CHICAGO, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Potbelly Corporation (NASDAQ: PBPB) today reported financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019.

Key highlights for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2019 compared to the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 include:

• Total revenues decreased 4.7% to $98.1 million from $102.9 million.
• Company-operated comparable store sales decreased 4.7%.
• Three new shops opened, including one new company-operated shop and two franchised shops; eight shops closed, including seven company-operated shops and one franchised shop.
• GAAP net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation was $18.4 million, inclusive of a $13.6 million charge related to a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and a $0.0 impairment charge compared to a loss of $2.2 million, inclusive of a $0.0 million charge related to a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and a $2.0 million impairment charge. GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.76 compared to a GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.09.
• Adjusted net loss¹ attributable to Potbelly Corporation was $3.0 million compared to adjusted net income of $0.7 million. Adjusted diluted EPS¹ was a loss of $0.12 compared to adjusted diluted EPS of $0.03.
• EBITDA¹ decreased to $0.7 million from $3.2 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ decreased to $3.9 million from $7.6 million.

Alan Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Potbelly Corporation, commented, "Our company-operated same store sales were negatively impacted by the government shutdown and the unseasonably cold temperatures across our key markets during the first half of the first quarter. Consequently, we delivered revenue of $98.1 million, adjusted EBITDA of $3.9 million, and adjusted net loss of $0.12 per share in the first quarter of 2019.”

Johnson continued, “Despite the soft start to the year, we maintain our relentless focus on executing our strategic initiatives to turn around the business. We are encouraged by the many initiatives that are working, led by our menu optimization initiative which has exceeded our expectations, consistent growth in our off-premise business, growth in our Potbelly Perks registrants and greater customer engagement and loyalty, and the significant progress we have made in the development of our Shop of the Future concept.  We are encouraged by the positive momentum in our franchise pipeline in the first quarter, where we signed two new franchisees with plans to open over 20 new shops over the next few years, which is about half the number of domestic units we have today.  Unfortunately, the incremental advertising investment that we launched in the second quarter has not generated the expected returns.  As a result, we are taking a step back to assess our marketing effort, and we expect to take our learnings and apply them with a fresh approach to drive a more productive outcome.”

2019 Outlook

For the full fiscal year of 2019, management currently expects:

• 12-18 total shop openings, including 6-8 company-operated shop openings;
• 15-22 total shop closures, including 9-12 company-operated shop closures;
• Flat to low-single digit decrease in company-operated comparable store sales; and
• Adjusted EBITDA between $25.0-$30.0 million, excluding the impact of ASC 842.

Projected adjusted EBITDA set forth above is a measure not recognized under GAAP. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Conference Call

A conference call and audio webcast has been scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss these results. Details of the conference call are as follows:

Date:	Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Time:	5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dial-In #:	877-407-0784 U.S. & Canada
	201-689-8560  International
Confirmation code:	13689666

Alternatively, the conference call will be webcast at www.potbelly.com on the “Investor Relations” webpage. For those unable to participate, an audio replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 through midnight Tuesday, May 14, 2019. To access the replay, please call 844-512-2921 (U.S. & Canada) or 412-317-6671 (International) and enter confirmation code 13689666.  A web-based archive of the conference call will also be available at the above website.

About Potbelly

Potbelly Corporation is a neighborhood sandwich concept that has been feeding customers’ smiles with warm, toasty sandwiches, signature salads, hand-dipped shakes and other fresh menu items, customized just the way customers want them, for more than 40 years.  Potbelly promises Fresh, Fast & Friendly service in an environment that reflects the local neighborhood.  Since opening its first shop in Chicago in 1977, Potbelly has expanded to neighborhoods across the country - with more than 400 company-owned shops in the United States. Additionally, Potbelly franchisees operate approximately 50 shops domestically and in the Middle East. For more information, please visit our website at www.potbelly.com.

