DFRG - Del Frisco's Restaurant Group Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2018 Results

IRVING, Texas, March 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Del Frisco’s”) (NASDAQ: DFRG) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 25, 2018. We also issued guidance for the fiscal year 2019, which is a 53-week period ending on December 31, 2019, as well as long-term guidance through fiscal year 2023.

Given the sale of Sullivan’s Steakhouse during fiscal 2018, operating results for Sullivan’s Steakhouse are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. All numbers below are therefore for continuing operations unless otherwise stated.

Key Highlights from the 13-Week Fourth Quarter 2018 Compared to the 16-Week Fourth Quarter 2017 Include:

• Consolidated revenues increased 23.3% to $123.8 million from $100.4 million.
• Total comparable restaurant sales increased 0.1%.
• GAAP net loss of $7.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.
• Adjusted net loss* of $1.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income* of $6.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA* decreased 9.8% to $13.6 million from $15.0 million. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 400 basis points to 11.0% from 15.0%.
• GAAP operating loss of $6.0 million, compared to GAAP operating loss of $14.4 million.
• Restaurant-level EBITDA* increased 7.0% to $24.9 million from $23.3 million due primarily to $3.7 million in contributions from Barcelona Wine Bar and $3.6 million in contributions from bartaco. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, restaurant-level EBITDA margin decreased 310 basis points to 20.1% from 23.2%, primarily due to inefficiencies from new restaurant openings.

Key Highlights from the 52-week Fiscal Year 2018 Compared to the 52-Week Fiscal Year 2017 Include:

• Consolidated revenues increased 28.7% to $378.2 million from $293.8 million.
• Total comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.9%.
• GAAP net loss of $49.9 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.
• Adjusted net loss* of $4.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income* of $11.7 million, or $0.54 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA* decreased 3.2% to $35.3 million from $36.4 million. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 310 basis points to 9.3% from 12.4%.
• GAAP operating loss of $22.5 million, compared to GAAP operating loss of $11.9 million.
• Restaurant-level EBITDA* increased 18.8% to $74.1 million from $62.4 million due primarily to $9.9 million in contributions from bartaco and $7.6 million in contributions from Barcelona Wine Bar. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, restaurant-level EBITDA margin decreased 160 basis points to 19.6% from 21.2%, primarily due to inefficiencies from new restaurant openings.

* Adjusted net (loss) income, adjusted EBITDA, and restaurant-level EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP net income and operating (loss) income, respectively, and a discussion of why we consider them useful, see the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures accompanying this release.

Norman Abdallah, Chief Executive Officer of Del Frisco's, said, “We ended 2018, a transformative year for DFRG, by delivering on our annual expectations for Adjusted EBITDA and we are delighted with the positive contributions Barcelona and bartaco are already providing to our overall results. It was also a record year for development although short-term operational inefficiencies caused by eight openings during the back half of the year negatively impacted the fourth quarter itself. Notably, our intentional ‘soft opening’ strategy limits the likelihood of setting initial sales records, which can overwhelm our restaurant teams, but instead ensures that we are best able to uphold our quality service standards from day one, create effective ‘word of mouth’ marketing, and build lasting relationships with our guests. We are very encouraged by our reception in these markets and are confident that our 2018 class of restaurant openings as a whole will hit our three-year target of 35% to 40% ROIC.”

Abdallah continued, “The upswing in comparable restaurant sales during December 2018 that we referenced in our preliminary fourth quarter sales announcement has encouragingly continued quarter-to-date in 2019 across all four brands. Barcelona and bartaco are tracking in the low-to-mid single digits for comparable restaurant sales growth, Del Frisco’s Grille is flattish, while the Double Eagle is only slightly negative despite the continuation of the expected sales transfer from the Boston Seaport restaurant to the Boston Back Bay opening last summer which is impacting the brand’s comparable sales by over 130 basis points. Private dining sales at the Double Eagle and Del Frisco’s Grille also remain strong, up mid to high single digits quarter to date, supported by our improved banquet menu offerings and flawless execution, and despite lapping tough growth comparisons at the Grille from the first quarter last year.”

Abdallah concluded, “The integration of Barcelona and bartaco is progressing on or ahead of schedule and we anticipate that it will be completed by midway through this year as planned. All of our Brand Presidents and their respective teams are now housed in our Irving, TX restaurant support center and the entire DFRG is scheduled to go live with our new HR system later this month. Barcelona Wine Bar and bartaco are scheduled to go live shortly thereafter on our new accounting system. We are also pleased to be increasing the aggregate value of the integration benefits to $10 million, up from the original $3 million to $5 million, to be fully realized by 2020 or 2021.”

