Company restaurant operating margin is defined as company restaurant sales less costs of company restaurant sales (which include product costs, company restaurant level payroll and benefits, occupancy costs, and other operating costs including utilities, repairs and maintenance, marketing and other expenses) and presents it as a percent of company restaurant sales. Adjusted company operating restaurant margin is defined as company restaurant operating margin less certain items such as legal settlement expenses, pre-opening expenses, and other items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance.

Franchise operating margin is defined as franchise and license revenue (which includes franchise royalties and other non-food and beverage revenue streams such as initial franchise and other fees, advertising revenue and occupancy revenue) less costs of franchise and license revenue and presents it as a percent of franchise and license revenue. Adjusted franchise operating margin is defined as franchise operating margin less certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance.

Adjusted restaurant-level operating margin is the total of adjusted company restaurant operating margin and adjusted franchise operating margin and is defined as restaurant-level operating margin adjusted for certain items the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. These adjustments are either non-recurring in nature or vary from period to period without correlation to the Company's ongoing core operating performance.

	Quarter Ended						Three Quarters Ended
($ in thousands)	9/25/24			9/27/23			9/25/24			9/27/23
Operating income	$	11,741		$	14,018		$	30,862		$	45,099
General and administrative expenses		19,831			18,237			61,539			58,515
Depreciation and amortization		3,622			3,605			10,938			10,878
Goodwill impairment charges		—			—			20			—
Operating (gains), losses and other charges, net		746			2,620			1,984			2,467
Restaurant-level operating margin	$	35,940		$	38,480		$	105,343		$	116,959
Restaurant-level operating margin consists of:
Company restaurant operating margin (1)	$	5,881		$	7,260		$	16,875		$	22,533
Franchise operating margin (2)		30,059			31,220			88,468			94,426
Restaurant-level operating margin	$	35,940		$	38,480		$	105,343		$	116,959
Adjustments (3)		401			272			5,107			530
Adjusted restaurant-level operating margin	$	36,341		$	38,752		$	110,450		$	117,489

(1	)	Company restaurant operating margin is calculated as operating income plus general and administrative expenses; depreciation and amortization; operating (gains), losses and other charges, net; and costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization; less franchise and license revenue.
(2	)	Franchise operating margin is calculated as operating income plus general and administrative expenses; depreciation and amortization; operating (gains), losses and other charges, net; and costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization; less company restaurant sales.
(3	)	Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. Adjustments for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 include a $2.6 million distribution to franchisees related to a review of advertising costs.

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Operating Margins
(Unaudited)
					Quarter Ended
($ in thousands)					9/25/24					9/27/23
Company restaurant operations: (1)
	Company restaurant sales				$	52,701	100.0	%		$	53,153		100.0	%
	Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization:
			Product costs			13,611	25.8	%			13,587		25.6	%
			Payroll and benefits			19,838	37.6	%			19,754		37.2	%
			Occupancy			4,443	8.4	%			4,085		7.7	%
			Other operating costs:
				Utilities		1,959	3.7	%			2,120		4.0	%
				Repairs and maintenance		964	1.8	%			996		1.9	%
				Marketing		1,859	3.5	%			1,393		2.6	%
				Legal settlements		152	0.3	%			245		0.5	%
				Pre-opening costs		209	0.4	%			105		0.2	%
				Other direct costs		3,785	7.2	%			3,608		6.8	%
	Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization				$	46,820	88.8	%		$	45,893		86.3	%
	Company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	5,881	11.2	%		$	7,260		13.7	%
				Adjustments (3)		361	0.7	%			350		0.7	%
	Adjusted company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	6,242	11.8	%		$	7,610		14.3	%
Franchise operations: (4)
	Franchise and license revenue:
	Royalties				$	29,101	49.3	%		$	29,703		48.7	%
	Advertising revenue					20,172	34.2	%			19,297		31.6	%
	Initial and other fees					1,639	2.8	%			3,388		5.6	%
	Occupancy revenue					8,146	13.8	%			8,642		14.2	%
	Total franchise and license revenue				$	59,058	100.0	%		$	61,030		100.0	%
	Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:
	Advertising costs				$	20,172	34.2	%		$	19,297		31.6	%
	Occupancy costs					5,256	8.9	%			5,389		8.8	%
	Other direct costs					3,571	6.0	%			5,124		8.4	%
	Total costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization				$	28,999	49.1	%		$	29,810		48.8	%
	Franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	30,059	50.9	%		$	31,220		51.2	%
			Adjustments (3)			40	0.1	%			(78	)	(0.1) %
	Adjusted franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	30,099	51.0	%		$	31,142		51.0	%
Total operating revenue (5)					$	111,759	100.0	%		$	114,183		100.0	%
Total costs of operating revenue (5)						75,819	67.8	%			75,703		66.3	%
Restaurant-level operating margin (non-GAAP) (5)					$	35,940	32.2	%		$	38,480		33.7	%
(1		)	As a percentage of company restaurant sales.
(2		)	Other operating expenses such as general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization relate to both company and franchise operations and are not allocated to costs of company restaurant sales and costs of franchise and license revenue. As such, operating margin and adjusted operating margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(3		)	Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance.
(4		)	As a percentage of franchise and license revenue.
(5		)	As a percentage of total operating revenue.

