Jack in the Box Inc. Reports Second Quarter FY 2016 Earnings; Updates Guidance for FY 2016; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

Lenny Comma, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Operating earnings per share for the second quarter exceeded our expectations and guidance, and resulted primarily from healthy margins and cost controls combined with mark-to-market adjustments and a lower tax rate. We were pleased with the solid sales performance at Qdoba® company restaurants, which was driven by traffic growth, as well as with the improvement in labor costs and margins as compared to the first quarter.

"At the Jack in the Box® brand, system same-store sales were flat for the quarter as compared to an increase of 8.9 percent in the prior year. In late January, we introduced multiple upgrades to the core menu at our Jack in the Box restaurants system-wide, and in the latter half of the quarter, we featured the improved products in marketing messages at price points conveying both value and quality.

"We look forward to sharing our growth plans and strategies to enhance shareholder value at our upcoming investor meeting."

Increase (decrease) in same-store sales:

Jack in the Box system same-store sales were flat for the quarter, and lagged the QSR sandwich segment by 2.7 percentage points for the comparable period, according to The NPD Group’s SalesTrack® Weekly for the 12-week time period ended April 10, 2016. Included in this segment are 16 of the top QSR sandwich and burger chains in the country. Company same-store sales decreased 1.0 percent, with average check up 1.4 percent.

Qdoba same-store sales increased 2.1 percent system-wide and 3.1 percent for company restaurants in the second quarter. Company same-store sales reflected a 3.7 percent increase in transactions as well as growth in catering sales.

Consolidated restaurant operating margin decreased by 70 basis points to 19.9 percent of sales in the second quarter of 2016, compared with 20.6 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter. Restaurant operating margin for Jack in the Box company restaurants decreased 70 basis points to 20.7 percent of sales. The decrease was due primarily to minimum wage increases in California that went into effect in January 2016 and higher costs related to equipment upgrades which were partially offset by favorable food and packaging costs. The decrease in food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales resulted from the benefit of commodity deflation of approximately 2.9 percent in the quarter, favorable product mix changes and menu price increases. Restaurant operating margin for Qdoba company restaurants decreased 50 basis points to 18.3 percent of sales, as costs associated with a greater number of new restaurant openings and higher promotional activity more than offset the sales growth and benefits from commodity deflation of approximately 4.6 percent in the quarter.

Franchise margin as a percentage of total franchise revenues improved to 53.8 percent in the second quarter from 51.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The improvement was due primarily to higher net rental income of $1.9 million recognized in the quarter related to previously refranchised Jack in the Box markets. This annual adjustment resulted from higher sales over the last year.

SG&A expense for the second quarter decreased by $5.6 million and was 13.0 percent of revenues as compared to 14.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The decrease reflects a $3.9 million decrease in incentive compensation and a $1.2 million decrease in pension and postretirement benefits related to the sunsetting of the company's qualified pension plan on December 31, 2015. Mark-to-market adjustments on investments supporting the company’s non-qualified retirement plans positively impacted SG&A by $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2016 as compared to a positive impact of $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2015, resulting in a year-over-year decrease in SG&A of $0.7 million. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in advertising costs at Qdoba due to the timing of promotional activities, and higher pre-opening costs of $0.6 million resulting from a greater number of Qdoba openings and restaurants under construction in the second quarter.

Interest expense, net, increased by $2.7 million in the second quarter due to increased leverage and a higher effective interest rate for 2016.

The tax rate for the second quarter of 2016 was 36.7 percent versus 37.9 percent for the second quarter of 2015. The lower tax rate in the second quarter of 2016 was due primarily to favorable adjustments on investments supporting the company's non-qualified retirement plans.

Capital Allocation

The company repurchased approximately 2,177,000 shares of its common stock in the second quarter of 2016 at an average price of $68.90 per share for an aggregate cost of $150.0 million. This leaves $50.0 million remaining under a stock-buyback program authorized by the company’s Board of Directors in February 2016 that expires in November 2017. In May 2016, the company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $100 million stock buyback program that also expires in November 2017.

