Papa Johns Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

Met or Exceeded Revised 2025 Financial Guidance Targets

2025 Global System-wide Restaurant Sales Increased 1% ^(a)

Fourth Quarter Global System-wide Restaurant Sales Decreased 1% ^(a)

Fourth Quarter Diluted EPS of $0.21 and Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.34 ^(b)

Introduces Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) (“Papa Johns ^® ”) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 28, 2025.

Full Year 2025 Highlights

• Global system-wide restaurant sales were $4.92 billion, a 1% ^(a) increase compared with the prior year.
• North America comparable sales decreased 2% as Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 3% and North America franchised restaurants were down 2%; International comparable sales increased 5%; all compared with 2024.
• Opened 279 new restaurants in fiscal year 2025, comprised of 96 restaurant openings in North America and 183 restaurant openings in International markets.
• Total revenues of $2.1 billion were flat compared with the prior year.
• Net income was $32 million compared with $84 million in 2024.
• Adjusted EBITDA ^(b) was $201 million compared with $227 million in the prior year, including approximately $21 million in incremental marketing investment to support franchisees and brand positioning work.
• Diluted earnings per common share of $0.90 compared with $2.54 in 2024.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per common share ^(b) was $1.43 compared with $2.34 in the prior year.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights

• Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.23 billion, a 1% ^(a) decrease compared with the prior year fourth quarter.
• North America comparable sales decreased 5% as Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 6% and North America franchised restaurants were down 5%; International comparable sales were up 6%, all compared with the prior year fourth quarter.
• Opened 142 new restaurants system-wide, comprised of 41 restaurant openings in North America and 101 restaurant openings in International markets.
• Total revenues of $498 million decreased 6% compared with the prior year fourth quarter.
• Net income was $9 million compared with $15 million in the prior year fourth quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA ^(b) was $51 million compared with $58 million in the prior year quarter.
• Diluted earnings per common share was $0.21 compared with $0.44 in the prior year fourth quarter.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per common share ^(b) was $0.34 compared with $0.63 in the prior year quarter.
• Operational efficiency initiatives, including recently implemented programs, are expected to deliver at least $25 million in corporate cost savings outside of marketing through 2027, with approximately $13 million expected to be realized in 2026.
• At least $60 million of previously identified supply chain cost savings are expected to deliver approximately 160-basis points of incremental restaurant-level profitability improvement across both franchise and Company-owned restaurants in North America by fiscal year 2028.
• Following a strategic review of its North American restaurant portfolio, the Company is implementing measures to optimize restaurant profitability and fleet health.

CEO Commentary

“We are encouraged by the progress we are making in our transformation as we further reinforce our brand health, sharpen our value proposition, build our innovation pipeline and enhance the customer experience. These actions, alongside recent changes to our organizational structure to drive efficiencies, provide a strong foundation for our future,” said Todd Penegor, President and CEO.

“In the fourth quarter, solid execution drove the Company’s fifth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales in our International markets, while North America results reflected a weak consumer backdrop and elevated promotional environment,” continued Penegor.

“In 2026, we are focused on continuing our transformation work to best position Papa Johns to win in a dynamic QSR category. Our strong balance sheet is supporting investment in these initiatives, which we believe will deliver high returns. We look forward with confidence in our ability to generate sustainable, profitable growth, and value creation,” Penegor concluded.

Financial Highlights

Results for the three months ended December 28, 2025 and full year 2025 are not directly comparable with the respective prior year periods as comparisons are impacted by a restaurant refranchising transaction that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2025. Additionally, results for full year 2025 are not directly comparable with the prior year, as year-over-year comparisons were also impacted by restaurant closures and refranchising transactions in the UK that occurred in the second and third quarters of 2024, and the Wisconsin refranchising transaction and the sale of two Quality Control Center (“QC Center”) properties, both of which occurred in the third quarter of 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

Revenue: Total revenues of $498.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased $32.6 million, or 6.1%, compared with the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $24 million decline at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants primarily related to: 1) approximately $9 million of lower revenues related to the refranchising of 85 Domestic Company-owned restaurants, which are now operated as franchised restaurants; 2) 6% lower comparable sales at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants; and 3) approximately $5 million of deferred revenue recognized in the prior year related to our loyalty program enhancements. Additionally, revenues from All Other business units decreased $7 million primarily related to lower advertising funds revenue driven by the decline in sales along with lower digital fees and North America commissary revenues decreased $7 million mostly attributable to lower pricing, slightly offset by higher volumes. Partially offsetting these declines was a $4 million increase in International revenues driven by improved performance.

