Restaurant Brands International Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Consolidated system-wide sales grow 2.8% year-over-year, including 8.6% in International

Global comparable sales of 0.1%, or over 1% adjusting for Leap Day^(a) 

RBI remains on track for 8%+ organic Adjusted Operating Income growth in 2025

MIAMI, Fla., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") (TSX:QSR) (NYSE:QSR) (TSX:QSP) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Josh Kobza, Chief Executive Officer of RBI commented, "We are making solid progress executing the fundamentals of our business, despite a slower start to the year. We have clear growth plans across each of our brands and strong alignment with our franchisees. We're seeing encouraging momentum in Q2 and combined with responsible cost management, are on track to deliver stronger results through the balance of the year and achieve at least 8 percent organic adjusted operating income growth in 2025."

Items Affecting Comparability and Restaurant Holdings Segment Reminder

Restaurant Holdings Segment

We completed the acquisitions of Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. ("Carrols") ("the Carrols Acquisition") and Popeyes China ("PLK China") ("the PLK China Acquisition") on May 16, 2024 and June 28, 2024, respectively. Our consolidated results include Carrols and PLK China revenues, expenses and segment income from their acquisition dates.

Following the Carrols and PLK China Acquisitions, RBI established a new operating and reportable segment, Restaurant Holdings (RH), which includes results from the Carrols Burger King restaurants, the PLK China restaurants and, beginning in 2025, Firehouse Subs Brazil ("FHS Brazil"). RBI reports results under six operating and reportable segments consisting of four franchisor segments for the Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs brands in the U.S. and Canada (TH, BK, PLK, and FHS), a fifth franchisor segment for all of our brands in the rest of the world (INTL), and RH. 

RBI plans to maintain the franchisor dynamics in its TH, BK, PLK, FHS and INTL segments ("five franchisor segments") to report results consistent with how the business will be managed long-term given RBI's plans to refranchise the vast majority of the Carrols Burger King restaurants and to find a new partner for PLK China and new investors for FHS Brazil in the future. RH results include Company Restaurant Sales and expenses, including expenses associated with royalties, rent, and advertising. These expenses are recognized, as applicable, as revenues in the respective franchisor segments (BK and INTL) and eliminated upon consolidation. For more information please review the "Restaurant Holdings Intersegment Dynamics" presentation dated August 8, 2024 posted on our IR website under "Events & Presentations". 

Update to Presentation of Adjusted Operating Income

Beginning with our year-end 2024 results, RBI updated its presentation of Adjusted Operating Income by defining Segment Franchise and Property Expenses ("Segment F&P Expenses") which exclude Franchise Agreement Amortization and Reacquired Franchise Rights Amortization. These items were previously included in each segment's franchise and property expenses and added back as an adjustment to Adjusted Operating Income. This presentation change does not impact Adjusted Operating Income or Consolidated results.  

Acquisition of Burger King China and Treatment as Held for Sale

On February 14, 2025, we acquired substantially all of the remaining equity interests in Burger King China ("BK China") from our former joint venture partners. BK China has been classified as held for sale and reported as discontinued operations, as we are actively working to identify a new controlling shareholder. This aligns with our long-term strategy of partnering with experienced local operators while maintaining a primarily franchised business.

Held for sale is defined as those assets and liabilities, or groups of assets and liabilities, for which management has committed to a plan for sale and that are available for immediate disposition in their current condition. These are expected to be sold within one year and are accounted for and reported separately from our continuing operations. Results for BK China are therefore reported as discontinued operations in our financial statements. That said, BK China KPIs continue to be included in our International segment KPIs. 

Supplemental Disclosures

Please review the Trending Schedules posted on the RBI Investor Relations webpage under "Financial Information" for additional disclosures, including: 

• Home Market and International KPIs by Brand and Company Restaurant Count by Segment;
• Segment Results with Disaggregated Franchise and Property Revenues (Royalties, Property Revenue and Franchise Fees and Other Revenue);
• Intersegment Revenue and Expense Eliminations;
• BK China KPIs and Selected Financial Data;
• Burger King US "Reclaim the Flame" Expenditures by Quarter; and
• RH Burger King Carrols Restaurant-Level EBITDA Margins.

The decrease in Total Revenues was primarily due to a $50 million unfavorable FX Impact. Excluding the FX Impact, Total Revenues increased $15 million, primarily driven by an increase in supply chain sales largely due to increases in commodity prices and an increase in CPG net sales.

The decrease in Adjusted Operating Income was primarily driven by a $12 million unfavorable FX impact. Excluding the FX impact, Adjusted Operating Income increased $9 million primarily driven by the increase in Total Revenues and a decrease in Segment G&A, largely due to lower compensation-related expenses. These factors were partially offset by an increase in Supply Chain Cost of Sales in local currency due primarily to increases in commodity prices.