The company also announced today that on May 5, 2016, its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on June 7, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 24, 2016.

Guidance

The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the third quarter ending July 3, 2016, and fiscal year ending October 2, 2016. Fiscal 2016 is a 53-week year, with 16 weeks in the first quarter, 12 weeks in each of the second and third quarters, and 13 weeks in the fourth quarter.

Third quarter fiscal year 2016 guidance

• Same-store sales ranging from approximately down 2.0 percent to flat at Jack in the Box company restaurants versus a 5.5 percent increase in the year-ago quarter. The low end of the sales guidance range reflects trends through the first four weeks of the third quarter which have been negatively impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding in Houston where 17 percent of Jack in the Box company restaurants are located.
• Same-store sales ranging from approximately down 1.0 percent to up 1.0 percent at Qdoba company restaurants versus a 6.6 percent increase in the year-ago quarter. Sales trends are tracking slightly below the low end of the guidance range due in part to adverse weather in key markets, but are expected to improve over the balance of the third quarter due to planned promotional activity.

Fiscal year 2016 guidance

• Same-store sales of approximately flat to up 1.0 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants.
• Same-store sales increase of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 percent at Qdoba company restaurants.
• Commodity deflation of approximately 2 to 3 percent for Jack in the Box and approximately 5 percent at Qdoba.
• Consolidated restaurant operating margin of approximately 20.0 to 20.5 percent.
• SG&A as a percentage of revenue of approximately 13.0 to 13.5 percent as compared to 14.4 percent in fiscal 2015.
• Impairment and other charges as a percentage of revenue of approximately 80 basis points.
• Approximately 20 new Jack in the Box restaurants opening system-wide, the majority of which will be franchise locations.
• Approximately 50 to 60 new Qdoba restaurants, of which approximately half are expected to be company locations.
• Capital expenditures of $100 million to $120 million.
• Tax rate of approximately 38 percent.
• Operating earnings per share, which the company defines as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising, ranging from $3.50 to $3.63 in fiscal 2016 as compared to operating earnings per share of $3.00 in fiscal 2015. The estimated benefit of the 53rd week in fiscal 2016 is approximately $0.08 per diluted share.

Conference call

The company will host a conference call for financial analysts and investors on Thursday, May 12, 2016, beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website. To access the live call through the Internet, log onto the Investors section of the Jack in the Box Inc. website athttp://investors.jackinthebox.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event in order to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available through the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website for 21 days, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT on May 12.

About Jack in the Box Inc.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states and Guam. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Eats®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 600 restaurants in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. For more information on Jack in the Box and Qdoba, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com orwww.qdoba.com.

Safe harbor statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including the following: the success of new products and marketing initiatives; the impact of competition, unemployment, trends in consumer spending patterns and commodity costs; the company's ability to reduce G&A; the company's ability to execute its refranchising strategy; the company’s ability to achieve and manage its planned growth, which is affected by the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites, the performance of new restaurants, and risks relating to expansion into new markets; litigation risks; food safety incidents or negative publicity impacting the reputations of the company's brands; and stock market volatility. These and other factors are discussed in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and its periodic reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available online athttp://investors.jackinthebox.com or in hard copy upon request. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information or otherwise.

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS TO GAAP RESULTS
(Unaudited)

Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, is defined by the company as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides important supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing the performance of the company’s core business. In addition, the company uses operating earnings per share in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The company encourages investors to rely upon its GAAP numbers but includes this non-GAAP financial measure as a supplemental metric to assist investors. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP financial measure used by the company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP operating earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Figures may not add due to rounding.

____________________________

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The following table presents certain income and expense items included in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings as a percentage of total revenues, unless otherwise indicated. Percentages may not add due to rounding.

____________________________

The following table presents Jack in the Box and Qdoba company restaurant sales, costs and margin, and restaurant costs and margin as a percentage of the related sales. Percentages may not add due to rounding.

