Today, Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
In Q2 2023, Planet Fitness’ total revenue increased from the prior year period by 27.6% to $286.5 million, and system-wide same store sales increased by 8.7%. Additional stats include:
• 26 new Planet Fitness stores were opened during the period, bringing system-wide total stores to 2,472 as of June 30, 2023.
• Planet Fitness ended the quarter with more than 18.4 million members, an increase of more than 300,000.
• 35% of new joins in Q2 were previous members compared to 20% in 2019, indicating that former members are rejoining faster than they did pre-pandemic.
"Our judgement free, high-quality, and affordable fitness experience continues to resonate with consumers as all generational groups have surpassed their pre-pandemic penetration levels. More of our members are working out more frequently, previous members are rejoining at a faster rate than they did pre-pandemic, and they're staying longer as Q2 was our eighth straight quarter with lower year-over-year cancellation rates," said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer in a statement.
"Despite continued strong member growth, as a result of the compounding effects of higher new store construction costs and increased interest rates, we are reducing our 2023 outlook for placements of equipment in new franchisee stores to approximately 140. While we are bringing down our near-term store growth forecast due to external headwinds, the fundamentals of the business remain strong as evidenced by our Q2 results, and we repurchased $100 million in shares during the quarter reflecting our strong balance sheet and confidence in the future."
Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 results
• Total revenue increased from the prior year period by 27.6% to $286.5 million.
• System-wide same store sales increased by 8.7%.
• System-wide sales increased $128 million to $1,147 million, from $1,019 million in the prior year period.
• Net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $41.1 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to $22.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the prior year period.
• Net income increased $19.1 million to $44.2 million, compared to $25.1 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted net income(1) increased $23.8 million to $57.7 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to $33.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased $29.8 million to $118.9 million from $89.1 million in the prior year period.
• 26 new Planet Fitness stores were opened during the period, including 3 corporate-owned and 23 franchisee-owned stores, bringing system-wide total stores to 2,472 as of June 30, 2023.
• Repurchased and retired 1.4 million shares of Class A common stock using $100 million of cash on hand.
• Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $418.9 million, which includes cash and cash equivalents of $236.1 million, marketable securities of $120.3 million and restricted cash of $62.5 million.
(1) Adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income to U.S. GAAP ("GAAP") net income see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" accompanying this press release.
Operating Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2023
For the second quarter 2023, total revenue increased $62.0 million or 27.6% to $286.5 million from $224.4 million in the prior year period, which included the impact of the system-wide same store sales growth of 8.7%. By segment:
• Franchise segment revenue increased $16.3 million or 19.7% to $98.8 million from $82.5 million in the prior year period. The increase in franchise segment revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was primarily due to an $8.1 million increase in franchise royalty revenue, a $3.4 million increase in National Advertising Fund ("NAF") revenue, a $2.9 million increase in equipment placement revenue, and a $1.1 million increase in franchise and other fees. Of the $8.1 million increase in franchise royalty revenue, $4.5 million was attributable to a franchisee-owned same store sales increase of 8.6%, $2.0 million was from higher royalties on annual fees and $1.6 million was attributable to new stores opened since January 1, 2022. The $2.9 million increase in placement revenue was driven by higher existing equipment placements in the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022;
• Corporate-owned stores segment revenue increased $12.3 million or 12.1% to $113.8 million from $101.5 million in the prior year period. Of the increase, $7.1 million was from the corporate-owned store same store sales increase of 10.2%, and $5.2 million was from new store openings since April 1, 2022 and the April 2023 acquisition of 4 stores in Florida; and
• Equipment segment revenue increased $33.4 million or 82.6% to $73.9 million from $40.4 million in the prior year period, driven by $33.7 million of higher equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores in the three months ended June 30, 2023. We had equipment sales to 26 new franchisee-owned stores in both the three months ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022.
For the second quarter of 2023, net income attributable to Planet Fitness, Inc. was $41.1 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to $22.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Net income was $44.2 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to $25.1 million in the prior year period. Adjusted net income increased $23.8 million to $57.7 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, from $33.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income has been adjusted to reflect a normalized federal income tax rate of 25.9% and 26.7% for the current and prior year period, respectively, and excludes certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").
Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in the evaluation of ongoing operational performance (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"), increased $29.8 million to $118.9 million from $89.1 million in the prior year period.
Segment EBITDA represents our Total Segment EBITDA broken down by the Company's reportable segments. Total Segment EBITDA is equal to EBITDA, which is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures").
