HAMPTON, N.H., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) reported financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019 and announced its full year 2020 outlook.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• Total revenue increased from the prior year period by 9.8% to $191.5 million.
• System-wide same store sales increased 8.6%.
• Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $29.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of $24.8 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the prior year period.
• Net income was $34.3 million, compared to net income of $28.8 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted net income⁽¹⁾ increased 20.6% to $39.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to $32.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increased 23.0% to $76.6 million from $62.3 million in the prior year period.
• 102 new Planet Fitness stores were opened system-wide during the period, bringing system-wide total stores to 2,001 as of December 31, 2019.

Fiscal Year 2019 Highlights

• Total revenue increased from the prior year by 20.2% to $688.8 million.
• System-wide same store sales increased 8.8%.
• Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $117.7 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, compared to $88.0 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, in the prior year.
• Net income was $135.4 million, compared to $103.2 million in the prior year.
• Adjusted net income⁽¹⁾ increased 22.7% to $146.7 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, compared to $119.5 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, in the prior year.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increased 26.4% to $282.2 million from $223.2 million in the prior year.
• 261 new Planet Fitness stores were opened system-wide during the year, bringing system-wide total stores to 2,001 as of December 31, 2019.

"2019 was filled with many important milestones and financial achievements," said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer. "We opened a company record 261 new stores system-wide and ended the year with 2,001 Planet Fitness locations and approximately 14.4 million members. Our ability to attract casual, first time gym users to our welcoming, non-intimidating fitness concept, combined with higher black card pricing, fueled an 8.8% improvement in system-wide same store sales on top of a 10.2% increase in 2018. Revenue in all three of our operating segments - Franchise, Corporate-Owned Stores and Equipment - grew double-digits in 2019, with Franchise, our highest margin segment, growing the fastest, which along with the repurchase of 6.1 million shares, helped drive a 30% increase in Adjusted net income per share, diluted⁽¹⁾ year-over-year. We begin 2020 with great momentum in our business, a long runway for growth, and an experienced group of franchisees eager to capitalize on the many opportunities that still lie ahead."

⁽¹⁾ Adjusted net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income per share, diluted are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income to U.S. GAAP ("GAAP") net income and a computation of Adjusted net income per share, diluted, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" accompanying this press release.

Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2019

For the fourth quarter of 2019, total revenue increased $17.2 million or 9.8% to $191.5 million from $174.4 million in the prior year period. By segment:

• Franchise segment revenue increased $16.7 million or 29.6% to $73.3 million from $56.6 million in the prior year period;
• Corporate-owned stores segment revenue increased $5.0 million or 13.7% to $41.2 million from $36.2 million in the prior year period, $3.1 million of which is from new corporate-owned stores opened or acquired since September 30, 2018; and
• Equipment segment revenue decreased $4.6 million or 5.6% to $77.0 million from $81.6 million in the prior year period, driven by a decrease in replacement equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores, partially offset by higher equipment sales to new franchisee-owned stores.

System-wide same store sales increased 8.6%. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 8.8% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 5.8%.

For the fourth quarter of 2019, net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $29.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of $24.8 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Net income was $34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $28.8 million in the prior year period. Adjusted net income increased 20.6% to $39.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, from $32.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 26.8% for the fourth quarter of 2019 and 26.3% for the prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased 23.0% to $76.6 million from $62.3 million in the prior year period.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

• Franchise segment EBITDA increased $12.0 million or 30.8% to $50.7 million, driven by royalties from new franchisee-owned stores opened since September 30, 2018, a higher average royalty rate by 46 basis points and higher same store sales of 8.8%;
• Corporate-owned stores segment EBITDA increased $0.5 million or 3.6% to $15.1 million; and
• Equipment segment EBITDA decreased by $0.3 million or 1.7% to $18.7 million.

Operating Results for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, total revenue increased $115.9 million or 20.2% to $688.8 million from $572.9 million in the prior year. By segment:

• Franchise segment revenue increased $53.4 million or 23.8% to $277.6 million from $224.1 million in the prior year;
• Corporate-owned stores segment revenue increased $21.1 million or 15.2% to $159.7 million from $138.6 million in the prior year, $10.7 million of which is from new corporate-owned stores opened or acquired since January 1, 2018; and
• Equipment segment revenue increased $41.4 million or 19.7% to $251.5 million from $210.2 million in the prior year, driven by an increase in equipment sales to new stores and an increase in replacement equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores.

System-wide same store sales increased 8.8%. By segment, franchisee-owned same store sales increased 9.0% and corporate-owned same store sales increased 6.1%.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $117.7 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. of $88.0 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, in the prior year. Net income was $135.4 million in 2019 compared to $103.2 million in the prior year. Adjusted net income increased 22.7% to $146.7 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, from $119.5 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 26.8% for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 26.3% for the prior year period and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased 26.4% to $282.2 million from $223.2 million in the prior year period.

Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").

• Franchise segment EBITDA increased $39.7 million or 26.0% to $192.3 million driven by royalties from new franchisee-owned stores opened since January 1, 2018, a higher average royalty rate and higher same store sales of 9.0%;
• Corporate-owned stores segment EBITDA increased $8.9 million or 15.7% to $65.6 million, driven primarily by additional stores opened and acquired since January 1, 2018, an increase in same store sales of 6.1% and higher annual fees; and
• Equipment segment EBITDA increased by $12.0 million or 25.2% to $59.6 million driven by an increase in equipment sales to new stores and an increase in replacement equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores.

