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Papa Johns International Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell on North America: Total revenues fell 7.7% to $478.6 million. The company attributed the decline to lower North America performance, partly offset by improved International results. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $47.8 million against $49.6 million a year earlier. Management attributed the decrease mainly to lower sales and volumes in North America. Source
  • North America comparable sales fell: North America comparable sales decreased 6.4%. Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 5.2% and North America franchised restaurants were down 6.7%. Source
  • Net restaurant count reduced: The company opened 28 restaurants and closed 91, a net reduction of 63. The system ended the quarter at 6,020 restaurants. Source
  • Free cash flow turned to outflow: Free cash flow was an outflow of $6.2 million against an inflow of $19.1 million. The company cited lower net income, compensation payments, and $1.2 million higher capital expenditure. Source
  • 2026 guidance reiterated: Management reiterated its 2026 annual guidance, with the same figures as those introduced with fourth-quarter 2025 results. Source

“In North America, results were in line with our expectations as we navigate the cautious consumer environment and promotional QSR marketplace,”

Todd Penegor, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Global system-wide restaurant sales Sourcefull year 2026Flat to Down Low Single-DigitsKept
North America comparable sales Sourcefull year 2026Down (2)% to (4)%Kept
International comparable sales Sourcefull year 2026Up 2% to 4%Kept
North America gross openings Sourcefull year 202640 to 50Kept
International gross openings Sourcefull year 2026180 to 220Kept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$200 million to $210 millionKept
Adjusted depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026$70 million to $75 millionKept
Interest expense (net) Sourcefull year 2026$35 million to $40 millionKept
GAAP effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202630% to 34%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$70 million to $80 millionKept
Diluted shares outstanding Sourcefull year 2026Approximately 33 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 annual guidance was reiterated with the same figures that were introduced in the fourth-quarter 2025 release. Source
  • New: The company cited a new collaboration with Toy Story 5 ahead of the film's theatrical release. Source
  • New: The company said it is elevating its digital ordering experience with a new Google Gemini Enterprise CX Food Ordering Agent. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell on North America: Total revenues fell 7.7% to $478.6 million. The company attributed the decline to lower North America performance, partly offset by improved International results. Source
  • Net income and EPS lower: Net income was $6.9 million against $9.3 million. Diluted EPS was $0.21 against $0.27, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.32 against $0.36. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $47.8 million against $49.6 million a year earlier. Management attributed the decrease mainly to lower sales and volumes in North America. Source
  • Prior-year base affected by refranchising: Management said results are not directly comparable with the prior-year quarter because of a restaurant refranchising transaction in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America comparable sales fell: North America comparable sales decreased 6.4%. Domestic Company-owned restaurants were down 5.2% and North America franchised restaurants were down 6.7%. Source
  • International comparable sales rose again: International comparable sales rose 3.6%, which management described as the sixth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. International system-wide sales rose 6% to $333.4 million. Source
  • Commissary revenue and profit fell: North America Commissary revenues fell $18 million on food cost deflation, franchisee food cost subsidies and lower volumes, partly offset by higher pricing. Commissary segment adjusted EBITDA was $12.4 million against $19.4 million. Source
  • Segment profit by business unit: Segment adjusted EBITDA was $7.9 million for Domestic Company-owned restaurants against $5.0 million, $25.4 million for North America franchising against $27.2 million, and $8.1 million for International against $5.4 million. Source
  • All Other profit down: All Other adjusted EBITDA was $4.0 million against $10.2 million. All Other revenue fell $4 million on lower digital fees and advertising funds revenue. Source

“In sum, we are taking a disciplined approach to managing the near-term market dynamics, while building for the future as the best pizza makers in the business,”