Definitions

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

• Revenues – represents net company-operated sandwich shop sales and our franchise operations. Net company-operated shop sales consist of food and beverage sales, net of promotional allowances and employee meals. Franchise royalties and fees consist of an initial franchise fee, a franchise development agreement fee and royalty income from the franchisee.
• Company-operated comparable store sales – represents the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable company-operated store base open for 15 months or longer.
• EBITDA – represents income before depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense and the provision for income taxes.
• Adjusted EBITDA – represents income before depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense and the provision for income taxes, adjusted to eliminate the impact of other items, including certain non-cash as well as other items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance.
• Adjusted net income (loss) – represents net income (loss), excluding impairment, gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment and store closure expense, as well as other items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance.
• Shop-level profit – represents income (loss) from operations less franchise royalties and fees, general and administrative expenses, depreciation expense, pre-opening costs and impairment and loss on the disposal of property and equipment.
• Shop-level profit margin – represents shop-level profit expressed as a percentage of net company-operated sandwich shop sales.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share – represents net income (loss), excluding impairment, gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment and store closure expense on a fully diluted per share basis as well as other items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance.

¹Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Within this press release, we make reference to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, shop-level profit and shop-level profit margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company includes these non-GAAP financial measures because management believes they are useful to investors in that they provide for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

Management uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income to evaluate the Company’s performance and in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income exclude the impact of certain non-cash charges and other special items that affect the comparability of results in past quarters. Management uses shop-level profit and shop-level profit margin as key metrics to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at our shops, to evaluate our shop performance across periods and to evaluate our shop financial performance against our competitors.

Accordingly, the Company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, is a useful financial analysis tool that can assist investors in assessing the Company’s operating performance and underlying prospects. This analysis should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. This analysis, as well as the other information in this press release, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and footnotes contained in the documents that the Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company in this press release may be different from the methods used by other companies. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the table, “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures.”

This press release includes certain non-GAAP forward-looking information (including, but not limited to under the heading “2018 Outlook”), namely adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company believes that a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking information to the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP cannot be made available without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures would require the Company to predict the timing and likelihood of outcomes that determine future impairments and the tax benefit of any such future impairments. Neither of these measures, nor their probable significance, can be reliably quantified due to the inability to forecast future impairments.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, written, oral or otherwise made, represent the Company’s expectation or belief concerning future events. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “strives,” “goal,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “projects” or “anticipates” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements relating to: our future financial position and results of operations, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations. By nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statement, due to reasons including, but not limited to, competition; general economic conditions; our ability to successfully implement our business strategy; the success of our initiatives to increase sales and traffic; changes in commodity, energy and other costs; our ability to attract and retain management and employees; consumer reaction to industry-related public health issues and perceptions of food safety; our ability to manage our growth; reputational and brand issues; price and availability of commodities; consumer confidence and spending patterns; and weather conditions. In addition, there may be other factors of which we are presently unaware or that we currently deem immaterial that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the results referenced in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations are reasonable, we may not achieve our plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and currently available data and are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events or performance. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements” included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other risk factors described from time to time in subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are available on our website at www.potbelly.com. 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.

Contact:	Investor Relations
	Investors@Potbelly.com
	312-428-2950

Potbelly Corporation Consolidated Statements of Operations and Margin Analysis – Unaudited (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
		For the 13 Weeks Ended
		March 31,				% of			April 1,				% of
		2019				Revenue			2018				Revenue
Revenues
Sandwich shop sales, net		$	97,258			99.2	%		$	102,247			99.3	%
Franchise royalties and fees			829			0.8				670			0.7
Total revenues			98,087			100.0				102,917			100.0
Expenses
Sandwich shop operating expenses
Cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation			25,978			26.5				26,636			25.9
Labor and related expenses			31,973			32.6				31,579			30.7
Occupancy expenses			14,377			14.7				14,726			14.3
Other operating expenses			12,145			12.4				12,500			12.1
General and administrative expenses			12,709			13.0				12,188			11.8
Depreciation expense			5,536			5.6				5,826			5.7
Pre-opening costs			10			*				68			*
Impairment and loss on disposal of property and equipment			82			*				2,024			2.0
Total expenses			102,810			>100				105,547			>100
Loss from operations			(4,723	)		(4.8	)			(2,630	)		(2.6	)
Interest expense			32			*				27			*
Loss before income taxes			(4,755	)		(4.8	)			(2,657	)		(2.6	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			13,619			13.9				(504	)		(0.5	)
Net loss			(18,374	)		(18.7	)			(2,153	)		(2.1	)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest			65			*				41			*
Net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation		$	(18,439	)		(18.8	)%		$	(2,194	)		(2.1	)%
Net loss per common share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic		$	(0.76	)					$	(0.09	)
Diluted		$	(0.76	)					$	(0.09	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			24,133,038							25,144,855
Diluted			24,133,038							25,144,855
________________________ *  Amount is less than 0.1%

