Release Date: February 12, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Regis Corp (NASDAQ:RGS) successfully acquired the Alline Salon Group, which is expected to provide significant strategic and financial benefits.
• The acquisition has led to a 35% increase in adjusted EBITDA and a reduction in debt and leverage ratios by approximately half.
• The Alline portfolio includes 314 salons, enhancing Regis Corp (NASDAQ:RGS)'s scale while maintaining a 92% franchised footprint.
• The company has returned to generating positive cash from operations, indicating improved financial health.
• The Supercuts loyalty program, Supercuts Rewards, has shown promising results, with 27% of sales coming from program members, driving increased guest frequency.

Negative Points

• Same-store sales declined by 1.6% in the second quarter, with the SmartStyle brand experiencing a 6.4% decline.
• The company faced challenges due to a shorter window between Thanksgiving and Christmas, impacting sales negatively.
• Regis Corp (NASDAQ:RGS) continues to close unprofitable locations, which has a negative impact on same-store sales metrics.
• Total second quarter revenues declined by 8.5% compared to the prior year, primarily due to reduced franchise rental income and royalty revenue.
• The company-owned segment's adjusted EBITDA, although improved, still reflects challenges in achieving profitability without the Alline acquisition.

Q & A Highlights

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 9 Warning Signs with RGS.

Q: Can you provide more details on the strategic rationale behind the acquisition of the Alline Salon Group? A: Matthew Doctor, President and CEO, explained that the acquisition of Alline Salon Group is a strategic move to strengthen Regis Corp's position by integrating a portfolio of company-owned salons. This acquisition complements their franchise business and provides a diversified growth opportunity. The Alline portfolio, with its significant scale and strategic geographic concentration, offers potential for EBITDA and cash flow growth. The acquisition also allows Regis to be more directly involved in salon operations, providing a testing ground for initiatives to enhance the broader system and brands.

Q: How did the Alline acquisition impact the financial results for the second quarter? A: Kersten Zupfer, CFO, noted that the Alline acquisition contributed $2.7 million in revenue and $0.5 million in EBITDA in the less than two weeks post-acquisition. The acquisition is expected to drive operational efficiency and deliver $1.5 million in savings by calendar 2026. The transaction was valued at approximately 0.3 times revenue, 2 times store-level EBITDA, and 3.8 times corporate EBITDA, representing an attractive financial and strategic transaction.

Q: What are the key challenges and opportunities identified in the current sales environment? A: Matthew Doctor highlighted that same-store sales declined by 1.6% in the second quarter, influenced by a shorter holiday season and disparities among brands. Supercuts showed a slight positive growth, while SmartStyle experienced a decline. The focus is on closing unprofitable locations and remodeling the remaining fleet. The company aims to drive traffic, especially new guest traffic, and increase frequency to achieve outsized growth over time.

Q: Can you elaborate on the initiatives to enhance brand positioning and guest experience? A: Matthew Doctor discussed ongoing efforts to refresh and modernize the Supercuts brand, aiming to attract younger demographics and top stylist talent. The company is working on brand excellence standards to ensure consistent guest experiences and is rolling out a loyalty program, Supercuts Rewards, which has shown promising results in driving incremental guest behaviors and sales.

Q: What are the financial expectations and strategic focus for the remainder of fiscal year 2025? A: Kersten Zupfer stated that the company expects to continue generating cash and is evaluating strategies to deploy capital effectively. The focus remains on managing G&A expenses diligently, with fiscal year 2025 adjusted G&A expected to be in the range of $42 million to $43 million. The company is committed to driving growth and increasing value for stakeholders through strategic initiatives and operational improvements.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.