Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
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Overview
The earnings call reflects a positive outlook, with strong focus on long-term growth and strategic initiatives like the loyalty program and new menu items. Despite macro challenges, Domino's shows confidence in its growth targets and market share gains. The Q&A reveals management's commitment to value-driven promotions and unit expansion, while addressing risks and uncertainties. However, some lack of detail on sales mix percentages and macro challenges slightly tempers the overall positive sentiment.
Key Financial Performance
Income from operations Increased 11.8% in Q3, excluding the impact of foreign currency. This increase was primarily due to higher U.S. franchise royalties and fees and gross margin dollar growth within the supply chain.
Global retail sales Grew 6.3% in the quarter, excluding the impact of foreign currency. This growth was due to positive U.S. and international comps and global net store growth.
U.S. retail sales Grew by 7% in Q3, driven by same-store sales and net store growth. This growth was slightly ahead of expectations due to the strong performance from the Best Deal Ever promotion.
Same-store sales Accelerated to 5.2% for the quarter, driven by the Best Deal Ever promotion and Parmesan Stuffed Crust, which led to positive transaction counts.
Average ticket Benefited from 1.3% of pricing and Stuffed Crust, which carries a higher price point. This was partially offset by a slight decline in mix due to a higher carryout business that has a lower ticket than delivery.
Carryout comps Up 8.7%, driven by initiatives like the loyalty program and other noted strategies.
Delivery Positive 2.5%, primarily driven by the Best Deal Ever promotion and Stuffed Crust, as well as benefits from aggregators like DoorDash.
U.S. unit count Added 29 net new stores, bringing the U.S. system store count to 7,090.
International retail sales Grew 5.7%, excluding the impact of foreign currency. This was driven by net store growth of 185 and same-store sales of 1.7%, with strong performance in Asia, particularly India.
Debt refinancing Refinanced $1 billion in two $500 million tranches at a blended rate of approximately 5.1%, replacing debt with a blended interest rate of approximately 4.3%. Paid down approximately $150 million of the original debt.
Share repurchase Repurchased approximately 166,000 shares at an average price of $450 per share, totaling $75 million in Q3. Approximately $540 million remains on the share repurchase authorization.
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Operating Highlights
Best Deal Ever promotion: Significantly contributed to strong U.S. results in Q3, driving positive carryout, delivery, and order count growth. Franchisees requested its extension due to profitability.
Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza: Performed well, meeting expectations in mix, attracting new customers, and enhancing franchisee profitability.
New Bread Bites flavors: Introduced garlic and cinnamon flavors, simplifying operations by replacing bread twists. Customers prefer Bread Bites, which are offered at $6.99 as part of a mix-and-match deal.
DoorDash integration: Fully rolled out in Q3, expected to contribute to U.S. comps growth in Q4 and 2026.
International growth: Retail sales grew 5.7% excluding foreign currency impact, driven by 185 net new stores and strong performance in Asia, particularly India.
E-commerce platform upgrade: New website and mobile web experiences launched, improving user experience and conversion rates. Apps rollout planned by year-end.
Brand refresh: First in 13 years, aligning with Hungry for MORE strategy to enhance brand appeal and market share.
Debt refinancing: Refinanced $1 billion at a blended rate of 5.1%, reducing near-term debt obligations and maintaining financial stability.
Capital allocation: Repurchased $75 million in shares, with $540 million remaining in repurchase authorization.
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Risk or Challenges
Challenging macroeconomic environment: The company's financial results continue to be impacted by a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, which could pressure U.S. comps and overall performance.
Geopolitical uncertainty: Potential impacts from global macro and geopolitical uncertainty could affect international same-store sales growth and overall operations.
Debt refinancing: The company refinanced $1 billion in debt at a higher blended interest rate of approximately 5.1%, which could increase financial costs in the long term.
Competitive pressures in QSR pizza category: While Domino's outpaced the QSR pizza category, competitive pressures remain a challenge to sustaining market share growth.
Operational complexity: The introduction of new products like Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza and Bread Bites requires operational excellence, which could strain franchisees if not managed effectively.
Dependence on promotions: The success of initiatives like 'Best Deal Ever' heavily relies on promotional strategies, which may not be sustainable in the long term.