Review of Fourth Quarter 2018 Operating Results

Consolidated revenues increased $23.4 million, or 23.3%, to $123.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from $100.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. All results exclude any contributions from Sullivan’s Steakhouse, which was sold in the third quarter of 2018, and which sale is reflected as discontinued operations for the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase is due primarily to $17.5 million in contributions from bartaco and $16.9 million in contributions from Barcelona Wine Bar, which were acquired on June 27, 2018, and offset by three fewer calendar weeks in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 as a result of our change in the fiscal quarter calendar.

Comparable Restaurant Sales

General and administrative costs increased to $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 from $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, general and administrative costs increased to 9.6% from 8.8%. The additional costs included $0.5 million of non-recurring legal expenses, which are adjusted in our Adjusted Net Income reconciliation in the attached tables, other costs that were primarily related to the addition of Barcelona Wine Bar and bartaco, and investments in the restaurant support center and regional management to support future growth.

We incurred non-recurring costs totaling $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 consisting of consulting project costs of $4.8 million, lease termination and closing costs of $2.2 million, reorganization severance costs of $1.4 million, discontinued operations costs of $0.8 million, change in estimate for gift card breakage of $0.7 million, non-recurring legal expenses of $0.5 million and acquisition costs and donations each of $0.2 million, partially offset by related tax benefits of $5.9 million.

GAAP net loss was $7.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to GAAP net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Adjusted net loss* was $1.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to adjusted net income* of $6.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA* decreased 9.8% to $13.6 million from $15.0 million. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 400 basis points to 11.0% from 15.0%.

Restaurant-level EBITDA* increased $1.6 million, or 7.0%, to $24.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily due to $3.7 million in contributions from Barcelona and $3.6 million in contributions from bartaco. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, restaurant-level EBITDA* decreased to 20.1% from 23.2%.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Development

• A Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse restaurant opened in San Diego, CA.
• A Del Frisco’s Grille restaurant opened in each of Philadelphia, PA and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
• A bartaco restaurant opened in each of Fort Point, MA, and Dallas, TX.

These openings contributed to a record nine restaurant openings in 2018 consisting of three Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouses, three Del Frisco’s Grilles and, post-acquisition, three bartacos. There were an additional three restaurant openings in 2018 prior to the acquisition, consisting of one Barcelona Wine Bar and two bartacos. These restaurants will contribute meaningfully to our adjusted EBITDA growth in 2019 and beyond.

Fiscal Year 2019 Guidance & Long-Term Growth Outlook

The following statements are not guarantees of future performance, and therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon them. We refer you to the statement below regarding Forward-Looking Statements and our recent filings with the SEC for a more detailed discussion of the risks that could impact our future operating results and financial condition.

For the 53-week fiscal year 2019, which ends on December 31, 2019, we are providing the following outlook.

• Total comparable restaurant sales of 0% to 1.5%.
• Seven to eight restaurant openings, consisting of one Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, two to three Barcelona Wine Bars, and three to four bartaco restaurants. To date, we have opened a Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Century City, CA; a Barcelona Wine Bar in Charlotte, NC; and a bartaco in Madison, WI.
• Restaurant-level EBITDA** of 20.0% to 22.0% of consolidated revenues.
• General and administrative costs of approximately $53 million to $55 million, which excludes items we consider non-recurring in nature.
• Pre-opening expenses of $5 million to $7 million.
• Net capital expenditures, after tenant allowances, of $25 million to $35 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA** of $58 million to $66 million.

** Restaurant-level EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures.

By the end of fiscal year 2023, we are targeting generation on an annual basis of at least $800 million in consolidated revenues and $130 million in adjusted EBITDA**. To achieve these long-term targets, we would need to satisfy the following key annual goals:

• Consolidated revenue growth of at least 10%.
• Comparable restaurant sales growth of 0% to 2%.
• New restaurant growth of 10% to 12% annually.
• Maintaining strong restaurant-level EBITDA** margins.
• General and administrative cost leverage.
• Adjusted EBITDA** growth of at least 15%.

We are also targeting net debt to adjusted EBITDA** of approximately 3x by the end of fiscal year 2021 and 2x by the end of fiscal year 2023.

**A reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP expectations and GAAP measures for adjusted EBITDA, restaurant-level EBITDA and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA generally is not available without unreasonable effort due to the potentially high variability, complexity and low visibility as to the items that would be excluded from the GAAP measure in the relevant future period, such as unusual gains and losses, the ultimate outcome of pending litigation,. the impact and timing of potential acquisitions and divestitures and other structural changes or their probable significance. The variability of the excluded items may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future GAAP results.

