Dunkin' Brands Group Q4 revenues increased 5.5%
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Dunkin' Donuts U.S. traffic declined by approximately 100 basis points.
The in-restaurant K-Cup and packaged coffee categories continued to have a negative impact on comparable store sales. In the fourth quarter the impact was approximately 120 basis points.
Baskin-Robbins U.S. comparable store sales growth was driven primarily by traffic.
In the fourth quarter, Dunkin' Brands franchisees and licensees opened 172 net new restaurants around the globe. This included 123 net new Dunkin' Donuts U.S. locations, 59 net new Dunkin' Donuts International locations, and 15 net new Baskin-Robbins U.S. locations, and 25 net closures for Baskin-Robbins International.
The Dunkin' Donuts U.S. net store growth number reflects the previously-announced closing of 41 self-serve coffee stations within Speedway locations. Additionally, Dunkin' Donuts U.S. franchisees remodeled 157 restaurants and Baskin-Robbins U.S. franchisees remodeled 41 restaurants during the quarter.
Revenues for the fourth quarter increased 5.5% compared to the prior year period due primarily to an increase in royalty income as a result of systemwide sales growth, licensing fees earned from the sale of Dunkin' K-Cup pods, and increases in franchise fees due to favorable development mix, transfer fee income, and sales at company-operated restaurants due to a net increase in the number of company-operated restaurants.
These increases were offset by a decrease in sales of ice cream and other products.
Operating income for the fourth quarter decreased $46.2 million, or 51.5%, from the prior year period primarily as a result of an impairment of the Company's investment in its Japan joint venture of $54.3 million, an increase in general and administrative expenses, and an increase in net losses incurred from company-operated restaurants.
These items were offset by the increase in royalty income, licensing fees earned from the sale of Dunkin' K-Cup pods, and increases in franchise fees and transfer fee income.
The Japan joint venture impairment recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 resulted from an other-than-temporary decline in the value of the Company's investment, as a result of various factors including the continued declines in the operating performance of the joint venture and reduced future expectations of the Baskin-Robbins business in Japan.
Adjusted operating income for the fourth quarter increased $7.2 million, or 7.5%, from the prior year period primarily as a result of the increase in royalty income, licensing fees earned from the sale of Dunkin' K-Cup pods, and increases in franchise fees and transfer fee income.
The increases in revenues were offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses and an increase in net losses incurred from company-operated restaurants.
Net income for the fourth quarter decreased by $61.5 million to a net loss of $8.9 million compared to the prior year period primarily as a result of the $46.2 million decrease in operating income, an increase in tax expense of $7.8 million as the prior year period was favorably impacted by tax benefits resulting from a restructuring of company's Canadian subsidiaries, as well as additional interest expense of $8.1 million driven by additional borrowings incurred in conjunction with the securitization refinancing transaction completed in January 2015.
Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter increased by $0.7 million, or 1.5%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, primarily as a result of the $7.2 million increase in adjusted operating income, a decrease in tax expense, and the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange in the prior year period, offset by the increase in interest expense.
Diluted earnings per share decreased by $0.60 to a loss of $0.10 for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period as a result of the decrease in net income, offset by a decrease in shares outstanding.
Diluted adjusted earnings per share increased by 13.0% to $0.52 for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period as a result of the increase in adjusted net income and the decrease in shares outstanding.
The decrease in shares outstanding from the prior year period is due primarily to the repurchase of shares, offset by the exercise of stock options.
The board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock, an increase of over 13 percent from the prior quarter. The dividend is payable on March 16, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2016. ■