Bowlero Reports First Quarter Results for Fiscal Year 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) reported strong first quarter fiscal 2025 results with revenue increasing 14.4% to $260.2 million. Total Location Revenue grew 17.5% year-over-year, while Same Store Revenue increased 0.4%. Net income reached $23.1 million, up from $18.2 million, and Adjusted EBITDA rose to $62.9 million. The company expanded through acquisitions including Boomers Parks and Spectrum Entertainment Complex, plus opened new Lucky Strike locations. Bowlero raised its FY2025 revenue guidance to $1.23-1.28 billion with expected Adjusted EBITDA of $390-430 million. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.055 per share.

Positive

• Revenue increased 14.4% YoY to $260.2 million
• Net income grew 27% to $23.1 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 20.7% to $62.9 million
• Total Location Revenue grew 17.5% YoY
• Raised low end of FY2025 revenue guidance by $10 million
• Record cash flow from operations in Q1
• Successful expansion through strategic acquisitions

Negative

• Modest Same Store Revenue growth of only 0.4% YoY

Insights

Financial Analyst

Bowlero delivered strong Q1 FY2025 results with $260.2M revenue, up 14.4% YoY and improved profitability with net income reaching $23.1M. The company's strategic acquisitions of Boomers Parks and expansion through new Lucky Strike locations demonstrate aggressive growth. Key positives include 17.5% total location revenue growth and improved Adjusted EBITDA of $62.9M.

The raised revenue guidance of $1.23B to $1.28B and targeted Adjusted EBITDA margin of 32-34% reflects management's confidence. The company's focus on operational efficiencies and mobile ordering implementation across all locations suggests potential for margin expansion. The active share buyback program and quarterly dividend of $0.055 per share indicate strong cash flow generation and commitment to shareholder returns.

Market Research Analyst

The acquisition strategy is paying off with strong performance from Raging Waves waterpark and strategic additions in key markets. The expansion into family entertainment centers through Boomers Parks acquisition positions Bowlero well in the growing location-based entertainment sector. While same-store revenue growth was modest at 0.4%, the focus on increasing customer wallet share through enhanced food, beverage and experiential offerings shows promise.

The company's reformatted income statement providing visibility into revenue segments and 4-wall profitability demonstrates improved transparency for investors. With $156M remaining in the share repurchase program and a robust M&A pipeline, Bowlero is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory while maintaining operational excellence.

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) (“Bowlero” or the “Company”), one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment, today provided financial results for the first quarter of the 2025 Fiscal Year, which ended on September 29, 2024.

Quarter Highlights:

• Revenue increased 14.4% to $260.2 million from $227.4 million in the previous year
• Total Location Revenue increased 17.5% versus the prior year
• Same Store Revenue increased 0.4% versus the prior year
• Net income of $23.1 million versus prior year income of $18.2 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $62.9 million versus $52.1 million in the prior year
• From July 1, 2024 through November 4, 2024, opened two new builds and acquired one bowling location, five family entertainment centers and one water park. Total locations in operation as of November 4, 2024 is 361¹

“Total Location Revenue grew 17.5% year over year in the quarter as we outperformed the market driven by increased customer wallet share through heightened food, beverage, and experiential offerings,” said Founder, Chairman, and CEO Thomas Shannon. “Raging Waves, the largest waterpark in Illinois, outperformed expectations throughout the summer, in part from an expanded season pass offering. We acquired Boomers Parks, a leading family entertainment center brand in California and Florida. In addition, we recently acquired Spectrum Entertainment Complex, a 52-lane bowling and events venue near Grand Rapids, Michigan, and opened two Lucky Strike locations in Denver. We expect to open the flagship Lucky Strike Beverly Hills and Lucky Strike Ladera Ranch California, shortly. The M&A market is extremely active, and we look to continue to deploy capital at attractive returns through our long-proven underwriting process and operational excellence.”