System-wide sales: Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.23 billion, down 1% ^(a) from the prior year fourth quarter, as higher International comparable sales and 1% global net restaurant growth on a trailing twelve-month basis were more than offset by lower comparable sales in North America. North America system-wide sales decreased 4% ^(a) to $886 million and International system-wide sales increased 8% ^(a) to $341 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with the prior year period.

Net income: Fourth quarter 2025 Net income was $8.6 million, a $6.3 million decrease compared with the prior year fourth quarter. The decrease was primarily related to higher D&A expense, mostly driven by $12.3 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to the retirement of legacy technology platforms as part of our investment in our new omnichannel experience, higher G&A expenses related to the Company’s incremental investment in marketing and promotional campaigns as well as higher management incentive compensation. These decreases were partially offset by $17.6 million of gains associated with the aforementioned refranchising of 85 Domestic Company-owned restaurants and lower cost of sales, due in part to the refranchising transaction. Net income also reflects higher tax expense due to lower taxable income in the current period leading to limitations on the realization of certain tax credits.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA ^(b) was $51.1 million, a $6.7 million decrease from the prior year fourth quarter. The decrease was primarily attributable to higher expenses related to our incremental investment in marketing and promotional campaigns in the quarter and higher management incentive compensation, partially offset by lower cost of sales related to the refranchising transaction and commodity deflation.

Earnings per share: Diluted earnings per common share was $0.21 for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $0.44 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share ^(b) was $0.34 for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $0.63 in the fourth quarter of 2024. These changes were due to the same factors impacting Net income and adjusted EBITDA ^(b) discussed above.

Full Year 2025 Results

Revenue: Total revenues of $2.1 billion for 2025 were flat compared with the prior year, as a $30 million decrease in revenues at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants was offset by higher revenues at our North America Commissary segment and All Other business units. The decrease in revenues at our Domestic Company-owned restaurants was largely attributable to 3% lower comparable sales, and a combined $19 million impact related to the previously mentioned refranchising transaction and the prior year refranchising of 15 restaurants in the Wisconsin market. North America Commissary revenues increased $21 million due to higher volumes and pricing, partially offset by changes in product mix along with a $7 million increase in revenues from All Other business units attributable to higher digital fees.

System-wide sales: Global system-wide restaurant sales were $4.92 billion, up 1% ^(a) from a year ago, as higher International comparable sales and 1% global net restaurant growth were partially offset by lower comparable sales in North America, compared with the prior year. North America system-wide sales decreased 1% ^(a) to $3.6 billion and International system-wide sales increased 8% ^(a) to $1.3 billion in 2025, compared with the prior year.

Net income: Net income of $32.1 million for 2025 decreased $52.1 million compared with the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to a pre-tax gain of $41.3 million associated with the sale of two QC Center properties in the prior year. Additionally, Net income was impacted by higher G&A expenses compared with the prior year period, primarily related to approximately $21 million of incremental investments in marketing, higher management incentive compensation, and expenses related to the Company’s biannual franchisee conference as well as an increase in D&A expense, primarily driven by $18.4 million of accelerated depreciation. These decreases were partially offset by the previously mentioned $17.1 million of refranchising-related gains, lower restructuring charges related to our International transformation, and lower cost of sales at our Company-owned restaurants related to the refranchising transactions previously discussed. Net income also reflects lower interest expense driven by lower average interest rates and lower tax expense, due to lower pre-tax income, compared with the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA ^(b) was $201.1 million, a $26.2 million decrease compared with the prior year. The decrease was primarily related to higher G&A expenses driven by supplemental marketing and investments the Company made to support our franchisees and brand positioning work, higher management incentive compensation, and the Company’s biannual franchisee conference.

Earnings per share: Diluted earnings per common share was $0.90 for 2025 compared with $2.54 in 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share ^(b) was $1.43 compared with $2.34 in 2024. These changes were due to the same factors impacting Net income and adjusted EBITDA ^(b) discussed above.

Refer to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for additional information concerning our operating results for the year ended December 28, 2025.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure which the Company defines as net cash provided by operating activities (from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows) less the purchases of property and equipment, excluding purchases of property and equipment related to damages from natural disasters, was $61.3 million for the year ended December 28, 2025, compared with $34.1 million in the prior year. The year-over-year change primarily reflects favorable changes in working capital and timing of cash payments for Company’s National Marketing Fund and cash payments for income taxes, along with a $7.8 million decrease in capital expenditures primarily driven by lower Company-owned restaurant development compared with the prior year.

We view free cash flow as an important financial measure because it is one factor that management uses in determining the amount of cash available for discretionary investment. Free cash flow is not a term defined by GAAP, and as a result, our measure of free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Free cash flow should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the Company’s performance than the Company’s GAAP measures.

Cash Dividend

The Company paid cash dividends of $15.3 million ($0.46 per common share) in the fourth quarter of 2025. On January 26, 2026, our Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2026 dividend of $0.46 per common share. The dividend was paid on February 20, 2026 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 9, 2026.