Supply chain risks: Although not explicitly mentioned, the reliance on a robust supply chain for purchasing power and operational efficiency could pose risks if disrupted.
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Guidance & Outlook
U.S. Same-Store Sales Growth: The company expects U.S. same-store sales to grow by 3% in 2025, with meaningful market share growth in the QSR pizza category. However, this growth could be pressured by the macroeconomic environment in the U.S., which has shown signs of intensifying in Q4 2025.
International Same-Store Sales Growth: The company anticipates international same-store sales growth of 1% to 2% in 2025. This growth could trend toward the higher end of the range if there are no material impacts from macroeconomic or geopolitical uncertainties.
Net Store Growth: Domino's projects net store growth of 175+ stores in the U.S. and international net store growth to be in line with 2024 levels.
Operating Income Growth: The company expects operating income growth of approximately 8% in 2025, excluding the impact of foreign currency, severance expenses, and refranchising gains.
Aggregator Marketplace Contribution: Sales through DoorDash are expected to grow as awareness and marketing efforts increase, contributing meaningfully to U.S. comparable sales in Q4 2025 and into 2026.
E-commerce Platform Upgrades: The company plans to roll out upgraded mobile apps by the end of 2025, following the successful launch of its new website and mobile web experiences.
Brand Refresh and Strategic Goals: Domino's is implementing a brand refresh, its first in 13 years, to align with its Hungry for MORE strategy. The company aims to achieve 3% same-store sales growth in the U.S. and continue gaining market share in 2026 and beyond.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Share Repurchase: We repurchased approximately 166,000 shares at an average price of $450 per share for a total of $75 million in the third quarter. At the end of Q3, we had approximately $540 million remaining on our share repurchase authorization.
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Key Q&A
Q:What is the U.S. sales outlook for the year, and how is the macro environment impacting the business?
A:The company reiterated its 3% outlook for same-store sales in the U.S. despite a slowing in restaurant industry sales in Q4. They are confident in gaining market share in the QSR pizza industry and highlighted initiatives like the 'Best Deal Ever' promotion and the impact of DoorDash as key drivers.
Q:What is the current state of the overall delivery market, and how does it impact Domino's?
A:The delivery market is experiencing competitive pressures with aggressive discounting by third-party sites. Domino's delivery and carryout businesses were up for the quarter, and the company emphasized its ability to sustain value-driven promotions profitably. They are confident in their franchise economics and pricing strategy for profitability.
Q:How does Domino's ensure that the 'Best Deal Ever' promotion does not train consumers to rely on that price point?
A:The promotion is part of a broader renowned value strategy, including other initiatives like boost weeks and emergency pizza. Franchisees have extended the promotion due to its profitability and business-driving impact. Consumers perceive the promotion as both a value and a quality-driven initiative.
Q:Why is Domino's confident in delivering 3% comps in 2026 and beyond?
A:Domino's focuses on long-term growth rather than limited-time offers. Initiatives like the loyalty program, aggregators, and menu items like stuffed crust are designed to build over time and become part of the base for future growth.
Q:How does the $9.99 'Best Deal Ever' price point compare to other value programs, and could it become a permanent menu item?
A:The $9.99 price point targets a different customer segment and complements other deals like the $6.99 mix and match. It is designed to cater to smaller eating occasions and offers customization, making it a complementary addition rather than a replacement.
Q:Has the Stuffed Crust pizza reached its sales mix target, and are there plans to tweak the product?
A:The Stuffed Crust pizza has met high expectations in terms of mix, consumer appeal, and franchisee operations. While specific sales mix percentages were not disclosed, the company is happy with its performance and plans to revisit it in the future.
Q:Why has Domino's not launched 6-inch personal pizzas at sharp price points like some peers?
A:Domino's focuses on larger opportunities that deliver higher returns. While individual items are available on the menu, the company prioritizes initiatives with greater potential impact.
Q:What is the outlook for U.S. unit development, and how does it align with long-term targets?
A:Domino's is confident in achieving 175+ new stores annually through 2028, with a target of 7,700 units by 2028 and a long-term potential of 8,500 units. The company sees opportunities in split stores and greenfield stores, supported by strong franchisee economics and market share gains.
Q:What is driving the recent macro challenges in the restaurant industry, and how does it affect Domino's Q4 expectations?