• Franchise segment EBITDA increased $11.8 million to $66.1 million. The increase in franchise segment EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to the franchise revenue increases as described above of $12.9 million, higher national advertising fund revenue of $3.4 million, and lower national advertising fund expenses of $1.0 million partially offset by higher expenses related to equipment placement services of $1.3 million, higher selling, general, and administrative expenses of $1.3 million, and a $3.0 million increase in an estimated liability for a legal matter;
• Corporate-owned stores segment EBITDA increased $9.2 million to $48.7 million. Of the increase, $7.8 million was attributable to the same store sales increase of 10.2% and $1.7 million was from new store openings since April 1, 2022 and the April 2023 acquisition of 4 stores in Florida, partially offset by higher store operation expenses; and
• Equipment segment EBITDA increased by $6.9 million to $17.1 million, primarily driven by higher equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned stores in the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022, as described above.
Share Repurchases
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 1,381,154 shares of Class A common stock for a total cost of approximately $100 million.
2023 Outlook
For the year ending December 31, 2023, the Company is updating or reiterating the following expectations as compared to the Company's 2022 results, which assumes there are no material new supply chain disruptions:
• It now expects new equipment placements of approximately 140 in franchisee-owned locations (previously it expected approximately 160)
• It now expects system-wide new store openings of approximately 160 locations
• It continues to expect system-wide same store sales in the high single-digit percentage range
The following are 2023 growth expectations over the Company's 2022 results:
• It now expects revenue to increase approximately 12% (previously it expected 13% to 14% growth)
• It now expects Adjusted EBITDA to increase approximately 17% (previously it expected 17% to 18% growth)
• It now expects Adjusted net income to increase approximately 30% (previously it expected 30% to 33% growth)
The Company now expects 2023 net interest expense to be in the low $70 million range (previously it expected $75 million). It now expects capital expenditures to increase approximately 40% (previously it expected mid-30% range) and now expects depreciation and amortization to increase in the high-teens percentage range (previously it expected the mid-teens percentage range).
Presentation of Financial Measures
Planet Fitness, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in March 2015 for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering (the "IPO") and related recapitalization transactions that occurred in August 2015, and in order to carry on the business of Pla-Fit Holdings, LLC ("Pla-Fit Holdings") and its subsidiaries. As the sole managing member of Pla-Fit Holdings, the Company operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Pla-Fit Holdings, and through Pla-Fit Holdings, conducts its business. As a result, the Company consolidates Pla-Fit Holdings' financial results and reports a non-controlling interest related to the portion of Pla-Fit Holdings not owned by the Company.
The financial information presented in this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to provide measures that we believe are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP financial measures such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, in the future, the Company may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted. The Company's presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar amounts or other unusual or nonrecurring items. See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Total Segment EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in our full-year outlook will differ from net income and net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP in ways similar to those described in the reconciliations at the end of this press release. We do not provide guidance for net income or net income per share, diluted, determined in accordance with GAAP or a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted net income or Adjusted net income per share, diluted, to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2023. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on our net income and net income per share, diluted, for the year ending December 31, 2023, and therefore cannot be made available without unreasonable effort.
Same store sales refers to year-over-year sales comparisons for the same store sales base of both corporate-owned and franchisee-owned stores, which is calculated for a given period by including only sales from stores that had sales in the comparable months of both years. We define the same store sales base to include those stores that have been open and for which monthly membership dues have been billed for longer than 12 months. We measure same store sales based solely upon monthly dues billed to members of our corporate-owned and franchisee-owned stores.
About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of June 30, 2023, Planet Fitness had more than 18.4 million members and 2,472 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the Company's statements with respect to expected future performance presented under the heading "2023 Outlook," those attributed to the Company's Chief Executive Officer in this press release, the Company's expected membership growth, share repurchases, and other statements, estimates and projections that do not relate solely to historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "goal," "plan," "will," "prospects," "future," "strategy" and similar references to future periods, although not all forward-looking statements include these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include competition in the fitness industry, the Company's and franchisees' ability to attract and retain members, the Company's and franchisees' ability to identify and secure suitable sites for new franchise stores, changes in consumer demand, changes in equipment costs, the Company's ability to expand into new markets domestically and internationally, operating costs for the Company and franchisees generally, availability and cost of capital for franchisees, acquisition activity, developments and changes in laws and regulations, our substantial increased indebtedness as a result of our refinancing and securitization transactions and our ability to incur additional indebtedness or refinance that indebtedness in the future, our future financial performance and our ability to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, our corporate structure and tax receivable agreements, failures, interruptions or security breaches of the Company's information systems or technology, general economic conditions and the other factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's views only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or representatives undertake any obligation to provide additional information or to correct or update any information set forth in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.