As a reminder, BK segment results are presented consistently with our franchisor model. As such, results include intersegment Franchise and Property Revenues and Advertising Revenues and Other Services from the Carrols Burger King restaurants included in RH (as footnoted above).

Burger King US Reclaim the Flame

Burger King is executing its multi-year "Reclaim the Flame" plan to accelerate sales growth and drive franchisee profitability. This plan includes investing up to $700 million through year-end 2028, comprised of advertising and digital investments ("Fuel the Flame") and high-quality remodels and relocations, restaurant technology, kitchen equipment, and building enhancements ("Royal Reset"). The Fuel the Flame investments were completed in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, we have funded $143 million out of up to $550 million planned toward the Royal Reset investments.

First Quarter 2025 Results

The increase in Total Revenues was primarily due to higher Advertising Revenues and Other Services reflecting an increase in the franchisees' advertising fund contribution rate from 4% to 4.5%, effective from 2025 through at least 2026 following the achievement of the 2024 Fuel the Flame franchisee profitability target. This was partially offset by a decrease in Franchise and Property Revenues largely attributable the impact of restaurant acquisitions from franchisees in the prior year and a decrease in system-wide sales.

The decrease in Adjusted Operating Income was mainly driven by the decrease in Franchise and Property Revenues. This was partially offset by the non-recurrence of $6 million of Fuel the Flame expenses incurred in the prior year period following the completion of our Fuel the Flame investments.

The increases in Total Revenues and Adjusted Operating Income were primarily driven by the acquisition of company restaurants as part of the Carrols acquisition, partially offset by the decrease in system-wide sales.

The increases in Total Revenues and Adjusted Operating Income were primarily driven by the increase in system-wide sales.

The decreases in Total Revenues and Adjusted Operating Income were primarily due to unfavorable FX Impacts of $10 million and $8 million, respectively, and the absence of $9 million of BK China revenues which were recognized in the prior year. Excluding the FX Impacts, Total Revenues increased by $5 million and Adjusted Operating by $4 million, primarily driven by higher royalties from Burger King and Popeyes resulting from increased system-wide sales, partially offset by the absence of BK China revenues.

Declaration of Dividend

The RBI Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.62 per common share and partnership exchangeable unit of RBI LP for the second quarter of 2025. The dividend will be payable on July 8, 2025 to shareholders and unitholders of record at the close of business on June 24, 2025.

2025 Financial Guidance

For 2025, RBI continues to expect:

• Adjusted Interest Expense, net between $500 million and $520 million;
• RH Segment G&A for 2025 of approximately $100 million; and
• Consolidated capital expenditures, tenant inducements and incentives (including RH), or "Total Capex and Cash Inducements" between $400 million and $450 million.

RBI now expects Segment G&A (excluding RH) for 2025 between $600 million and $620 million.

Long-Term Algorithm

RBI continues to expect the following long-term consolidated performance on average, from 2024 to 2028:

• 3%+ Comparable Sales; and
• 8%+ organic Adjusted Operating Income growth.  

In addition, the company now expects to reach 5%+ Net Restaurant Growth towards the end of its algorithm period.

Investor Conference Call 

We will host an investor conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to review financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The earnings call will be broadcast live via our investor relations website at http://rbi.com/investors and a replay will be available for 30 days following the release. The dial-in number is 1 (833)-470-1428 for U.S. callers, 1 (833)-950-0062 for Canadian callers, and 1 (929)-526-1599 for callers from other countries. For all dial-in numbers please use the following access code: 768306.

Contacts 

Investors: [email protected]  

Media: [email protected]  

About Restaurant Brands International Inc.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with nearly $45 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 32,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities.

RBI's principal executive offices are in Miami, Florida. In North America, RBI's brands are headquartered in their home markets where they were founded decades ago: Canada for Tim Hortons and the U.S. for Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. To learn more about RBI, please visit the company's website at www.rbi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and our investor conference call contain certain forward-looking statements and information, which reflect management's current beliefs and expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

These forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations or beliefs regarding (i) the impact of the macro-economic pressures and currency fluctuations on our and our franchisees' results of operations and business; (ii) our digital, marketing, remodel and technology enhancement initiatives and related expenditures, including our plans to accelerate sales growth and drive franchisee profitability across our businesses; (iii) our remodel program and refranchising efforts; (iv) leverage and free cash flow; (v) Segment G&A, capital expenditures, tenant inducements, remodel incentives, comparable sales, adjusted operating income, net restaurant growth, effective tax rate and adjusted net interest expense in 2025 and, as applicable, through 2028; (vi) long-term partners for Popeyes China and FHS Brazil and a new controlling shareholder for BK China; (vii) refranchising of stores acquired in the Carrols acquisition; (viii) tariff related impacts on our cost of goods sold; and (ix) our growth opportunities, plans and strategies for each of our brands and ability to enhance operations and drive long-term, sustainable growth. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RBI's expectations are detailed in filings of RBI with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K, and include the following: (1) our indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition; (2) global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our guests to purchase our products; (3) our relationship with, and the success of, our franchisees and risks related to our nearly fully franchised business model; (4) our franchisees' financial stability and their ability to access and maintain the liquidity necessary to operate their businesses; (5) our supply chain operations; (6) our ownership and leasing of real estate; (7) the effectiveness of our marketing, advertising and digital programs and franchisee support of these programs; (8) fluctuations in interest rates and in the currency exchange markets and the effectiveness of our hedging activity; (9) our ability to successfully implement our domestic and international growth strategy for each of our brands and risks related to our international operations; (10) our reliance on franchisees, including subfranchisees to accelerate restaurant growth; (11) risks related to unforeseen events; (12) changes in applicable tax laws or interpretations thereof; (13) evolving legislation and regulations in the area of franchise and labor and employment law; (14) our ability to address environmental and social sustainability issues; (15) risks related to geopolitical conflicts and terrorism; (16) the ability of cash flows from the Carrols restaurants to fund our budgeted remodels and the timing of refranchising of such restaurants; (17) tariffs and their impact on economic conditions or our business; and (18) our ability to find long-term partners for Popeyes China and FHS Brazil and a new controlling shareholder for BK China. Other than as required under U.S. federal securities laws or Canadian securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise.

RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Key Operating Metrics

Key performance indicators ("KPIs") are shown for RBI's five franchisor segments. The KPIs for the Carrols Burger King restaurants are included in the BK segment and KPIs for the PLK China and BK China restaurants are included in the INTL segment.

• System-wide sales growth refers to the percentage change in sales at all franchised restaurants and Company restaurants (referred to as system-wide sales) in one period from the same period in the prior year on a constant currency basis, which means the results exclude the effect of foreign currency translation ("FX Impact"). We calculate the FX Impact by translating prior year results at current year monthly average exchange rates.
• Comparable sales refers to the percentage change in restaurant sales in one period from the same prior year period on a constant currency basis for restaurants that have been open for an initial consecutive period, typically at least 13 months. Additionally, if a restaurant is closed for a significant portion of a month, the restaurant is excluded from the monthly comparable sales calculation.
• Unless otherwise stated, system-wide sales growth, system-wide sales and comparable sales are presented on a system-wide basis, which means they include franchised restaurants and Company restaurants. System-wide results are driven by our franchised restaurants, as over 90% of system-wide restaurants are franchised. Franchise sales represent sales at all franchised restaurants and are revenues to our franchisees. We do not record franchise sales as revenues; however, our royalty revenues and advertising fund contributions are calculated based on a percentage of franchise sales.
• Net restaurant growth refers to the net change in restaurant count (openings, net of permanent closures) over a trailing twelve month period, divided by the restaurant count at the beginning of the trailing twelve month period. In determining whether a restaurant meets our definition of a restaurant that will be included in our net restaurant growth, we consider factors such as scope of operations, format and image, separate franchise agreement, and minimum sales thresholds. We refer to restaurants that do not meet our definition as "alternative formats" and we believe these are helpful to build brand awareness, test new concepts and provide convenience in certain markets.
• Total Capex and Cash Inducements refers to the sum of payments for additions to property and equipment, tenant inducements paid to franchisees, other cash inducements (included in changes in other long-term assets and liabilities), and increase (decrease) in accruals for additions to property and equipment.

These metrics are important indicators of the overall direction of our business, including trends in sales and the effectiveness of each brand's marketing, operations and growth initiatives. Total Capex and Cash Inducements is an indicator of the capital intensity of our business.

Non-GAAP Measures

Below, we define non-GAAP financial measures, provide a reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), and discuss the reasons why we believe this information is useful to management and may be useful to investors. These measures do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and may differ from similarly captioned measures of other companies in our industry. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in assessing our operating performance or liquidity. By disclosing these non-GAAP measures, we intend to provide investors with a consistent comparison of our operating results and trends for the periods presented.