Potbelly Corporation Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures – Unaudited (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
		For the 13 Weeks Ended
		March 31,				April 1,
		2019				2018
Net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation, as reported		$	(18,439	)		$	(2,194	)
Impairment, loss on disposal of property and equipment and shop closures(1)			2,438				2,598
CEO transition costs(2)			—				342
Proxy related costs(3)			(127	)			608
Restructuring costs(4)			345				—
Income tax valuation allowance(5)			13,385				—
Tax impact(6)			(611	)			(694	)
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Potbelly Corporation		$	(3,009	)		$	660
Net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation per share, basic		$	(0.76	)		$	(0.09	)
Net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation per share, diluted		$	(0.76	)		$	(0.09	)
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Potbelly Corporation per share, basic		$	(0.12	)		$	0.03
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Potbelly Corporation per share, diluted		$	(0.12	)		$	0.03
Shares used in computing adjusted net income attributable to Potbelly Corporation:
Basic			24,133,038				25,144,855
Diluted			24,133,038				25,874,763

		For the 13 Weeks Ended
		March 31,				April 1,
		2019				2018
Net loss attributable to Potbelly Corporation, as reported		$	(18,439	)		$	(2,194	)
Depreciation expense			5,536				5,826
Interest expense			32				27
Income tax expense (benefit)			13,619				(504	)
EBITDA		$	748			$	3,155
Impairment, loss on disposal of property and equipment and shop closures(1)			2,438				2,598
Stock-based compensation			459				862
CEO transition costs(2)			—				342
Proxy related costs(3)			(127	)			608
Restructuring costs(4)			345				—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	3,863			$	7,565

Potbelly Corporation Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures – Unaudited (Amounts in thousands, except selected operating data)
		For the 13 Weeks Ended
		March 31,				April 1,
		2019				2018
Loss from operations		$	(4,723	)		$	(2,630	)
Less: Franchise royalties and fees			829				670
General and administrative expenses			12,709				12,188
Depreciation expense			5,536				5,826
Pre-opening costs			10				68
Impairment and loss on disposal of property and equipment			82				2,024
Shop-level profit [Y]		$	12,785			$	16,806
Total revenues		$	98,087			$	102,917
Less: Franchise royalties and fees			829				670
Sandwich shop sales, net [X]		$	97,258			$	102,247
Shop-level profit margin [Y÷X]			13.1	%			16.4	%

		For the 13 Weeks Ended
		March 31,			April 1,
		2019			2018
Selected Operating Data
Shop Activity:
Company-operated shops, end of period		431			438
Franchise shops, end of period		50			57
Revenue Data:
Company-operated comparable store sales		(4.7	)%		(3.6	)%

Footnotes to the Press Release, Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures
& Selected Operating Data

(1)  This adjustment includes costs related to impairment of long-lived assets, loss on disposal of property and equipment and shop closure expenses. Shop closure expenses are recorded in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.
(2)  The Company incurred certain costs related to the transition between the current and former CEO in 2018. Transition costs were included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and were related to the accelerated vesting of share-based compensation awards, salary related charges in accordance with the former CEO’s employment agreement, relocation related charges, and various other transition costs.
(3)  The Company incurred certain professional and other costs and associated benefits related to the shareholder proxy matter. These costs and benefits were included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
(4)  The Company incurred certain restructuring costs related to severance and other costs that were included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
(5)  The Company recorded a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets during the first quarter of 2019.
(6)  For the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018, the tax impact associated with adjustments to net income is based on effective tax rate, before valuation allowance, of 23.0%, partially offset by the impact of ASU 2016-09.