“Cash flow from operations in the quarter was a record for the seasonally small first quarter as we focus on operational efficiencies to expand margins and improve cash flow conversion. Mobile ordering is now available in all locations. We also have reformatted our income statement to provide investors new visibility into revenue segments and 4-wall profitability,” added Bobby Lavan, Chief Financial Officer.

Share Repurchase and Capital Return Program Update

From July 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 0.8 million shares of Class A common stock for approximately $8 million. The company has $156 million currently remaining under the share repurchase program.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per share of common stock for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The dividend will be payable on December 6, 2024, to stockholders of record on November 22, 2024.

Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance

After completing the first quarter, Bowlero is increasing the low end of its total revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025 by $10 million. We expect total Revenue to be up mid-single digits to 10%+ year-over-year, which equates to $1.23 billion to $1.28 billion of total Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be 32% to 34%, which equates to Adjusted EBITDA of $390 million to $430 million.

Investor Webcast Information

Listeners may access an investor webcast hosted by Bowlero. The webcast and results presentation will be accessible at 4:30 PM ET on November 4, 2024 in the Events & Presentations section of the Bowlero Investor Relations website at https://ir.bowlerocorp.com/overview/default.aspx.

About Bowlero Corp.

Bowlero Corporation is one of the world’s premier operators of location-based entertainment. With over 360 locations across North America, including bowling and our other location-based entertainment offerings like Octane Raceway, Raging Waves water park and Boomers Parks, the Company serves more than 40 million guest visits annually through a family of brands that include Lucky Strike, Bowlero and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe. For more information on Bowlero, please visit BowleroCorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risk, assumptions and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and forecasts. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "anticipate," "believe," “confident,” “continue,” "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," “likely,” "may," "plan," “possible,” "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: our ability to design and execute our business strategy; changes in consumer preferences and buying patterns; our ability to compete in our markets; the occurrence of unfavorable publicity; risks associated with long-term non-cancellable leases for our locations; our ability to retain key managers; risks associated with our substantial indebtedness and limitations on future sources of liquidity; our ability to carry out our expansion plans; our ability to successfully defend litigation brought against us; our ability to adequately obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights and claims of intellectual property and proprietary right infringement, misappropriation or other violation by competitors and third parties; failure to hire and retain qualified employees and personnel; the cost and availability of commodities and other products we need to operate our business; cybersecurity breaches, cyber-attacks and other interruptions to our and our third-party service providers’ technological and physical infrastructures; catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other conflicts; public health emergencies and pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or natural catastrophes and accidents; changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; fluctuations in our operating results; economic conditions, including the impact of increasing interest rates, inflation and recession; and other factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company on September 5, 2024, as well as other filings that the Company will make, or has made, with the SEC, such as Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in other filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with information in addition to our results as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we disclose Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue, Total Location Revenue, Same Store Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as “non-GAAP measures”, which management believes provide useful information to investors because each measure assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period, and management relies on these measures for planning and forecasting of future periods. Additionally, these measures allow management to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing and capital structures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for revenue, net income, or any other operating performance or liquidity measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies. Our fiscal year 2025 guidance measures (other than revenue) are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because the Company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Such items include, but are not limited to, acquisition related expenses, share-based compensation and other items not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.

Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue represents total Revenue less Service Fee Revenue. Total Location Revenue represents total Revenue less Non-Location Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Locations, and Service Fee Revenue, if applicable. Same Store Revenue represents total Revenue less Non-Location Related Revenue, Revenue from Closed Locations, Service Fee Revenue, if applicable, and Acquired Revenue. Adjusted EBITDA represents Net Income (Loss) before Interest Expense, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, Impairment and Other Charges, Share-based Compensation, EBITDA from Closed Locations, Foreign Currency Exchange Loss (Gain), Asset Disposition Loss (Gain), Transactional and other advisory costs, changes in the value of earnouts, and other.

The Company considers Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with consumer discretionary spending and Total Location Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of revenue directly associated with location operations. The Company also considers Same Store Revenue as an important financial measure because it provides comparable revenue for locations open for the entire duration of both the current and comparable measurement periods.