Barteca Selected Financial Information

Contained within this earnings press release are unaudited selected quarterly historical financial information for Barteca, recast to align with our fiscal calendar. This information is derived from financial statements prepared by the former management of Barteca. This unaudited selected financial information has been presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s results of operations actually would have been had the Barteca Acquisition been completed as of the dates indicated. In addition, the unaudited selected financial information does not purport to project the future financial position or results of operations of the combined company and does not reflect synergies that might be achieved from the combined operations.

Conference Call

We will host a conference call this morning to discuss our fourth quarter 2018 financial results. Hosting the conference call will be Norman Abdallah, Chief Executive Officer and Neil Thomson, Chief Financial Officer.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 323-794-2423. A replay will be available afterwards and can be accessed by dialing 412-317-6671; the passcode is 1070307. The replay will be available until Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

The conference call will also be webcast live and archived on Del Frisco’s corporate website. To access the webcast, please visit www.dfrg.com under the “Investor Relations” tab.

About Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc.

Based in Irving, Texas, Del Frisco's Restaurant Group, Inc. is a collection of 75 restaurants across 16 states and Washington, D.C., including Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Del Frisco's Grille, Barcelona Wine Bar, and bartaco.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse serves flawless cuisine that's bold and delicious and offers an extensive award-winning wine list and level of service that reminds guests that they're the boss. Del Frisco's Grille is modern, inviting, stylish and fun, taking the classic bar and grill to new heights, and drawing inspiration from bold flavors and market-fresh ingredients. Barcelona serves tapas both simple and elegant, using the best seasonal picks from local markets and unusual specialties from Spain and the Mediterranean, and offers an extensive selection of wines from Spain and South America featuring over 40 wines by the glass. bartaco combines fresh, upscale street food and award-winning cocktails made with artisanal spirits and freshly-squeezed juices with a coastal vibe in a relaxed environment.

For further information about our restaurants, to make reservations, or to purchase gift cards, please visit: www.DelFriscos.com, www.DelFriscosGrille.com, www.BarcelonaWineBar.com, and www.bartaco.com. For more information about Del Frisco's Restaurant Group, Inc., please visit www.DFRG.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, uncertainties as to the structure, terms, and timing of any strategic transaction resulting from the strategic review and whether it will be completed, the impact of any such strategic transaction on Del Frisco’s, whether the strategic benefits of any such strategic transaction can be achieved, general economic conditions, conditions in the markets that the Company is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers, and competitors, and the legal and regulatory rules affecting Del Frisco’s. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans,” “may increase,” “may fluctuate,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could” or similar words or expressions are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Any statements that refer to outlook, expectations, or other characterizations of future events, circumstances, or results, including all statements related to the review of strategic alternatives for Del Frisco’s, are also forward-looking statements. Important risks, assumptions and other important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are specified in Del Frisco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2018 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 25, 2018 under headings such as “Forward-Looking Statements”, “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in other filings and furnishings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events, or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited

1. Beginning in fiscal 2018, we changed to a fiscal quarter calendar where each quarter contains 13 weeks, other than in a 53-week year where the last quarter of the year will contain 14 weeks. Previously, the first three quarters of our fiscal year consisted of 12 weeks each and the fourth quarter consisted of 16 weeks or 17 weeks in a 53-week year. The fourth quarter ended December 25, 2018 contained 13 weeks, the quarter ended December 26, 2017 contained 16 weeks. See Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2018.

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data - Unaudited

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Segment Information - Unaudited

1. See footnote 1 to the Consolidated Statement of Income above.

Non-GAAP Measures

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Within our press release, we make reference to non-GAAP adjusted net income, adjusted net (loss) income per share, adjusted EBIDTA and restaurant-level EBITDA. Adjusted net (loss) income represents GAAP net loss plus the sum of GAAP income tax expense (benefit), lease termination and closing costs, consulting project costs, acquisition costs, reorganization severance, non-recurring legal expenses, donations, non-recurring corporate expenses, impairment charges, discontinued operations, and loss on the write-off of deferred financing costs minus income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 54% during 2018, and 23% during 2017. We believe that this non-GAAP operating measure represents a useful measure of performance internally and for investors as it excludes certain non-operating related expenditures. Adjusted EBIDTA is calculated by adding back to operating income, pre-opening costs, donations, consulting project costs, acquisition costs, non-recurring legal costs, reorganization severance, lease termination and closing costs, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges and insurance settlements. Restaurant-level EBITDA is calculated by adding back to adjusted EBIDTA general and administrative expenses. We believe that these operating measures also represent useful internal measures of performance. Restaurant-level EBITDA margin represents restaurant-level EBITDA as a percentage of our revenues. Adjusted net (loss) income per share represents income from continuing operations excluding the impact of certain adjustments such as the amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, goodwill impairments, gains and losses on divestitures and any other items specifically identified herein, divided by the Company’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding. We believe that this measure represents a useful measure of performance internally and for investors.