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Operating Margins
(Unaudited)
					Three Quarters Ended
($ in thousands)					9/25/24					9/27/23
Company restaurant operations: (1)
	Company restaurant sales				$	159,391	100.0	%		$	161,486		100.0	%
	Costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization:
			Product costs			40,554	25.4	%			41,796		25.9	%
			Payroll and benefits			60,805	38.1	%			60,482		37.5	%
			Occupancy			13,687	8.6	%			12,259		7.6	%
			Other operating costs:
				Utilities		5,309	3.3	%			6,037		3.7	%
				Repairs and maintenance		2,977	1.9	%			2,667		1.7	%
				Marketing		5,339	3.3	%			4,207		2.6	%
				Legal settlements		1,809	1.1	%			475		0.3	%
				Pre-opening costs		766	0.5	%			130		0.1	%
				Other direct costs		11,270	7.1	%			10,900		6.7	%
	Total costs of company restaurant sales, excluding depreciation and amortization				$	142,516	89.4	%		$	138,953		86.0	%
	Company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	16,875	10.6	%		$	22,533		14.0	%
			Adjustments (3)			2,575	1.6	%			605		0.4	%
	Adjusted company restaurant operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	19,450	12.2	%		$	23,138		14.3	%
Franchise operations: (4)
	Franchise and license revenue:
	Royalties				$	88,421	49.6	%		$	90,106		48.2	%
	Advertising revenue					59,098	33.2	%			58,818		31.4	%
	Initial and other fees					5,903	3.3	%			10,994		5.9	%
	Occupancy revenue					24,847	13.9	%			27,165		14.5	%
	Total franchise and license revenue				$	178,269	100.0	%		$	187,083		100.0	%
	Costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization:
	Advertising costs				$	59,098	33.2	%		$	58,818		31.4	%
	Occupancy costs					15,482	8.7	%			16,853		9.0	%
	Other direct costs					15,221	8.5	%			16,986		9.1	%
	Total costs of franchise and license revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization				$	89,801	50.4	%		$	92,657		49.5	%
	Franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	88,468	49.6	%		$	94,426		50.5	%
	Adjustments (3)					2,532	1.4	%			(75	)	0.0	%
	Adjusted franchise operating margin (non-GAAP) (2)				$	91,000	51.0	%		$	94,351		50.4	%
Total operating revenue (5)					$	337,660	100.0	%		$	348,569		100.0	%
Total costs of operating revenue (5)						232,317	68.8	%			231,610		66.4	%
Restaurant-level operating margin (non-GAAP) (5)					$	105,343	31.2	%		$	116,959		33.6	%
(1		)	As a percentage of company restaurant sales.
(2		)	Other operating expenses such as general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization relate to both company and franchise operations and are not allocated to costs of company restaurant sales and costs of franchise and license revenue. As such, operating margin and adjusted operating margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(3		)	Adjustments include legal settlement expenses, pre-opening costs, and other adjustments the Company does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance. Adjustments for the year-to-date period ended September 25, 2024 include a $2.6 million distribution to franchisees related to a review of advertising costs.
(4		)	As a percentage of franchise and license revenue.
(5		)	As a percentage of total operating revenue.

DENNY'S CORPORATION
Statistical Data
(Unaudited)
				Denny's								Keke's
Changes in Same-Restaurant Sales (1)				Quarter Ended				Three Quarters Ended				Quarter Ended				Three Quarters Ended
(Increase (decrease) vs. prior year)				9/25/24		9/27/23		9/25/24		9/27/23		9/25/24		9/27/23		9/25/24		9/27/23
	Company Restaurants			(0.4)%		(1.4)%		(2.0%)		4.1%		(1.7)%		(3.4)%		(2.4%)		(3.4)%
	Domestic Franchise Restaurants			(0.1)%		2.1%		(0.6%)		4.3%		(0.9)%		(5.3)%		(3.2%)		(5.3)%
	Domestic System-wide Restaurants			(0.1)%		1.8%		(0.7%)		4.3%		(1.0)%		(5.0)%		(3.1%)		(5.0)%
Average Unit Sales
($ in thousands)
	Company Restaurants			$771		$755		$2,288		$2,303		$423		$429		$1,323		$1,354
	Franchised Restaurants			$465		$458		$1,395		$1,376		$439		$430		$1,368		$1,397

(1)

Same-restaurant sales include sales at company restaurants and non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants that were open during the comparable periods noted. Total operating revenue is limited to company restaurant sales and royalties, advertising revenue, initial and other fees and occupancy revenue from non-consolidated franchised and licensed restaurants. Accordingly, domestic franchise same-restaurant sales and domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

 

Restaurant Unit Activity			Denny's									Keke's
						Franchised									Franchised
			Company			& Licensed			Total			Company			& Licensed			Total
Ending Units June 26, 2024			64			1,477			1,541			11			51			62
	Units Opened		—			2			2			—			—			—
	Units Refranchised		(3	)		3			—			—			—			—
	Units Closed		—			(18	)		(18	)		—			(1	)		(1	)
		Net Change	(3	)		(13	)		(16	)		—			(1	)		(1	)
Ending Units September 25, 2024			61			1,464			1,525			11			50			61
Equivalent Units
	Third Quarter 2024		62			1,470			1,532			11			50			61
	Third Quarter 2023		66			1,523			1,589			8			48			56
		Net Change	(4	)		(53	)		(57	)		3			2			5
Ending Units December 27, 2023			65			1,508			1,573			8			50			58
	Units Opened		—			10			10			4			—			4
	Units Refranchised		(3	)		3			—			(1	)		1			—
	Units Closed		(1	)		(57	)		(58	)		—			(1	)		(1	)
		Net Change	(4	)		(44	)		(48	)		3			—			3
Ending Units September 25, 2024			61			1,464			1,525			11			50			61
Equivalent Units
	Year-to-Date 2024		63			1,485			1,548			10			50			60
	Year-to-Date 2023		65			1,525			1,590			8			47			55
		Net Change	(2	)		(40	)		(42	)		2			3			5

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