DENN (Post-Call) Beyond Refranchising

By Mark Kalinowski Published on February 11, 2020 at 12:00 AM

After today’s (Tuesday’s) market close, Denny’s (DENN; Buy) reported adjusted Q4 2019 EPS of $0.23, ahead of our $0.16 forecast and sell-side consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of $0.17. Factors in the Q4 EPS outperformance include: (1) better-than-expected Product Costs/Company Restaurant Sales (24.3% actual vs. our 24.8% forecast), (2) better-than-expected Payroll & Benefits/Company Restaurant Sales (37.6% actual vs. our 38.1% estimate, (3) better-than-expected Other Operating Costs/Company Restaurant Sales (14.2% actual vs. our 15.5% projection, (4) better-than-expected G&A Expenses/Revenues (13.5% actual vs. our 14.2% estimate), (5) better-than-expected D&A/Revenues (3.7% actual vs. our 4.3% forecast), (6) better-than-expected net interest expense ($3.57 million actual vs. our $4.50 million projection), and (7) a favorable tax rate (20.0% actual vs. our 21.3% estimate).

DNKN (Post-Call) Not Spooked by a Favorable Q3 Tax Rate

By Mark Kalinowski Published on October 31, 2019 at 12:00 AM

Earlier today, Dunkin’ Brands Group (DNKN; Neutral) reported adjusted Q3 EPS of $0.90, surpassing our $0.81 forecast and sell-side consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of $0.81. We attribute about $0.06-$0.07 of the EPS beat to a better-than-expected adjusted tax rate (21.9% actual vs. 27.7% forecasted and 27.8% consensus).

DENN (Post-Call) Moves Closer to Beyond Refranchising

By Mark Kalinowski Published on October 29, 2019 at 12:00 AM

After Tuesday’s market close, Denny’s (DENN; Buy) reported adjusted Q3 EPS of $0.18, coming in ahead of our $0.16 forecast and sell-side consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of $0.16. We attribute the EPS beat to a combination of: (1) better-than-expected Payroll and Benefits/Company Restaurant Sales (37.4% actual vs. 38.3% projected), (2) better-than-anticipated G&A/Revenues (13.2% actual vs. 13.8% estimated), (3) better-than-expected D&A/Revenues (3.5% actual vs. 4.2% forecasted), (4) lower-than-anticipated interest expense ($4.2 million actual vs. $5.3 million projected), and (5) a favorable adjusted tax rate (15.5% actual vs. 21.2% forecasted) — all partially offset by some other factors (such as lower-thananticipated Company Restaurant Sales, due to the faster-than-expected pace of refranchising).