Todd Penegor, President and CEO

Products and customers

  • Toy Story 5 partnership announced: Management cited a collaboration with Toy Story 5, timed ahead of the film's theatrical release, as an example of progress in its transformation work. Source
  • Digital ordering agent introduced: Management said it is elevating the digital ordering experience through a new Google Gemini Enterprise CX Food Ordering Agent. Source
  • Value options and innovation expanded: Management said its transformation strategy includes an expanded range of value options and a more aggressive push into innovation. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Cost of sales fell with volumes: Cost of sales fell to $340.9 million from $366.5 million. The company cited the 2025 refranchising, lower Company-owned transaction volumes, and commodity deflation. Source
  • G&A fell on conference and advertising: General and administrative expenses fell to $56.0 million from $65.2 million, mainly because a biannual franchisee conference did not recur and supplemental advertising was lower. Source
  • Interest and tax expense lower: Net interest expense was $9.7 million against $10.1 million, reflecting lower average interest rates. Income tax expense was $4.1 million against $4.5 million. Source
  • Operating income declined modestly: Operating income was $20.8 million against $24.0 million. Income before income taxes was $11.1 million against $13.9 million. Source

“Execution in these areas will enable us to meet customers where they are and unlock more layers of growth.”

Todd Penegor, President and CEO

Demand and restaurant network

  • Global system-wide sales down 3%: Global system-wide restaurant sales were $1.20 billion, down 3% excluding currency. Higher International comparable sales were more than offset by lower North America comparable sales. Source
  • Net restaurant count reduced: The company opened 28 restaurants and closed 91, a net reduction of 63. The system ended the quarter at 6,020 restaurants. Source
  • Openings concentrated in International: Of the 28 openings, 20 were in International markets and 8 in North America. Source
  • North America net decline: North America net restaurant change was a decline of 36 for the quarter, with 31 franchised and 5 Domestic Company-owned restaurants net reductions. Source

Cash, debt and dividend

  • Free cash flow turned to outflow: Free cash flow was an outflow of $6.2 million against an inflow of $19.1 million. The company cited lower net income, compensation payments, and $1.2 million higher capital expenditure. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capex: Net cash from operating activities was $7.2 million against $31.3 million. Purchases of property and equipment were $13.5 million. Source
  • Net revolver proceeds in quarter: Net revolving credit facility proceeds were $19.4 million, compared with net repayments of $196.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Second-quarter dividend declared: The company paid $15.3 million ($0.46 per share) in the first quarter and declared a $0.46 second-quarter dividend on May 5, 2026. Source

Strategy, transformation and guidance

  • 2026 guidance reiterated: Management reiterated its 2026 annual guidance, with the same figures as those introduced with fourth-quarter 2025 results. Source
  • Enterprise Transformation Plan costs: Restructuring costs under the Enterprise Transformation Plan were $4.1 million against $2.2 million a year earlier. The figure includes $0.2 million of non-cash stock compensation and depreciation. Source
  • Corporate savings target through 2027: The prior release said operational efficiency initiatives are expected to deliver at least $25 million in corporate cost savings outside of marketing through 2027.

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Toy Story 5 theatrical release: Management referred to the partnership timed ahead of the film's theatrical release on June 19. Source
  • Second-quarter dividend payment: The second-quarter dividend of $0.46 per share is scheduled to be paid on May 29, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceNorth America -6.4%; International +3.6%; total -3.9%
System-wide restaurant sales Source$1.20 billion, down 3% excluding currency
Store openings Source28
Store closings Source91
Inventory Source$36,204 thousand at March 29, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a cautious consumer environment and a promotional QSR marketplace in North America. Source
  • Demand: North America comparable sales fell 6.4%, with franchised and Company-owned restaurants both down. Source
  • Financial: Lower net income and compensation payments, including under the Enterprise Transformation Plan, drove the free cash flow outflow. Source
  • Operational: Lower sales and volumes in North America were the main factor in the decline in adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • External: Commodity deflation and franchisee food cost subsidies reduced North America Commissary revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release said approximately $13 million of corporate cost savings were expected to be realized in 2026. This release does not state progress against it.
  • Not stated: The prior release said at least $60 million of previously identified supply chain savings were expected to improve North America restaurant-level profitability by fiscal 2028.
  • On track: Management said North America results were in line with its expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: The company reiterated its 2026 annual guidance. This release does not state whether the guidance is on track. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.