Arcos Dorados Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Comparable Sales and Provides an Outlook For 2021
Arcos Dorados (NYSE: ARCO), the largest restaurant chain in Latin America and the world's largest independent McDonald's franchisee, reported its systemwide comparable sales for Q4 and FY 2020, announcing a significant recovery in sales despite pandemic challenges. For 2021, the company plans to open 40-50 new restaurants, primarily in Brazil, and maintain an effective royalty rate of 5.3% from McDonald's. The firm also foresees improved operating cash flow and profitability due to disciplined cost management and anticipated sales growth.
- Plans to open 40-50 new restaurants in 2021, mainly in Brazil.
- Expecting to maintain an effective royalty rate of 5.3% from McDonald's, down from 6%.
- Projected improvement in operating cash flow as sales recover.
- (4.5)% decrease in 2020 systemwide comparable sales in Brazil.
- (51.0)% decline in Caribbean region sales.
- Sales were irregular throughout 2020 due to pandemic disruptions.
Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ARCO) (“Arcos Dorados” or the “Company”), Latin America’s largest restaurant chain and the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, today reported its systemwide comparable sales results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020, ahead of its quarterly earnings announcement planned for March 17, 2021. The Company also provided a business update, including its outlook and strategic priorities for the full year 2021.
“We begin this new calendar year with renewed optimism for our business and the McDonald’s brand in Latin America. The lessons learned in 2020 have undoubtedly served to unite our team as well as bring us closer to the guests and communities we serve. Although we have not yet reached the Full Revival Phase of our plan, we expect to do so this year and Arcos Dorados is clearly the best-positioned restaurant operator in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2021, we plan to gain meaningful market share, resume normalized operations and self-fund investments in unit growth as well as extending our significant lead in the industry’s digital race,” said Marcelo Rabach, Arcos Dorados’ Chief Executive Officer.
“This starts with being recognized as the safest restaurant experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, supported by our McProtegidos (McSafe) Program. We will build on our Three D’s strategy, leveraging our unmatched Drive-Thru restaurant footprint, evolving our leading Delivery platform and expanding our Digital capabilities. We expect to deliver sales growth with our compelling portfolio of core products and the resumption of a strong family-oriented marketing calendar in 2021. We have also reached an agreement with McDonald’s to receive Growth Support, which is expected to keep the 2021 effective royalty rate at about
2020 Systemwide Comparable Sales by Division, excl. Venezuela
| Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||
| 2020 Quarter Ended | Full Year | ||||||||
| March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | 2020 |
|||||
| Systemwide Comparable Sales | |||||||||
| Brazil | (6.0)% |
|
(46.3)% |
(26.2)% |
|
(10.6)% |
|
(21.8)% |
|
| Caribbean, excl. Venezuela | (10.2)% |
|
(40.4)% |
|
|
|
|
(10.4)% |
|
| NOLAD | (6.3)% |
|
(50.7)% |
(35.6)% |
|
(14.8)% |
|
(27.0)% |
|
| SLAD |
|
|
(68.2)% |
(37.8)% |
|
(3.0)% |
|
(26.7)% |
|
| TOTAL, excl. Venezuela | (4.5)% |
|
(51.0)% |
(27.2)% |
|
(7.9)% |
|
(22.3)% |
|
Arcos Dorados’ presents consolidated and Caribbean division results excluding Venezuela due to the heavy distortions caused by Venezuela’s macroeconomic volatility, including the ongoing hyperinflationary environment and its heavily regulated currency.
The sequential improvement in quarterly sales performance established during the third quarter continued during the fourth quarter, despite the difficult comparison with the strong finish in 2019. The Company was able to operate at least one sales segment in nearly all restaurants, as well as the vast majority of its dessert centers, throughout most of the quarter.
2021 Outlook
The Company’s 2021 Outlook reflects its current expectations, which are subject to a series of variables outside its control. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this outlook.