The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA as an important financial measure because it provides a financial measure of the quality of the Company’s earnings. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, which might limit its usefulness as a comparative measure. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management in addition to and in conjunction with the results presented in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations and assists investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Adjusted EBITDA:

• do not reflect every expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• do not reflect changes in our working capital needs;
• do not reflect the interest expense, or the amounts necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt;
• do not reflect income tax (benefit) expense, and because the payment of taxes is part of our operations, tax expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to operate;
• do not reflect non-cash equity compensation, which will remain a key element of our overall equity based compensation package; and
• do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations.

¹ Two properties from a recent acquisition are excluded from the count

GAAP Financial Information

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	September 29, 2024				June 30, 2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,448			$	66,972
Accounts and notes receivable, net		5,666				6,757
Inventories, net		13,650				13,171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		30,365				25,316
Assets held-for-sale		20				1,746
Total current assets		88,149				113,962
Property and equipment, net		892,782				887,738
Operating lease right of use assets		554,474				559,168
Finance lease right of use assets, net		520,218				524,392
Intangible assets, net		45,111				47,051
Goodwill		833,961				833,888
Deferred income tax asset		122,847				112,106
Other assets		34,884				35,730
Total assets	$	3,092,426			$	3,114,035
Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	146,022			$	135,784
Current maturities of long-term debt		9,106				9,163
Current obligations of operating lease liabilities		28,811				28,460
Other current liabilities		8,381				9,399
Total current liabilities		192,320				182,806
Long-term debt, net		1,130,141				1,129,523
Long-term obligations of operating lease liabilities		567,209				561,916
Long-term obligations of finance lease liabilities		681,222				680,213
Long-term financing obligations		442,980				440,875
Earnout liability		88,741				137,636
Other long-term liabilities		26,093				26,471
Deferred income tax liabilities		4,129				4,447
Total liabilities		3,132,835				3,163,887
Commitments and Contingencies
	September 29, 2024				June 30, 2024
Temporary Equity
Series A preferred stock	$	123,918			$	127,410
Stockholders’ Deficit
Class A common stock		11				11
Class B common stock		6				6
Additional paid-in capital		509,929				510,675
Treasury stock, at cost		(392,735	)			(385,015	)
Accumulated deficit		(280,064	)			(303,159	)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(1,474	)			220
Total stockholders’ deficit		(164,327	)			(177,262	)
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ deficit	$	3,092,426			$	3,114,035

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	September 29, 2024				October 1, 2023
Revenues
Bowling	$	122,203			$	116,430
Food & beverage		88,039				74,913
Amusement & other		49,953				36,062
Total revenues		260,195				227,405
Costs and expenses
Location operating costs, excluding depreciation and amortization		86,228				73,373
Location payroll and benefit costs		67,436				63,054
Location food and beverage costs		20,530				16,685
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization		34,811				38,124
Depreciation and amortization		36,983				31,352
Loss (gain) on impairment and disposal of fixed assets, net		1,472				(1	)
Other operating income, net		(211	)			(538	)
Total costs and expenses		247,249				222,049
Operating income		12,946				5,356
Other (income) expenses
Interest expense, net		48,670				37,449
Change in fair value of earnout liability		(48,921	)			(40,682	)
Other expense		—				53
Total other income		(251	)			(3,180	)
Income before income tax benefit		13,197				8,536
Income tax benefit		(9,898	)			(9,683	)
Net income	$	23,095			$	18,219

Bowlero Corp.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	September 29, 2024				October 1, 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	29,413			$	16,083
Net cash used in investing activities		(39,924	)			(176,576	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(17,806	)			5,091
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(207	)			(143	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(28,524	)			(155,545	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		66,972				195,633
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	38,448			$	40,088

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 29, 2024 and June 30, 2024, our calculation of net debt was as follows:

(in thousands)		September 29, 2024				June 30, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents		$	38,448			$	66,972
Bank debt and loans			1,151,951				1,152,200
Net debt		$	1,113,503			$	1,085,228

As of September 29, 2024 and June 30, 2024, our cash on hand and revolving borrowing capacity was as follows:

(in thousands)		September 29, 2024				June 30, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents		$	38,448			$	66,972
Revolver Capacity			335,000				285,000
Revolver capacity committed to letters of credit			(18,584	)			(15,834	)
Total cash on hand and revolving borrowing capacity		$	354,864			$	336,138

GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations

		Same Store Revenue
		Three Months Ended
(in thousands)		October 1, 2023				September 29, 2024
Total Revenue - Reported		$	227,405			$	260,195
less: Service Fee Revenue			(1,621	)			(650	)
Revenue Excluding Service Fee Revenue		$	225,784			$	259,545
less: Non-Location Related (including Closed Centers)			(7,985	)			(3,597	)
Total Location Revenue		$	217,799			$	255,948
less: Acquired Revenue			(1,211	)			(38,425	)
Same Store Revenue		$	216,588			$	217,523
% Year-over-Year Change
Total Revenue – Reported							14.4	%
Total Revenue excluding Service Fee Revenue							15.0	%
Total Location Revenue							17.5	%
Same Store Revenue							0.4	%

		Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
		Three Months Ended
(in thousands)		September 29, 2024				October 1, 2023
Consolidated
Revenue		$	260,195			$	227,405
Net income - GAAP			23,095				18,219
Net income margin			8.9	%			8.0	%
Adjustments:
Interest expense			48,670				39,032
Income tax benefit			(9,898	)			(9,683	)
Depreciation and amortization			37,437				32,000
Loss (gain) on impairment, disposals, and other charges, net			1,472				(1	)
Share-based compensation			4,503				1,911
Closed location EBITDA (1)			2,205				2,462
Transactional and other advisory costs (2)			3,259				8,398
Changes in the value of earnouts (3)			(48,921	)			(40,682	)
Other, net (4)			1,121				478
Adjusted EBITDA		$	62,943			$	52,134
Adjusted EBITDA Margin			24.2	%			22.9	%

[1]		The closed location adjustment is to remove EBITDA for closed locations. Closed locations are those locations that are closed for a variety of reasons, including permanent closure, newly acquired or built locations prior to opening, locations closed for renovation or rebranding and conversion. If a location is not open on the last day of the reporting period, it will be considered closed for that reporting period. If the location is closed on the first day of the reporting period for permanent closure, the location will be considered closed for that reporting period.
[2]		The adjustment for transaction costs and other advisory costs is to remove charges incurred in connection with any transaction, including mergers, acquisitions, refinancing, amendment or modification to indebtedness, dispositions and costs in connection with an initial public offering, in each case, regardless of whether consummated.
[3]		The adjustment for changes in the value of earnouts is to remove of the impact of the revaluation of the earnouts. Changes in the fair value of the earnout liability is recognized in the statement of operations. Decreases in the liability will have a favorable impact on the statement of operations and increases in the liability will have an unfavorable impact.
[4]		Other includes the following related to transactions that do not represent ongoing or frequently recurring activities as part of the Company’s operations: (i) non-routine expenses, net of recoveries for matters outside the normal course of business, (ii) costs incurred that have been expensed associated with obtaining an equity method investment in a subsidiary of VICI, (iii) severance expense, and (iv) other individually de minimis expenses. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

 

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Bowlero Corp. Investor Relations

IR@BowleroCorp.com

Source: Bowlero Corp

FAQ

What was Bowlero's (BOWL) revenue growth in Q1 FY2025?

Bowlero reported revenue growth of 14.4% year-over-year, reaching $260.2 million in Q1 FY2025.

What is Bowlero's (BOWL) revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025?

Bowlero expects total revenue of $1.23-1.28 billion for FY2025, representing mid-single digits to 10%+ year-over-year growth.

How much did Bowlero (BOWL) spend on share repurchases in Q1 FY2025?

From July 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024, Bowlero repurchased 0.8 million shares for approximately $8 million.

What is Bowlero's (BOWL) quarterly dividend for Q2 FY2025?

Bowlero declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per share, payable on December 6, 2024.