Accordingly, we include these non-GAAP measures so that investors have the same financial data that management uses in evaluating performance, and we believe that it will assist the investment community in assessing our underlying performance on a quarter-over-quarter basis. However, because these measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations and not all companies calculate these measures in the same manner. As a result, these measures as presented may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. These non-GAAP measures are presented as supplemental information and not as alternatives to any GAAP measurements. The following tables include a reconciliation of net income to adjusted net income and operating income to restaurant-level EBITDA.

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Adjusted Net (Loss) Income Reconciliation - Unaudited

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation - Unaudited

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Restaurant-Level EBITDA Reconciliation - Unaudited

Recast 2018 and 2017 Financial Information

Beginning in fiscal 2018, we changed to a fiscal quarter calendar where each quarter contains 13 weeks, other than in a 53-week year where the last quarter of the year will contain 14 weeks. Previously, the first three quarters of our fiscal year consisted of 12 weeks each and the fourth quarter consisted of 16 weeks or 17 weeks in a 53-week year.  The overall fiscal year remains the same with a 52- or 53-week year ending on the last Tuesday in December.  We have not restated and do not plan to restate historical quarterly financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. See Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2018 for additional information regarding the change in our fiscal quarters.

Due to the difference in the reporting period between the fourth quarter of 2018, which contained 13 weeks, and the third quarter of 2017, which contained 16 weeks, our 2018 results of operations as presented in accordance with GAAP are not comparable to the prior year.  Therefore, we are presenting recast quarterly financial results for the fiscal 2017 period because management uses this information in evaluating performance and believes it provides investors with additional information to consider along with our results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  However, the presentation of this recast financial information does not comply with GAAP and should not be considered independent of our audited combined financial statements and the related notes included in the annual report on Form 10-K.

The consolidated and segment revenues reflected in the recast 2017 financial information are derived from our historical books and records and no adjustments were made thereto other than to account for the additional operating weeks in first three quarters and three weeks less in the fourth quarter. The amount of certain recurring expense items on a consolidated basis and at the segment level, including costs of sales, restaurant operating expenses and the other items identified as such below, were calculated based on a presumed proportionate increase (or decrease in fourth quarter) over the reported 2017 amount reflecting the additional weeks (or three weeks less in fourth quarter) in recast 2017 consolidated or segment revenues, as applicable, over reported 2017 consolidated or segment revenues, as applicable, because such items are typically a function of and move in correlation to revenues during a given period.  No changes were made to the reported 2017 results for certain other expense items such as consulting project costs and the other items identified as such below because they are generally not recurring, but incurred at distinct moments within a period as a result of their more unique nature.

Adjusted net income, adjusted net (loss) income per share, adjusted pre-tax income and restaurant-level EBITDA are non-GAAP measures.  See the discussion above under "Non-GAAP Measures" regarding how we define these measures and why we believe they are useful for investors.

The unaudited combined adjusted financial information for the 13 weeks ended December 26, 2017, and 52 weeks ended December 25, 2018 and December 26, 2017 in the following tables represent information derived from financial statements prepared by the former management of Barteca ("Barcelona and bartaco Brands"), recast to align with our fiscal calendar, and historical recast financial information of Del Frisco's Heritage Brands, which represent Double Eagle and Grille, prior to the Barteca Acquisition. This unaudited combined adjusted financial information has been presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s results of operations actually would have been had the Barteca Acquisition been completed as of the dates indicated. In addition, the unaudited combined adjusted financial information does not purport to project the future financial position or results of operations of the combined company and do not reflect synergies that might be achieved from the combined operations.

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Statements of Income Information - Unaudited

1. Recast amounts for the 13 weeks ended December 26, 2017, and 52 weeks ended December 25, 2018 and December 26, 2017 include historical amounts for Barcelona and bartaco Brands, which were acquired during the third quarter of 2018, prior to acquisition.
2. Recast 2017 amount reflects a presumed proportionate decrease over the reported fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 amount, reflecting the thirteen weeks in recast 2017 revenues over reported sixteen weeks in fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 revenues, which was determined based on the revenues recorded in the Company’s historical books and records, less three operating weeks excluded in the recast fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 period.
3. Recast 2017 amount equals the reported 2017 amount.
4. Based on the same tax rate used for the reported 2017 results.

DEL FRISCO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Segment Information - Unaudited