The following table presents franchise revenues, costs and margin in each period:

The following table provides information related to our operating segments in each period:

The following table summarizes the year-to-date changes in the number and mix of Jack in the Box ("JIB") and Qdoba company and franchise restaurants:

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Lenny Comma, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Operating earnings per share for the second quarter exceeded our expectations and guidance, and resulted primarily from healthy margins and cost controls combined with mark-to-market adjustments and a lower tax rate. We were pleased with the solid sales performance at Qdoba® company restaurants, which was driven by traffic growth, as well as with the improvement in labor costs and margins as compared to the first quarter.

"At the Jack in the Box® brand, system same-store sales were flat for the quarter as compared to an increase of 8.9 percent in the prior year. In late January, we introduced multiple upgrades to the core menu at our Jack in the Box restaurants system-wide, and in the latter half of the quarter, we featured the improved products in marketing messages at price points conveying both value and quality.

"We look forward to sharing our growth plans and strategies to enhance shareholder value at our upcoming investor meeting."

Increase (decrease) in same-store sales:

Jack in the Box system same-store sales were flat for the quarter, and lagged the QSR sandwich segment by 2.7 percentage points for the comparable period, according to The NPD Group’s SalesTrack® Weekly for the 12-week time period ended April 10, 2016. Included in this segment are 16 of the top QSR sandwich and burger chains in the country. Company same-store sales decreased 1.0 percent, with average check up 1.4 percent.

Qdoba same-store sales increased 2.1 percent system-wide and 3.1 percent for company restaurants in the second quarter. Company same-store sales reflected a 3.7 percent increase in transactions as well as growth in catering sales.

Consolidated restaurant operating margin decreased by 70 basis points to 19.9 percent of sales in the second quarter of 2016, compared with 20.6 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter. Restaurant operating margin for Jack in the Box company restaurants decreased 70 basis points to 20.7 percent of sales. The decrease was due primarily to minimum wage increases in California that went into effect in January 2016 and higher costs related to equipment upgrades which were partially offset by favorable food and packaging costs. The decrease in food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales resulted from the benefit of commodity deflation of approximately 2.9 percent in the quarter, favorable product mix changes and menu price increases. Restaurant operating margin for Qdoba company restaurants decreased 50 basis points to 18.3 percent of sales, as costs associated with a greater number of new restaurant openings and higher promotional activity more than offset the sales growth and benefits from commodity deflation of approximately 4.6 percent in the quarter.

Franchise margin as a percentage of total franchise revenues improved to 53.8 percent in the second quarter from 51.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The improvement was due primarily to higher net rental income of $1.9 million recognized in the quarter related to previously refranchised Jack in the Box markets. This annual adjustment resulted from higher sales over the last year.

SG&A expense for the second quarter decreased by $5.6 million and was 13.0 percent of revenues as compared to 14.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The decrease reflects a $3.9 million decrease in incentive compensation and a $1.2 million decrease in pension and postretirement benefits related to the sunsetting of the company's qualified pension plan on December 31, 2015. Mark-to-market adjustments on investments supporting the company’s non-qualified retirement plans positively impacted SG&A by $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2016 as compared to a positive impact of $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2015, resulting in a year-over-year decrease in SG&A of $0.7 million. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in advertising costs at Qdoba due to the timing of promotional activities, and higher pre-opening costs of $0.6 million resulting from a greater number of Qdoba openings and restaurants under construction in the second quarter.

Interest expense, net, increased by $2.7 million in the second quarter due to increased leverage and a higher effective interest rate for 2016.

The tax rate for the second quarter of 2016 was 36.7 percent versus 37.9 percent for the second quarter of 2015. The lower tax rate in the second quarter of 2016 was due primarily to favorable adjustments on investments supporting the company's non-qualified retirement plans.

Capital Allocation

The company repurchased approximately 2,177,000 shares of its common stock in the second quarter of 2016 at an average price of $68.90 per share for an aggregate cost of $150.0 million. This leaves $50.0 million remaining under a stock-buyback program authorized by the company’s Board of Directors in February 2016 that expires in November 2017. In May 2016, the company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $100 million stock buyback program that also expires in November 2017.

The company also announced today that on May 5, 2016, its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on June 7, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 24, 2016.