Openings and Modernizations
The Company expects to open between forty and fifty new restaurants in 2021. At least
Capital Expenditures
Arcos Dorados’ development capital expenditures include the opening of new restaurants, dessert centers and McCafés as well as the maintenance and modernization of existing restaurants. The Company also invests in non-development capital expenditures related to its information technology licenses, infrastructure and digital capabilities. For 2021, the Company expects total capital expenditures to be between
McDonald’s – Master Franchise Agreement (“MFA”) and Growth Support
On December 18, 2020, the Company reached an agreement with McDonald’s Corporation (“McDonald’s”) in-line with the above outlooks for new restaurant openings and capital expenditures in 2021. As part of the agreement, McDonald’s will also provide the Company with Growth Support during the year, which is expected to result in a consolidated effective royalty rate of about
Capital Structure
The Company expects to report a year-end 2020 Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio better than previously projected. Mainly as a result of a projected recovery in its Adjusted EBITDA, the Company continues to expect its year-end 2021 Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio to approach the high end of its historical target range of 2.0x to 2.5x.
On December 11, 2020, the Company renewed its
For additional details on the composition of its debt, please refer to the Company’s filings with the SEC on forms 6-K and 20-F as well as its investor website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir.
Investor Update Webcast
A webcast to discuss the information contained in this press release will be held today, January 21, 2021, at 10 a.m. EST. In order to access the webcast, members of the investment community should follow this link Arcos Dorados Investor Update.
A replay of the webcast will be available later today through March 21, 2021 in the investor section of the Company’s website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir.
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Definitions:
Systemwide comparable sales growth: refers to the change, measured in constant currency, in our Company-operated and franchised restaurant sales in one period from a comparable period for restaurants that have been open for thirteen months or longer. While sales by our franchisees are not recorded as revenues by us, we believe the information is important in understanding our financial performance because these sales are the basis on which we calculate and record franchised revenues and are indicative of the financial health of our franchisee base.
Constant currency basis: refers to amounts calculated using the same exchange rate over the periods under comparison to remove the effects of currency fluctuations from this trend analysis. To better discern underlying business trends, this release uses non-GAAP financial measures that segregate year-over-year growth into two categories: (i) currency translation, (ii) constant currency growth. (i) Currency translation reflects the impact on growth of the appreciation or depreciation of the local currencies in which we conduct our business against the US dollar (the currency in which our financial statements are prepared). (ii) Constant currency growth reflects the underlying growth of the business excluding the effect from currency translation.
Excluding Venezuela basis: due to the ongoing political and macroeconomic uncertainty prevailing in Venezuela, and in order to provide greater clarity and visibility on the Company’s financial and operating overall performance, this release focuses on the results on an “Excluding-Venezuela” basis, which is non-GAAP measure.
Adjusted EBITDA: In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with the general accepted accounting principles (GAAP), within this press release and the accompanying tables, we use a non-GAAP financial measure titled ‘Adjusted EBITDA’. We use Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as our operating income plus depreciation and amortization plus/minus the following losses/gains included within other operating income (expenses), net, and within general and administrative expenses in our statement of income: gains from sale or insurance recovery of property and equipment; write-offs of property and equipment; impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill; reorganization and optimization plan expenses; and incremental compensation related to the modification of our 2008 long-term incentive plan.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA facilitates company-to-company operating performance comparisons by backing out potential differences caused by variations such as capital structures (affecting net interest expense and other financial charges), taxation (affecting income tax expense) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense), which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to operating performance. For more information, please see Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation in Note 9 of our previous quarter-end financial statements (6-K Form) filed with the S.E.C.
About Arcos Dorados
Arcos Dorados is the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and grant franchises of McDonald’s restaurants in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories with more than 2,200 restaurants, operated by the Company or by its sub-franchisees, that together employ over 100 thousand people (as of 09/30/2020). The Company is also committed to the development of the communities in which it operates, to providing young people their first formal job opportunities and to utilize its Scale for Good to achieve a positive environmental impact. Arcos Dorados is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). To learn more about the Company, please visit the Investors section of our website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements about the Company’s business prospects, its ability to attract customers, its affordable platform, its expectation for revenue generation and its outlook and guidance for 2021. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in Arcos Dorados' business. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, Arcos Dorados' business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Arcos Dorados, which could result in Arcos Dorados' expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Arcos Dorados. Additional information relating to the uncertainties affecting Arcos Dorados' business is contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Arcos Dorados does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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