A:The macro environment has been tough since the back half of 2024 and has worsened in Q4 2025. Domino's acknowledges potential pressure on its full-year same-store sales target if the macro environment deteriorates further but remains focused on its initiatives.
Q:What is the state of the pizza category, and how is Domino's performing within it?
A:The pizza category is up 1% year-to-date, close to its historical growth rate of 1-2%. Domino's has grown across all income groups, including lower-income customers, and continues to gain share within the category.
Q:What is driving the growth in Domino's carryout business?
A:The carryout business grew 8.7% in Q3, driven by initiatives like the 'Best Deal Ever,' Parmesan Stuffed Crust, and the loyalty program. The growth is attributed to incremental customers and increased frequency rather than a shift from delivery to carryout.
Q:What is the outlook for aggregators like Uber Eats and DoorDash in driving Domino's delivery growth?
A:Aggregators are expected to continue growing, with DoorDash recently launched and Uber Eats tracking as expected. Domino's aims to achieve its fair share on these platforms, leveraging its scale, pricing, and delivery capabilities.
Q:What are the considerations and investments for Domino's brand refresh?
A:The brand refresh focuses on enhancing perceptions of deliciousness and value, inspired by the Hungry for MORE strategy. It includes a new color palette, food photography, and redesigned website. The rollout is funded by the national advertising fund, supported by franchisee contributions.
Q:How does Domino's measure the success of promotions like 'Best Deal Ever'?
A:Success is measured by profitable order counts, franchisee profitability, and compounding customer frequency. Domino's focuses on offering discounts on items customers want, ensuring sustainable growth.
Q:What is the outlook for international unit growth, and how is Domino's addressing challenges with DPE?
A:International unit growth has been impacted by DPE store closures, but most closures are expected to be behind. Growth in key markets like China and India remains strong, with China targeting 300 new stores this year and India around 250.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided providing specific details on the sales mix percentage for Stuffed Crust pizza and did not disclose forward-looking trends for Q4. Additionally, they did not elaborate on the specific drivers of recent macro challenges or provide a detailed breakdown of carryout versus delivery growth.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
Deal excellence
Deal franchisee
Deal franchisees
DoorDash term
Hungry life
Hungry sale
Inc Conference
Instructions today
LTOs year
Os system
Pizza contributor
QSR pizza
Relations Sustainability
Relations today
Sustainability statement
addition taste
aggregator ordering
approach intent
apps goal
area success
aspect Hungry
aspect brand
base future
bite twist
box month
brand box
brand refresh
bread bite
bread twist
campaign
experience
flavor
franchisee profitability
purchasing power
DPZ Transcript
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive10-14
The earnings call reflects a positive outlook, with strong focus on long-term growth and strategic initiatives like the loyalty program and new menu items. Despite macro challenges, Domino's shows confidence in its growth targets and market share gains. The Q&A reveals management's commitment to value-driven promotions and unit expansion, while addressing risks and uncertainties. However, some lack of detail on sales mix percentages and macro challenges slightly tempers the overall positive sentiment.
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive7-21
Domino's earnings call highlights strong strategic initiatives, including partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats, new product launches, and a robust share repurchase plan. Despite some macroeconomic pressures, they project positive growth in US and international markets. The Q&A reveals confidence in sustaining growth, leveraging new platforms, and expanding in key markets like India and China. The lack of specific guidance on certain metrics is a minor concern but doesn't overshadow the overall positive outlook. Given these factors, a short-term positive stock price movement is anticipated.
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPZ) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Unknown4-29
The earnings call summary shows mixed signals: strong financial metrics with EPS growth and global retail sales increase, but weak US same-store sales and international store closures. The dividend increase is positive, but geopolitical pressures and competitive marketplace concerns offset this. The Q&A section reveals cautious management responses, particularly regarding geopolitical impacts, and lacks clarity on product performance. Overall, the combination of positive and negative factors suggests a neutral stock price movement over the next two weeks.
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Unknown4-28
The earnings call revealed mixed signals: positive international sales growth, a slight increase in US retail sales, and a dividend increase. However, US same-store sales declined, and management was vague on critical issues. The Q&A highlighted potential geopolitical risks and uncertainties in delivery partnerships. While the dividend increase is positive, the lack of clear guidance and potential international risks balance the overall sentiment to neutral.
DPZ Report
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