Shake Shack Announces Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Shake Shack Inc. (“Shake Shack” or the “Company”) (NYSE:SHAK) today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 27, 2017, a period that included 13 weeks.

Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter 2017:

• Total revenue increased 26.9% to $94.6 million.
• Shack sales increased 26.8% to $91.1 million.
• Same-Shack sales decreased 1.6%.
• Operating income increased 15.7% to $10.6 million, or 11.2% of total revenue.
• Shack-level operating profit*, a non-GAAP measure, increased 19.9% to $24.8 million, or 27.2% of Shack sales.
• Net income increased 15.9% to $7.9 million and net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. was $5.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, increased 19.9% to $18.2 million.
• Adjusted pro forma net income*, a non-GAAP measure, increased 13.1% to $6.2 million, or $0.17 per fully exchanged and diluted share.
• Nine system-wide Shack openings, including four domestic company-operated Shacks and five licensed Shacks.

* Shack-level operating profit, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted pro forma net income are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of Shack-level operating profit to operating income, adjusted EBITDA to net income, and adjusted pro forma net income to net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc., the most directly comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP, are set forth in the schedules accompanying this release. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Randy Garutti, Chief Executive Officer of Shake Shack, stated “During the third quarter, we delivered robust revenue and profit growth, with total revenue increasing 27% and adjusted EBITDA up 20%. We added nine new Shacks in both new and current markets at home and internationally. Given the strength of our development pipeline, we now expect to open 24 to 26 domestic company-operated Shacks and 18, net licensed Shacks this year, representing unit growth of approximately 39% and 36% respectively. Building on this momentum, we are stepping up our plans to make 2018 our biggest year of openings to date with 32 to 35 new domestic company-operated Shacks and 16 to 18, net new licensed Shacks. We continue to innovate and learn through our ever-increasing use of technology in the overall Shack experience, demonstrated most recently with our cashless, kiosk-only, and new kitchen design at Astor Place in New York City. This Shack is the representation of our relentless focus on excellence, experience and hospitality through innovation and you will continue to see more of this from us in the years to come.”

Development Highlights

During the quarter, the Company opened four domestic company-operated Shacks, including the Company's first Shack in San Antonio, Texas, as well as additional Shacks in Nevada, New Jersey and New York City. Additionally, the Company opened a domestic licensed Shack at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and four international licensed Shacks, which is comprised of the fourth Shack in Japan in the Shinjuku area and a fifth Shack in South Korea, as well as additional Shacks in Turkey and the Middle East. Also during the quarter, the Company announced plans to enter Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai, through a new partnership with Maxim's Caterers Limited.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company opened its first Shack in San Diego at UTC, additional Shacks in Washington D.C. and Dallas, as well as a Shack in New York City at Astor Place, which is the Company's first Shack featuring kiosk-only ordering. Additionally, the Company opened another international licensed Shack in Japan, in Yokohama, which is its first location outside of Tokyo, as well as Shacks in Bahrain and London.

Third Quarter 2017 Review

Total revenue, which includes Shack sales and licensing revenue, increased 26.9% to $94.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, from $74.6 million in the third quarter of 2016. Shack sales for the third quarter of 2017 were $91.1 million compared to $71.9 million in the same quarter last year, an increase of $19.2 million, or 26.8%, due primarily to the opening of 21 new domestic company-operated Shacks, partially offset by same-Shack sales decline of $0.9 million, as well as lost revenue due to hurricane-related Shack closures, which the Company estimates to be approximately $0.3 million. Licensing revenue for the third quarter was $3.5 million, an increase of 30.2% from $2.7 million in the same quarter last year, due primarily to the opening of new licensed Shacks.

Same-Shack sales decreased 1.6% for the third quarter of 2017 versus 2.9% growth in the third quarter last year. The decline in same-Shack sales, which excludes comparable period sales during hurricane-related Shack closures, consisted of a 3.8% decrease in guest traffic partially offset by a combined increase in price and sales mix of 2.2%. The comparable Shack base includes those restaurants open for 24 full fiscal months or longer. For the third quarter of 2017, the comparable Shack base included 39 Shacks versus 26 Shacks for the third quarter of 2016.

Average weekly sales for domestic company-operated Shacks decreased to $91,000 for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $103,000 the same quarter last year, primarily due to the addition of more Shacks at various volumes into the system.

Operating income increased 15.7% to $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2017 from $9.2 million in the same quarter last year. Operating income margins decreased 110 basis points to 11.2%. Shack-level operating profit, a non-GAAP measure, increased 19.9% to $24.8 million for the third quarter of 2017 from $20.7 million in the same quarter last year. As a percentage of Shack sales, Shack-level operating profit margins decreased 160 basis points to 27.2%. These decreases were primarily due to increased labor and related expenses resulting from increases in hourly wages that were implemented at the end of fiscal 2016 and investments in our management team to support future growth, as well as certain higher operating costs. A reconciliation of Shack-level operating profit to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the schedules accompanying this release. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

General and administrative expenses increased to $9.2 million for the third quarter of 2017 from $7.9 million in the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher payroll expense from increased headcount at the home office to support future growth plans and developer costs related to the Company's digital platforms. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expenses decreased to 9.7% for the third quarter of 2017 from 10.6% in the third quarter last year.

Net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. was $5.0 million, or 5.3% of total revenue, for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $3.8 million, or 5.1% of total revenue, for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share was $0.19 for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $0.15 for the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased 19.9% to $18.2 million. As a percentage of total revenue, adjusted EBITDA margins decreased approximately 110 basis points to 19.2% compared to 20.3% for the year ago period. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the schedules accompanying this release. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Adjusted pro forma net income, a non-GAAP measure, increased 13.1% to $6.2 million, or $0.17 per fully exchanged and diluted share during the third quarter of 2017, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.15 per fully exchanged and diluted share during the third quarter of 2016. A reconciliation of adjusted pro forma net income to net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc., the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the schedules accompanying this release. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Updated 2017 Outlook

For the fiscal year ending December 27, 2017, the Company is providing the following financial outlook:

• Total revenue between $354 million and $355 million (vs. $351 million to $355 million).
• Same-Shack sales decrease of between -1.5% and -2.0% (vs. -2% to -3%).
• Between 24 and 26 new domestic company-operated Shacks to be opened in fiscal 2017 (vs. 23 to 24).
• Increase to 18, net new licensed Shacks to be opened in fiscal 2017 (vs. 15, net).
• Shack-level operating profit margin between 26.5% and 27.0% (vs. 26.5% to 27.5%).
• General and administrative expenses between $38 million and $40 million.
• Depreciation expense of approximately $22 million.
• Interest expense between $1.6 million and $1.8 million (vs. $1.6 million to $2.0 million).
• Adjusted pro forma effective tax rate between 40% and 41% (excluding the impact from the recognition of windfall tax benefits related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09).

Preliminary 2018 Outlook

For the fiscal year ending December 26, 2018, the Company is providing the following financial outlook:

• Between 32 and 35 new domestic company-operated Shacks to be opened in fiscal 2018.
• Between 16 and 18, net new licensed Shacks to be opened in fiscal 2018.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2017 financial results today at 5:00 p.m. ET.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 397-5355 or for international callers by dialing (719) 325-2115. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 9941018. The replay will be available until November 8, 2017.

The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company's Investor Relations website at http://investor.shakeshack.com. An archive of the webcast will be available at the same location on the website shortly after the call has concluded.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release:

"Shack sales" is defined as the aggregate sales of food, beverages and Shake Shack branded merchandise at domestic company-operated Shacks and excludes sales from licensed Shacks.

"Same-Shack sales" represents Shack sales for the comparable Shack base, which is defined as the number of domestic company-operated Shacks open for 24 full fiscal months or longer. Effective December 29, 2016, the Company changed its methodology for calculating same-Shack sales whereby Shacks enter the comparable base at the beginning of their 25th full fiscal month, whereas previously they entered at the beginning of their 105th full fiscal week. Prior period amounts have been restated to conform to the current period methodology.

"Average weekly sales" is calculated by dividing total Shack sales by the number of operating weeks for all Shacks in operation during the period. For Shacks that are not open for the entire period, fractional adjustments are made to the number of operating weeks open such that it corresponds to the period of associated sales.

"Shack-level operating profit," a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Shack sales less Shack-level operating expenses including food and paper costs, labor and related expenses, other operating expenses and occupancy and related expenses.

"Shack-level operating profit margin," a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Shack sales less Shack-level operating expenses including food and paper costs, labor and related expenses, other operating expenses and occupancy and related expenses as a percentage of Shack sales.

“EBITDA,” a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income before interest expense (net of interest income), income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization expense.

“Adjusted EBITDA,” a non-GAAP measure, is defined as EBITDA (as defined above), excluding equity-based compensation expense, deferred rent expense, losses on the disposal of property and equipment, as well as certain non-recurring items that the Company does not believe directly reflect its core operations and may not be indicative of the Company's recurring business operations.

"Adjusted pro forma net income," a non-GAAP measure, represents net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. assuming the full exchange of all outstanding SSE Holdings, LLC membership interests ("LLC Interests") for shares of Class A common stock, adjusted for certain non-recurring items that the Company does not believe directly reflect its core operations.

About Shake Shack

Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers and flat-top beef dogs (no added hormones and no antibiotics ever), 100% all-natural cage-free chicken (no antibiotics ever), spun-fresh frozen custard, crinkle cut fries, craft beer and wine (available at select locations) and more. With its fresh, simple, high-quality food at a great value, Shake Shack is a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal. From its premium ingredients and caring hiring practices to its inspiring designs and deep community investment, Shake Shack’s mission is to Stand For Something Good®. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the company has opened multiple locations in 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as international locations including London, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul and more.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"), which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, expected financial outlook for fiscal 2017, expected Shack openings, expected same-Shack sales growth and trends in the Company’s operations. Forward-looking statements discuss the Company's current expectations and projections relating to their financial position, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "outlook," "potential," "project," "projection," "plan," "intend," "seek," "may," "could," "would," "will," "should," "can," "can have," "likely," the negatives thereof and other similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2016, as amended, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). All of the Company's SEC filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.shakeshake.com or upon request from Shake Shack Inc. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

SHAKE SHACK INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)

To supplement the consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: Shack-level operating profit, Shack-level operating profit margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted pro forma net income and adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share (collectively the "non-GAAP financial measures").

Shack-Level Operating Profit

Shack-level operating profit is defined as Shack sales less Shack-level operating expenses including food and paper costs, labor and related expenses, other operating expenses and occupancy and related expenses.

How This Measure Is Useful

When used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin are supplemental measures of operating performance that the Company believes are useful measures to evaluate the performance and profitability of its Shacks. Additionally, Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin are key metrics used internally by management to develop internal budgets and forecasts, as well as assess the performance of its Shacks relative to budget and against prior periods. It is also used to evaluate employee compensation as it serves as a metric in certain performance-based employee bonus arrangements. The Company believes presentation of Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin provides investors with a supplemental view of its operating performance that can provide meaningful insights to the underlying operating performance of the Shacks, as these measures depict the operating results that are directly impacted by the Shacks and exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, the ongoing operations of the Shacks. It may also assist investors to evaluate the Company's performance relative to peers of various sizes and maturities and provides greater transparency with respect to how management evaluates the business, as well as the financial and operational decision-making.

Limitations of the Usefulness of this Measure

Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies due to different methods of calculation. Presentation of Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Shack-level operating profit excludes certain costs, such as general and administrative expenses and pre-opening costs, which are considered normal, recurring cash operating expenses and are essential to support the operation and development of the Company's Shacks. Therefore, this measure may not provide a complete understanding of the Company's operating results as a whole and Shack-level operating profit and Shack-level operating profit margin should be reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of Shack-level operating profit to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth below.

SHAKE SHACK INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense (net of interest income), income tax expense and depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (as defined above) excluding equity-based compensation expense, deferred rent expense, losses on the disposal of property and equipment, as well as certain non-recurring items that the Company does not believe directly reflect its core operations and may not be indicative of the Company's recurring business operations.

How These Measures Are Useful

When used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that the Company believes are useful measures to facilitate comparisons to historical performance and competitors' operating results. Adjusted EBITDA is a key metric used internally by management to develop internal budgets and forecasts and also serves as a metric in its performance-based equity incentive programs and certain bonus arrangements. The Company believes presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provides investors with a supplemental view of the Company's operating performance that facilitates analysis and comparisons of its ongoing business operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of the Company's ongoing operating performance.

Limitations of the Usefulness of These Measures

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies due to different methods of calculation. Presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA exclude certain normal recurring expenses. Therefore, these measures may not provide a complete understanding of the Company's performance and should be reviewed in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is set forth below.

SHAKE SHACK INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)

Adjusted Pro Forma Net Income and Adjusted Pro Forma Earnings Per Fully Exchanged and Diluted Share

Adjusted pro forma net income represents net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. assuming the full exchange of all outstanding SSE Holdings, LLC membership interests ("LLC Interests") for shares of Class A common stock, adjusted for certain non-recurring items that the Company doesn't believe directly reflect its core operations and may not be indicative of recurring business operations. Adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share is calculated by dividing adjusted pro forma net income by the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, assuming the full exchange of all outstanding LLC Interests, after giving effect to the dilutive effect of outstanding equity-based awards.

How These Measures Are Useful

When used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, adjusted pro forma net income and adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share are supplemental measures of operating performance that the Company believes are useful measures to evaluate performance period over period and relative to its competitors. By assuming the full exchange of all outstanding LLC Interests, the Company believes these measures facilitate comparisons with other companies that have different organizational and tax structures, as well as comparisons period over period because it eliminates the effect of any changes in net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. driven by increases in its ownership of SSE Holdings, which are unrelated to the Company's operating performance, and excludes items that are non-recurring or may not be indicative of ongoing operating performance.

Limitations of the Usefulness of These Measures

Adjusted pro forma net income and adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies due to different methods of calculation. Presentation of adjusted pro forma net income and adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share should not be considered alternatives to net income and earnings per share, as determined under GAAP. While these measures are useful in evaluating the Company's performance, it does not account for the earnings attributable to the non-controlling interest holders and therefore does not provide a complete understanding of the net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc. Adjusted pro forma net income and adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share should be evaluated in conjunction with GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of adjusted pro forma net income to net income attributable to Shake Shack Inc., the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and the computation of adjusted pro forma earnings per fully exchanged and diluted share are set forth below.

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Investors:
ICR
Melissa Calandruccio
Michelle Michalski
(844) SHACK-04 (844-742-2504)
[email protected]
or
Media:
Shake Shack
Edwin Bragg
(646) 747-6654
[email protected]