Guidance

The following guidance and underlying assumptions reflect the company’s current expectations for the third quarter ending July 3, 2016, and fiscal year ending October 2, 2016. Fiscal 2016 is a 53-week year, with 16 weeks in the first quarter, 12 weeks in each of the second and third quarters, and 13 weeks in the fourth quarter.

Third quarter fiscal year 2016 guidance

• Same-store sales ranging from approximately down 2.0 percent to flat at Jack in the Box company restaurants versus a 5.5 percent increase in the year-ago quarter. The low end of the sales guidance range reflects trends through the first four weeks of the third quarter which have been negatively impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding in Houston where 17 percent of Jack in the Box company restaurants are located.
• Same-store sales ranging from approximately down 1.0 percent to up 1.0 percent at Qdoba company restaurants versus a 6.6 percent increase in the year-ago quarter. Sales trends are tracking slightly below the low end of the guidance range due in part to adverse weather in key markets, but are expected to improve over the balance of the third quarter due to planned promotional activity.

Fiscal year 2016 guidance

• Same-store sales of approximately flat to up 1.0 percent at Jack in the Box company restaurants.
• Same-store sales increase of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 percent at Qdoba company restaurants.
• Commodity deflation of approximately 2 to 3 percent for Jack in the Box and approximately 5 percent at Qdoba.
• Consolidated restaurant operating margin of approximately 20.0 to 20.5 percent.
• SG&A as a percentage of revenue of approximately 13.0 to 13.5 percent as compared to 14.4 percent in fiscal 2015.
• Impairment and other charges as a percentage of revenue of approximately 80 basis points.
• Approximately 20 new Jack in the Box restaurants opening system-wide, the majority of which will be franchise locations.
• Approximately 50 to 60 new Qdoba restaurants, of which approximately half are expected to be company locations.
• Capital expenditures of $100 million to $120 million.
• Tax rate of approximately 38 percent.
• Operating earnings per share, which the company defines as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising, ranging from $3.50 to $3.63 in fiscal 2016 as compared to operating earnings per share of $3.00 in fiscal 2015. The estimated benefit of the 53rd week in fiscal 2016 is approximately $0.08 per diluted share.

Conference call

The company will host a conference call for financial analysts and investors on Thursday, May 12, 2016, beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT (11:30 a.m. ET). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website. To access the live call through the Internet, log onto the Investors section of the Jack in the Box Inc. website athttp://investors.jackinthebox.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event in order to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available through the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website for 21 days, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT on May 12.

About Jack in the Box Inc.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states and Guam. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Eats®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 600 restaurants in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. For more information on Jack in the Box and Qdoba, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com orwww.qdoba.com.

Safe harbor statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including the following: the success of new products and marketing initiatives; the impact of competition, unemployment, trends in consumer spending patterns and commodity costs; the company's ability to reduce G&A; the company's ability to execute its refranchising strategy; the company’s ability to achieve and manage its planned growth, which is affected by the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites, the performance of new restaurants, and risks relating to expansion into new markets; litigation risks; food safety incidents or negative publicity impacting the reputations of the company's brands; and stock market volatility. These and other factors are discussed in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and its periodic reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available online athttp://investors.jackinthebox.com or in hard copy upon request. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information or otherwise.

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS TO GAAP RESULTS
(Unaudited)

Operating earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, is defined by the company as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring charges and gains or losses from refranchising. Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides important supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing the performance of the company’s core business. In addition, the company uses operating earnings per share in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The company encourages investors to rely upon its GAAP numbers but includes this non-GAAP financial measure as a supplemental metric to assist investors. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP financial measure used by the company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP operating earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Figures may not add due to rounding.

____________________________

JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The following table presents certain income and expense items included in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings as a percentage of total revenues, unless otherwise indicated. Percentages may not add due to rounding.

____________________________

The following table presents Jack in the Box and Qdoba company restaurant sales, costs and margin, and restaurant costs and margin as a percentage of the related sales. Percentages may not add due to rounding.

The following table presents franchise revenues, costs and margin in each period:

The following table provides information related to our operating segments in each period: