BJs RESTAURANTS INC (BJRI) FY 2024 MD&A

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to help you understand our Company, our operations and our current operating environment. For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our performance, the MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of our Annual Report. Our MD&A consists of the following sections:

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Overview - a brief description of our business, financial highlights, strategy to increase shareholder value, key performance indicators, known and anticipated trends

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Results of Operations - an analysis of our Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal year 2023 compared to fiscal year 2022

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Liquidity and Capital Resources - an analysis of cash flows, including capital expenditures, share issuance and repurchase activity, dividends, contractual obligations and commitments, and known trends that may impact liquidity

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates - a discussion of accounting policies that require critical judgments and estimates, including new accounting standards, when applicable

OVERVIEW

As of February 27, 2024, we owned and operated 216 restaurants located in 30 states as described in Item 2 - Properties - “Restaurant Locations” in this Form 10-K. Our restaurants are open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. All of our restaurants currently offer take-out and delivery services. Additionally, all of our restaurants offer a call-ahead or online wait list, on-line ordering for dine-in, guest pick-up or curbside delivery and reservations for large parties.

Our menu features BJ’s award‑winning, signature deep-dish pizza, our proprietary craft and other beers, as well as a wide selection of appetizers, entrées, pastas, sandwiches, specialty salads and desserts, including our Pizookie® dessert. Our proprietary craft beer is produced at several of our locations, our Texas brewpub locations and by independent third-party brewers using our proprietary recipes.

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Financial Highlights for Fiscal 2023

Notable fiscal 2023 financial highlights compared to fiscal 2022 include:

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Total revenues increased 3.8% to $1.3 billion (52 weeks vs. 53 weeks)

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Total restaurant operating weeks decreased 0.5% (52 weeks vs. 53 weeks)

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Comparable restaurant sales increased 3.7% (52 weeks vs. 52 weeks)

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Net income of $19.7 million compared to $4.1 million (52 weeks vs. 53 weeks)

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Diluted net income per share of $0.82 compared to $0.17 (52 weeks vs. 53 weeks)

Strategy to Increase Shareholder Value

Our goal is to increase shareholder value by increasing our adjusted earnings before depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), earnings per share and return on invested capital through:

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Growing restaurant revenue through positive comparable sales and new restaurant growth

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Increasing restaurant margins through sales leverage, cost savings and culinary and menu strategies

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Enhancing new restaurant economics through restaurant margin improvement and new restaurant prototype optimization

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Returning capital to shareholders through share repurchase program

Key Performance Indicators and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Key measures that we use in evaluating our restaurants and assessing our business include the following:

Comparable Restaurant Sales. In calculating comparable restaurant sales, we include a restaurant in the comparable base once it has been open for 18 months. This measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants, while excluding the impact of new restaurant openings and closures. Comparable restaurant sales increased 3.7% for fiscal 2023 on a 52-week basis.

Restaurant Level Operating Margin. This non-GAAP financial measure is equal to the revenues generated by our restaurants, less their direct operating costs which consist of cost of sales, labor and benefits, and occupancy and operating costs. This performance measure primarily includes the costs that restaurant level managers can directly control and excludes other operating costs that are essential to conduct the Company’s business. We, similar to most of our competitors, use restaurant level operating margin as a supplemental measure of restaurant performance and believe restaurant level operating margin is useful to investors in that it highlights trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. Because other companies may calculate restaurant level operating margin differently than we do, our restaurant level operating margin calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of income (loss) from operations to restaurant level operating margin for fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 is set forth below:

Adjusted EBITDA. This non-GAAP financial measure represents the sum of net income (loss) adjusted for certain expenses and gains/losses detailed within the reconciliation below. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our operating performance and believe this measure is useful to investors in that it highlights cash flow and trends in our business operations that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. Because other companies may calculate this measure differently than we do, our Adjusted EBITDA calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 is set forth below:

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Weekly Sales Average. We calculate each restaurant’s average weekly revenue to understand and manage the business trends and expectations. Our weekly sales average was approximately $118,000, $113,000 and $99,000 for fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Known or Anticipated Trends

Sales Growth. While most of our established restaurants operate close to full capacity during peak demand periods, we will continue to focus on ways to build sales, positively impact guest traffic and grow average check and weekly sales averages. We continue to focus on sales building initiatives to create more guest loyalty, increase the frequency of guest visits, further build our off-premise sales channel, better optimize our menu sales mix and develop other incremental opportunities to allow guests to utilize BJ’s. We believe that all of these efforts combined with new restaurant openings offer significant growth opportunities and upside for weekly sales averages and comparable restaurant sales.

Restaurant Opening. Newly opened restaurants typically experience inefficiencies in the form of higher cost of sales, labor and direct operating and occupancy costs for several months after their opening relative to our more mature, established restaurants. Accordingly, the number and timing of new restaurant openings have had, and are expected to continue to have, an impact on restaurant opening expenses, cost of sales, labor and occupancy and operating expenses. Additionally, restaurant openings in new markets may experience even greater inefficiencies for several months, if not longer, due to lower initial sales volumes, which results from initially low consumer awareness levels, and a lack of supply chain and other operating cost leverage until additional restaurants can be opened in those markets.

Impacts of Inflation. Inflation has had an impact on our operations, new restaurant construction and corresponding return on invested capital. While we have been able to partially offset inflation and other changes in the costs of key operating inputs by gradually increasing menu prices, coupled with more efficient purchasing practices, productivity improvements and greater economies of scale, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to do so in the future. Increases in inflation could have a severe impact on the United States and global economies, which will have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, macroeconomic conditions that impact consumer discretionary spending for food away from home could make additional menu price increases imprudent. Whether we are able to continue to offset the effects of inflation will determine to what extent, if any, inflation affects our restaurant profitability in future periods.

Accounting Terms and Characteristics

Revenues. Our revenues are comprised of food and beverage sales from our restaurants, including takeout, delivery and catering sales. Revenues from restaurant sales are recognized when payment is tendered. Amounts paid with a credit card are recorded in accounts and other receivables until payment is collected from the credit card processor. We sell gift cards which do not have an expiration date, and we do not deduct non-usage fees from outstanding gift card balances. Gift card sales are recorded as a liability and recognized as revenues upon redemption in our restaurants. Based on historical redemption rates, a portion of our gift card sales are not expected to be redeemed and will be recognized as gift card “breakage.” Estimated gift card breakage is recorded as revenue and recognized in proportion to our historical redemption pattern, unless there is a legal obligation to remit the unredeemed gift cards to government authorities.

Guest Loyalty Program. Our program enables participants to earn points for qualifying purchases that can be redeemed for food and beverages in the future. We allocate the transaction price between the goods delivered and the future goods that will be delivered, on a relative standalone selling price basis, and defer the revenues allocated to the points until such points are redeemed.

Comparable Sales and Guest Traffic. All of our restaurants are company-owned. In calculating comparable restaurant sales, we include a restaurant in the comparable base once it has been open for 18 months. Guest traffic for our restaurants is estimated based on the number of guest checks.

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Cost of Sales. Cost of sales is comprised of food and beverage costs, including the cost to produce and distribute our proprietary craft beer, soda and ciders. The components of cost of sales are variable and typically fluctuate directly with sales volumes but also may be impacted by changes in commodity prices, a shift in sales mix to higher cost proteins or other higher cost items, or varying levels of promotional activities.

Labor and Benefits. Labor and benefit costs include direct hourly and management wages, bonuses, payroll taxes, fringe benefits and stock-based compensation, and workers’ compensation expense that are directly related to restaurant level team members.

Occupancy and Operating. Occupancy and operating expenses include restaurant supplies, credit card fees, third-party delivery company commissions, marketing costs, fixed rent, percentage rent, common area maintenance charges, utilities, real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance and other related restaurant costs. During fiscal 2021, occupancy and operating expenses also include COVID-19 related costs such as temporary patios and safety related items.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses include costs for our corporate administrative functions that support existing operations and provide infrastructure to facilitate our future growth. Components of this category include corporate management, field supervision and corporate hourly staff salaries and related team member benefits (including stock-based compensation expense and cash-based incentive compensation), travel and relocation costs, information systems, the cost to recruit and train new restaurant management team members, corporate rent, certain brand marketing-related expenses and legal and consulting fees.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization are composed primarily of depreciation of capital expenditures for restaurant and brewing equipment and leasehold improvements.

Restaurant Opening. Restaurant opening expenses, which are expensed as incurred, consist of the costs of hiring and training the initial hourly work force for each new restaurant, travel, the cost of food and supplies used in training, grand opening promotional costs, the cost of the initial stock of operating supplies and other direct costs related to the opening of a restaurant, including rent during the construction and in-restaurant training period.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, our Consolidated Statements of Operations both in dollars and as percentages of total revenues. All fiscal years presented consist of 52 weeks with the exception of fiscal year 2022, which consists of 53 weeks. Percentages below may not reconcile due to rounding.

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52 WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 2, 2024 (FISCAL 2023) COMPARED TO THE 53 WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 3, 2023 (FISCAL 2022)

Revenues. Total revenues increased by $49.3 million, or 3.8%, to $1.33 billion during fiscal 2023, compared to $1.28 billion during fiscal 2022. The increase in revenues primarily consisted of a 3.7%, or $45.1 million, increase in comparable restaurant sales, and a $42.5 million increase in sales from new restaurants not yet in our comparable restaurant sales base. Revenue increases were offset primarily by a $20.8 million decrease related to the shift in weeks due to the 53rd week in fiscal 2022 and an $11.1 million decrease related to closed restaurants. The increase in comparable restaurant sales was the result of an increase in average check of approximately 6.5%, due to menu price increases coupled with changes in mix, offset by a decrease in guest traffic of approximately 2.8%.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales decreased by $3.1 million, or 0.9%, to $346.6 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $349.6 million during fiscal 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2022 and the closure of five restaurants since fiscal 2022, offset by costs of sales for our five new restaurants opened during fiscal 2023. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales decreased to 26.0% for fiscal 2023 from 27.2% for the prior fiscal year. This decrease was primarily due to the easing of inflationary pressure on food costs, coupled with increased revenues from menu price increases and the effects of our cost savings initiatives.

Labor and Benefits. Labor and benefit costs for our restaurants increased by $7.9 million, or 1.6%, to $491.3 million during fiscal 2022, compared to $483.4 million during fiscal 2022. This was primarily due to $1.3 million related to higher hourly labor, $4.6 million related to higher management labor and incentive compensation, and the additional labor related to our five new restaurants opened during fiscal 2023. As a percentage of revenues, labor and benefit costs decreased to 36.9% for fiscal 2023 from 37.6% for the prior fiscal year. This decrease was primarily due to our ability to leverage certain fixed costs over a higher revenue base, improved labor efficiency, better team member retention, and the effectiveness of our cost savings initiatives. Included in labor and benefits for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was approximately $2.6 million and $2.9 million, respectively, or 0.2% of revenues, of stock-based compensation expense related to equity awards granted in accordance with our Gold Standard Stock Ownership Program for certain restaurant management team members.

Occupancy and Operating. Occupancy and operating expenses increased by $11.4 million, or 3.7%, to $317.6 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $306.1 million during fiscal 2022. This was primarily due to increases of $3.5 million in rent-related expenses, $2.3 million related to restaurant facilities expenses, $3.1 million in third-party delivery company fees and expenses, $0.6 million in utilities, $2.1 million in marketing expenditures, and $1.8 million in merchant credit card fees, offset by a decrease of $2.1 million in supplies. As a percentage of revenues, occupancy and operating expenses remained consistent at 23.8% for fiscal 2023 and the prior fiscal year.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $8.8 million, or 12.0%, to $82.1 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $73.3 million during fiscal 2022. This was primarily due to increases of $7.4 million in personnel costs, including a $3.0 million increase related to our deferred compensation liability and $2.1 million related to incentive compensation, a $1.7 million increase in corporate expenses, and a $1.3 million increase in legal expenses offset by decreases of $0.4 million in rent related expenses, $0.5 million in office expenses, $0.4 million in recruiting related expenses and $0.4 million in outside services. Included in general and administrative costs for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was approximately $8.3 million and $7.2 million, respectively, or 0.6% of revenues, of stock-based compensation expense. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses increased to 6.2% for fiscal 2023 from 5.7% for the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily related to our increased deferred compensation liability and incentive compensation.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased by $0.6 million, or 0.9%, to $71.0 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $70.4 million during fiscal 2022. This increase in depreciation and amortization is related to our restaurants opened during fiscal 2023. This increase was offset by the decrease in depreciation and amortization related to impairment and disposal charges taken in the prior year, including the impairment and reduction of carrying value for the closure of five restaurants during fiscal 2023. As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and amortization decreased to 5.3% for fiscal 2023 from 5.5% for the prior fiscal year. This decrease was primarily due to a higher revenue base.

Restaurant Opening. Restaurant opening expense decreased by $0.8 million, or 22.9%, to $2.8 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $3.6 million during fiscal 2022. This decrease was primarily due to one less restaurant opening in fiscal 2023, coupled with the timing of our openings.

Loss on Disposal and Impairment of Assets, Net. Loss on disposal and impairment of assets, net, was $8.1 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $6.2 million during fiscal 2022. In fiscal 2023, these costs primarily relate to disposals of assets in conjunction with initiatives to keep our restaurants up to date, including our restaurant remodel initiative and the removal of glass partitions in our dining rooms that were installed during the pandemic, as well as the closure of five under-performing restaurants. In fiscal 2022, these costs primarily relate to the impairment and reduction in the carrying value of the long-lived assets related to eight restaurants, coupled with the disposals of assets in conjunction with initiatives to keep our restaurants up to date, offset by the $4.9 million gain on disposal of an internally developed software.

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Gain on Lease Transactions, Net. Gain on lease transactions, net, was $3.3 million during fiscal 2022, which related to the sale of the land underlying one of our restaurants.

Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net, increased by $2.0 million to $4.9 million during fiscal 2023, compared to $2.9 million during fiscal 2022. This increase was primarily due to the increase in our weighted average interest rate year over year, coupled with a higher average outstanding debt balance.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net, was $1.3 million during fiscal 2023, which related to the gain associated with the cash surrender value of certain life insurance policies under our deferred compensation plan.

Income Tax Benefit. Our effective income tax rate for fiscal 2023 reflected a 94.7% tax benefit compared to a 149.1% tax benefit for fiscal 2022. The effective tax rate benefit for fiscal 2023 and 2022 was different than the statutory tax rate primarily due to Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) tax tip credits.

53 WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 3, 2023 (FISCAL 2022) COMPARED TO THE 52 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 2021 (FISCAL 2021)

For discussion related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 refer to Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our fiscal 2022 Form 10-K, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2023.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following table provides, for the periods indicated, a summary of our key liquidity measurements (dollar amounts in thousands):

Our capital requirements are driven by our fundamental financial objective to improve total shareholder return through a balanced approach of new restaurant expansion plans, enhancements and initiatives on existing restaurants, and return of capital to our shareholders through our share repurchase program. In addition, we want to maintain a flexible balance sheet to provide the financial resources necessary to manage the risks and uncertainties of conducting our business operations in a mature segment of the restaurant industry. In order to achieve these objectives, we use a combination of operating cash flows, funded debt, landlord allowances and proceeds from stock option exercises.

Based on current operations, we believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, coupled with cash generated from operations and availability under our credit agreement will be adequate to meet our capital expenditure and working capital needs for at least the next twelve months. Our future operating performance will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Similar to many restaurant chains, we typically utilize operating lease arrangements (principally ground leases) for our restaurant locations. We believe our operating lease arrangements provide appropriate leverage for our capital structure in a financially efficient manner. However, we are not limited to the use of lease arrangements as our only method of opening new restaurants and from time to time have purchased the underlying land for new restaurants. We typically lease our restaurant locations for periods of 10 to 20 years under operating lease arrangements. Our rent structures vary from lease to lease, but generally provide for the payment of both minimum and contingent (percentage) rent based on sales, as well as other expenses related to the leases (for example, our pro-rata share of common area maintenance, property tax and insurance expenses). Many of our lease arrangements include the opportunity to secure tenant improvement allowances to partially offset the cost of developing and opening the related restaurants. Generally, landlords recover the cost of such allowances from increased minimum rents. There can be no assurance that such allowances will be available to us on each project. From time to time, we may also decide to purchase the underlying land for a new restaurant if that is the only way to secure a highly desirable site. Currently, we own the underlying land for our Texas brewpub locations. We also own parcels of land adjacent to two of our restaurants. It is not our current strategy to own a large number of land parcels that underlie our restaurants. Therefore, in many cases we have subsequently entered into sale-leaseback arrangements for land parcels that we previously purchased. We disburse cash for certain site-related work, buildings, leasehold improvements, furnishings, fixtures and equipment to build our leased and owned premises. We own substantially all of the equipment, furniture and trade fixtures in our restaurants and currently plan to do so in the future.