Share Repurchase Program

On December 4, 2019, we entered into a $300 million accelerated share repurchase agreement (the "2019 ASR Agreement") with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMC"). We acquired shares under the 2019 ASR Agreement as part of our 2019 $500 million share repurchase authorization (the "2019 Share Repurchase Authorization"). On December 5, 2019, we paid JPMC $300 million in cash and received approximately 3.3 million shares of our Class A common stock. At final settlement, JPMC may be required to deliver additional shares to us, or, under certain circumstances, we may be required to deliver shares of our Class A common stock or may elect to make a cash payment to JPMC, based generally on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of our Class A common stock during the term of the 2019 ASR Agreement. The 2019 ASR Agreement contains provisions customary for agreements of this type, including provisions for adjustments to the transaction terms, the circumstances generally under which the 2019 ASR Agreement may be accelerated, extended or terminated early by JPMC and various acknowledgments, representations and warranties made by the parties to one another. Final settlement of the 2019 ASR Agreement is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2020, although the settlement may be accelerated at JPMC's option. Following this accelerated share repurchase there will is approximately $200 million remaining on the 2019 Share Repurchase Authorization.

2020 Outlook

For the year ending December 31, 2020, the Company expects:

• Total revenue increase of approximately 12% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019;
• System-wide same store sales of approximately 8%;
• Adjusted net income to increase approximately 10% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019; and
• Adjusted net income per diluted share to increase approximately 16% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.

Presentation of Financial Measures

Planet Fitness, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in March 2015 for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering (the "IPO") and related recapitalization transactions that occurred in August 2015, and in order to carry on the business of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC ("Pla-Fit Holdings") and its subsidiaries. As the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings, the Company operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, and through Pla-Fit Holdings, conducts its business. As a result, the Company consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings' financial results and reports a non-controlling interest related to the portion of Pla-Fit Holdings not owned by the Company.

The financial information presented in this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to provide measures that we believe are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar amounts or other unusual or nonrecurring items. See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in our full-year outlook will differ from net income and net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP in ways similar to those described in the reconciliations at the end of this press release. We do not provide guidance for net income or net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP or a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2020. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2020.

Same store sales refers to year-over-year sales comparisons for the same store sales base of both corporate-owned and franchisee-owned stores. We define the same store sales base to include those stores that have been open and for which monthly membership dues have been billed for longer than 12 months. We measure same store sales based solely upon monthly dues billed to members of our corporate-owned and franchisee-owned stores.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on February 25, 2020 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.planetfitness.com  via the "Investor Relations" link. The webcast will be archived on the website for one year.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2019, Planet Fitness had approximately 14.4 million members and 2,001 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include the Company's statements with respect to expected future performance presented under the heading "2020 Outlook," those attributed to the Company's Chief Executive Officer in this press release, the Company's statements about its share repurchase program and other statements, estimates and projections that do not relate solely to historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "goal," plan," "will," "prospects," "future," "strategy" and similar references to future periods, although not all forward-looking statements include these identifying words.  Forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties associated with competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain new members, the Company's and franchisees' ability to identify and secure suitable sites for new franchise stores, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets domestically and internationally, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial increased indebtedness as a result of our refinancing and securitization transactions and our ability to incur additional indebtedness or refinance that indebtedness in the future, our future financial performance and our ability to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, failures, interruptions or security breaches  of the Company's information systems or technology, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and, once available, the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's views only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Planet Fitness, Inc. and subsidiaries

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted (collectively, the "non-GAAP financial measures"). The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, are useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

EBITDA, Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

We refer to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as we use these measures to evaluate our operating performance and we believe these measures provide useful information to investors in evaluating our performance. We have also disclosed Segment EBITDA as an important financial metric utilized by the Company to evaluate performance and allocate resources to segments in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting. We define EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Segment EBITDA sums to Total Segment EBITDA, which is equal to the Non-GAAP financial metric EBITDA. We believe that EBITDA, which eliminates the impact of certain expenses that we do not believe reflect our underlying business performance, provides useful information to investors to assess the performance of our segments as well as the business as a whole. Our Board of Directors also uses EBITDA as a key metric to assess the performance of management. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain additional non-cash and other items that we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing performance of the Company's core operations. These items include certain purchase accounting adjustments, stock offering-related costs, and certain other charges and gains. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance in addition to EBITDA because it eliminates the impact of other items that we believe reduce the comparability of our underlying core business performance from period to period and is therefore useful to our investors in comparing the core performance of our business from period to period.

A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is set forth below.

A reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to Total Segment EBITDA is set forth below.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share

Adjusted net income assumes that all net income is attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc., which assumes the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units for shares of Class A common stock of Planet Fitness, Inc., adjusted for certain non-recurring items that we do not believe directly reflect our core operations. Adjusted net income per share, diluted, is calculated by dividing Adjusted net income by the total shares of Class A common stock outstanding plus any dilutive options and restricted stock units as calculated in accordance with GAAP and assuming the full exchange of all outstanding Holdings Units and corresponding Class B common stock as of the beginning of each period presented. Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent, and should not be considered, alternatives to net income and earnings per share, as calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, supplement GAAP measures and enable us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of Adjusted net income to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and the computation of Adjusted net income per share, diluted, are set forth below.

A reconciliation of net income per share, diluted, to Adjusted net income per share, diluted is set forth below for the three months and years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

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SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.