Global Restaurant Sales Information

Global restaurant and comparable sales information for the year ended December 28, 2025, compared with the year ended December 29, 2024 are as follows (See “Supplemental Information and Financial Statements” for related definitions):

Global Restaurants

As of December 28, 2025, there were 6,083 Papa Johns restaurants operating in 50 countries and territories, as follows:

2026 Outlook

The Company is introducing its 2026 annual guidance for the following metrics:

Adjusted EBITDA represents Net income before Net interest expense, Income tax expense, Depreciation and amortization, Stock-based compensation expense, and other adjustments that vary from period to period in accordance with the Company’s Non-GAAP policy. The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure as it is widely used by analysts and investors to value the Company and its restaurants on a consistent basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not a term defined by GAAP, and is not intended to be a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flows from operating activities, as defined under generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, our measure of adjusted EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjusted depreciation and amortization represents depreciation and amortization expense excluding incremental depreciation expense related to the shortened useful life of legacy capitalized software assets due to the ongoing development and deployment of our new omnichannel platforms and other technology improvements.

This release includes forward-looking projections for certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted depreciation and amortization. The Company excludes certain expenses and benefits from adjusted EBITDA and adjusted depreciation and amortization that, due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of those expenses and benefits, the Company is unable to, without unreasonable effort or expense, provide a reconciliation to Net income or GAAP depreciation and amortization of those projected measures, respectively.

Conference Call

Papa Johns will host a call with analysts today, February 26, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call or webcast, please register online at: ir.papajohns.com/events-presentations . A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the call and archived on the same web page.

About Papa Johns

Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened its doors in 1984 with one goal in mind: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA.® Papa Johns believes that using high-quality ingredients leads to superior quality pizzas. Its original dough is made of only six ingredients and is fresh, never frozen. Papa Johns tops its pizzas with real cheese made from mozzarella, pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes that go from vine to can in the same day and meat free of fillers. It was the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of artificial flavors and synthetic colors from its entire food menu. Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and Louisville, Ky. and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with more than 6,000 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. For more information about the Company or to order pizza online, visit www.papajohns.com or download the Papa Johns mobile app for iOS or Android.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release and other Company communications that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook”, “plan,” “project,” or similar words identify forward-looking statements that we intend to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include or may relate to projections or guidance concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, earnings per share, share repurchases, depreciation and amortization, interest expenses, tax rates, system-wide sales, transformation plans, adjusted EBITDA, 4-wall EBITDA, the current economic environment, industry trends, consumer behavior and preferences, commodity and labor costs, currency fluctuations, profit margins, supply chain operating margin, net unit growth, unit level performance, capital expenditures, restaurant and franchise development, restaurant acquisitions, restaurant closures, labor shortages, labor cost increases, changes in management, inflation, royalty relief, franchisee support and incentives, the effectiveness of our menu innovations and other business initiatives, investments in product, investments in digital and technology innovation, marketing efforts and investments, liquidity, compliance with debt covenants, impairments, strategic decisions and actions, changes to our national marketing fund, changes to our commissary model, dividends, effective tax rates, regulatory changes and impacts, impacts of tariffs, insurance recoveries for damages related to natural disasters, adoption of new accounting standards, and other financial and operational measures. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions which are based on currently available information. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to risks related to: economic conditions in the United States and international markets; changes in pricing or other marketing or promotional strategies by competitors, which has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, sales and profitability; and new product and concept developments by food industry competitors; changes in consumer preferences or consumer buying habits, including the growing popularity of delivery aggregators, as well as changes in general economic conditions or other factors that may affect consumer confidence and discretionary spending, including higher unemployment; increased risks associated with our International operations, including economic and political conditions, instability or uncertainty in our international markets, especially emerging markets, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, difficulty in meeting planned sales targets, regulatory changes, increased tariffs and other trade barriers, and new restaurant growth; the adverse impact on the Company or our results caused by global health concerns, product recalls, food quality or safety issues, incidences of foodborne illness, food contamination and other general public health concerns about our Company-owned or franchised restaurants or others in the restaurant industry; the ability of the Company to retain key management and manage staffing and labor shortages at Company and/or franchised restaurants and our Quality Control Centers; increases in labor costs, food costs or sustained higher other operating costs, including as a result of supply chain disruption, inflation and related impacts, increased tariffs or other trade barriers, immigration policies, or climate change; the potential for delayed new restaurant openings, both domestically and internationally; the increased risk of phishing, ransomware and other cyber-attacks; risks to the global economy and our business related to geopolitical conflicts in areas in which we operate; increased costs for branding initiatives and launching new advertising and marketing campaigns and promotions to boost consumer sentiment and sales trends, and the risk that such initiatives will not be effective; risks related to a possible economic slowdown that could, among other things, reduce consumer spending or demand and result in changing consumer practices; risks related to social media, including publicity adversely and rapidly impacting our brand and reputation; the effectiveness of our technology investments and changes in unit-level operations; the ability of the Company and its franchisees to meet planned growth targets and operate new and existing restaurants profitably, including difficulties finding qualified franchisees, restaurant level employees or suitable sites; increases in insurance claims and related costs for programs funded by the Company up to certain retention limits, including medical, owned and non-owned vehicles, workers’ compensation, general liability and property; disruption of our supply chain or commissary operations which could be caused by our sole source of supply of mozzarella cheese, desserts, garlic cups or limited source of suppliers for other key ingredients or more generally due to weather, natural disasters including drought, disease, or geopolitical or other disruptions beyond our control; the impact of current or future claims and litigation and our ability to comply with current, proposed or future legislation that could impact our business; risks related to our indebtedness and borrowing costs, including prolonged higher interest rates, and the current state of the credit markets; the Company’s ability to continue to pay dividends to stockholders based upon profitability, cash flows and capital adequacy if restaurant sales and operating results decline; disruption of critical business or information technology systems, or those of our suppliers, and risks associated with systems failures and data privacy and cybersecurity incidents, including theft of confidential Company, employee and customer information, including payment cards; and changes in Federal or state income, general and other tax laws, rules and regulations and changes in generally accepted accounting principles.