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CASH FLOWS

The following tables set forth, for the years indicated, our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities (dollar amounts in thousands):

Operating Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities was $105.8 million during fiscal 2023, representing a $54.7 million increase compared to the $51.1 million provided during fiscal 2022. The increase over the prior year is primarily due to an increase in net income, coupled with the timing of payments for accrued expenses.

Investing Cash Flows

Net cash used in investing activities was $98.9 million during fiscal 2023, representing a $27.0 million increase compared to the $71.9 million used in fiscal 2022. The increase over prior year is primarily due an increase in restaurant remodel activity, offset by the timing of new restaurants opened.

The following table provides, for the years indicated, the components of capital expenditures (dollar amounts in thousands):

During fiscal 2023, we opened five new restaurants and closed five restaurants. We currently plan to open three new restaurants in fiscal 2024, and we have entered into signed leases, land purchase agreements or letters of intent for all of our 2024 new restaurant locations.

We currently anticipate our total capital expenditures for fiscal 2024 to be approximately $70 million to $75 million. This estimate includes costs to open new restaurants and remodel existing locations and excludes anticipated proceeds from tenant improvement allowances. We expect to fund our net capital expenditures with our current cash balance on hand, cash flows from operations and our line of credit. Our future cash requirements will depend on many factors, including the pace of our expansion, conditions in the retail property development market, construction costs, the nature of the specific sites selected for new restaurants, and the nature of the specific leases and associated tenant improvement allowances available, if any, as negotiated with landlords.

Financing Cash Flows

Net cash used in financing activities was $2.7 million during fiscal 2023, representing a $9.9 million increase in cash used compared to the $7.1 million provided by in fiscal 2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in common stock repurchases.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

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We believe we have sufficient liquidity to fund our operations and meet our short-term and long-term obligations. The following table summarizes our future estimated cash payments under existing contractual obligations as of January 2, 2024, including estimated cash payments due by period (in thousands).

(1)
For a more detailed description of our operating leases, refer to Note 1 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)
Amounts represent non-cancelable commitments for the purchase of goods and other services.

(3)
We have assumed that $68.0 million remains outstanding under our Credit Facility until the maturity date of November 3, 2026, using the interest rate in effect on January 2, 2024, which was approximately 6.9%.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or variable interest entities (“VIEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow limited purposes. As of January 2, 2024, we are not involved in any off-balance sheet arrangements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part IV, Item 15. Judgments or uncertainties regarding the application of these policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our consolidated financial statements.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We assess the potential impairment of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The assets are generally reviewed for impairment on a restaurant level basis, and inclusive of property and equipment and lease right-of-use assets; or at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance by the restaurant relative to historical or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or the strategy for the overall business; significant negative industry or economic trends; or our expectation to dispose of long-lived assets before the end of their previously estimated useful lives. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Self-Insurance Liability

Our estimated liability is based on information provided by a third-party actuary, combined with our judgments regarding a number of assumptions and factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, our loss development factors, loss costs, history, case jurisdiction, related legislation, and our claims settlement practice. Significant judgment is required to estimate claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR claims”) as parties have yet to assert such claims. Should a greater number of claims occur compared to what was estimated, or should medical costs increase beyond what was expected, accruals might not be sufficient, and additional expense may be recorded.

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NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Not applicable.