AOI represents Income from Operations adjusted to exclude (i) franchise agreement and reacquired franchise right intangible asset amortization as a result of acquisition accounting, (ii) (income) loss from equity method investments, net of cash distributions received from equity method investments, (iii) other operating expenses (income), net and, (iv) income/expenses from non-recurring projects and non-operating activities. For the periods referenced in the following financial results, income/expenses from non-recurring projects and non-operating activities included (i) non-recurring fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Carrols Acquisition, the PLK China acquisition and the BK China acquisition, consisting primarily of professional fees, compensation related expenses and integration costs ("RH and BK China Transaction costs") and (ii) non-operating costs from professional advisory and consulting services associated with certain transformational corporate restructuring initiatives that rationalize our structure and optimize cash movements as well as services related to significant tax reform legislation and regulations ("Corporate restructuring and advisory fees"). Management believes that these types of expenses are either not related to our underlying profitability drivers or not likely to re-occur in the foreseeable future and the varied timing, size and nature of these projects may cause volatility in our results unrelated to the performance or trends of our core business and operations. AOI is used by management to measure operating performance of the business, excluding these other specifically identified items. AOI, as defined above, also represents our measure of segment income for each of our operating segments.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings (net income or loss from continuing operations) before interest expense, net, (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt, income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations, and depreciation and amortization excluding (i) the non-cash impact of share-based compensation and non-cash incentive compensation expense, (ii) (income) loss from equity method investments, net of cash distributions received from equity method investments, (iii) other operating expenses (income), net, and (iv) income or expense from non-recurring projects and non-operating activities (as described above) and is used by management to measure leverage.

Segment G&A (excluding RH) is defined as general and administrative expenses for our five franchisor segments excluding RH and BK China Transaction costs and Corporate restructuring and advisory fees.

Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net income from continuing operations excluding (i) franchise agreement and reacquired franchise right intangible asset amortization as a result of acquisition accounting, (ii) amortization of deferred financing costs and debt issuance discount, (iii) loss on early extinguishment of debt and interest expense, which represents non-cash interest expense related to amounts reclassified from accumulated comprehensive income (loss) into interest expense in connection with restructured interest rate swaps, (iv) (income) loss from equity method investments, net of cash distributions received from equity method investments, (v) other operating expenses (income), net, and (vi) income or expense from non-recurring projects and non-operating activities (as described above). 

Adjusted Interest Expense, net is defined as interest expense, net less (i) amortization of deferred financing costs and debt issuance discount and (ii) non-cash interest expense related to amounts reclassified from accumulated comprehensive income (loss) into interest expense in connection with restructured interest rate swaps.

Adjusted Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding of RBI during the reporting period. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are used by management to evaluate the operating performance of the business, excluding certain non-cash and other specifically identified items that management believes are not relevant to management's assessment of operating performance.

Net debt is defined as Total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Total debt is defined as long-term debt, net of current portion plus (i) Finance leases, net of current portion, (ii) Current portion of long-term debt and finance leases and (iii) Unamortized deferred financing costs and deferred issue discount. Net debt is used by management to evaluate the Company's liquidity. We believe this measure is an important indicator of the Company's ability to service its debt obligations.

Net Leverage is defined as Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. This metric is an operating performance measure that we believe provides investors a more complete understanding of our leverage position and borrowing capacity after factoring in cash and cash equivalents that eventually could be used to repay outstanding debt.

Revenue growth, Income from Operations growth, Adjusted Operating Income growth, Net Income growth, Adjusted EBITDA growth, Adjusted Net Income growth and Adjusted Diluted EPS growth on an organic basis, are non-GAAP measures that exclude the impact of FX movements and also exclude the results of our RH segment for the first four full fiscal quarters following the BK Carrols and PLK China restaurant acquisitions. With respect to Adjusted Diluted EPS, growth on an organic basis also excludes the impact of incremental debt incurred as part of the Carrols transaction. Management believes that organic growth is an important metric for measuring the operating performance of our business as it helps identify underlying business trends, without distortion from the effects of FX movements and the RH segment. We calculate the impact of FX movements by translating prior year results at current year monthly average exchange rates.

Free Cash Flow is the total of Net cash provided by operating activities minus Payments for property and equipment. Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure used by management as one factor in determining the amount of cash that is available for working capital needs or other uses of cash, however, it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures.

Net Interest Paid is the total of cash interest paid in the period, cash proceeds (payments) related to derivatives, net from both investing activities and financing activities and cash interest income received. This liquidity measure is used by management to understand the net effect of interest paid, received and related hedging payments and receipts.

With respect to our 2025 guidance, there are important components of estimated operating income and general and administrative expenses (including impact of equity method investments and other operating expenses or income from non-recurring projects and non-operating activities) that we have not determined and therefore, a reconciliation of estimated AOI to Income from operations, and Segment G&A to general and administrative expenses cannot be provided at this time. A full reconciliation of each of these measures will be provided when actual results are released. 

RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Organic Growth

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Reconciliations

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Total Capex and Cash Inducements KPI

Reconciliation of Net Leverage, Free Cash Flow, and Net Interest Paid

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income from continuing operations

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RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Footnotes to Reconciliation Tables

 

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SOURCE Restaurant Brands International Inc.