These and other risk factors are discussed in detail in “Part I. Item 1A. — Risk Factors” for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2025. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required by law.

For more information about the company, please visit www.papajohns.com .

Supplemental Information and Financial Statements

Definitions

“Comparable sales” represents sales for the same base of restaurants for the same fiscal periods. “Comparable sales growth (decline)” represents the change in year-over-year comparable sales. “Global system-wide restaurant sales” represents total restaurant sales for all Company-owned and franchised restaurants open during the comparable periods, and “Global system-wide restaurant sales growth (decline)” represents the change in global system-wide restaurant sales year-over-year. Comparable sales, Comparable sales growth (decline), Global system-wide restaurant sales and Global system-wide sales growth (decline) exclude franchisees for which we suspended corporate support.

We believe Domestic Company-owned, North America franchised, and International comparable sales and comparable sales growth (decline) and Global system-wide restaurant sales and sales growth information is useful in analyzing our results since our franchisees pay royalties and marketing fund contributions that are based on a percentage of franchise sales. Comparable sales and Global system-wide restaurant sales results for restaurants operating outside of the United States are reported on a constant dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency translation. Franchise sales also generate commissary revenue in the United States and in certain international markets. Comparable sales growth (decline) and Global system-wide restaurant sales information is also useful for comparison to industry trends and evaluating the strength of our brand. Management believes the presentation of Global system-wide restaurant sales growth, excluding the impact of foreign currency, provides investors with useful information regarding underlying sales trends and the impact of new unit growth without being impacted by swings in the external factor of foreign currency. Franchise restaurant sales are not included in the Company’s revenues.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP measures, which present results on an adjusted basis. These are supplemental measures of performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the following: adjusted EBITDA, 4-wall EBITDA, 4-wall EBITDA margin, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, and adjusted diluted earnings per common share. We believe that our non-GAAP financial measures enable investors to assess the operating performance of our business relative to our performance based on U.S. GAAP results and relative to other companies. We believe that the disclosure of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors as they reflect metrics that our management team and Board utilize to evaluate our operating performance, allocate resources and administer employee incentive plans. The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures to adjusted EBITDA, 4-wall EBITDA, adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, and adjusted diluted earnings per common share, are net income, segment adjusted EBITDA, net income attributable to common shareholders, and diluted earnings per common share, respectively. 4-wall EBITDA is defined as Domestic Company-owned restaurants segment revenue less total Domestic Company-owned restaurants segment cost of sales. 4-wall EBITDA margin is defined as 4-wall EBITDA divided by segment revenue for our Domestic Company-owned restaurants segment. These non-GAAP measures should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the Company’s performance than the Company’s U.S. GAAP results.

The table that follows reconciles our GAAP financial results to our non-GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Results to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Footnotes to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Segment Information

The following tables present the operating results of our segments. We have four reportable segments: Domestic Company-owned restaurants, North America franchising, North America commissaries, and International. Under ASC 280, Segment Reporting, our segment performance is evaluated based on segment adjusted EBITDA. See the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2025 for further information on segments, including reconciliations of segment measures to consolidated measures for the year ended December 28, 2025.

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Papa Johns Investor Relations
investor_relations@papajohns.com