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First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.

For the period ended Jun 29, 2025. Filed Aug 5, 2025.

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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Jun 29, 2025 · Filed Aug 5, 2025

FWRG$13.44-3.0%Stored close · as of Nov 10, 2026

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Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

JUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$19,177$33,312
Accounts receivable5,4847,235
Inventory6,7726,117
Prepaid expenses8,3967,008
Derivative assets, current—20
Other current assets3,1182,184
Total current assets42,94755,876
Goodwill420,208398,565
Intangible assets, net179,132167,596
Operating lease right-of-use assets595,464527,674
Property, fixtures and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $254,075and $229,227, respectively434,180361,394
Other long-term assets4,0623,251
Total assets$1,675,993$1,514,356
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$7,506$6,961
Accrued liabilities47,73639,607
Accrued compensation19,83221,244
Deferred revenues3,5075,623
Current portion of operating lease liabilities67,60655,704
Current portion of long-term debt11,8159,228
Derivative liabilities, current325105
Total current liabilities158,327138,472
Operating lease liabilities629,345555,576
Long-term debt, net250,009189,043
Deferred income taxes31,50132,218
Derivative liabilities1,271503
Other long-term liabilities4,2273,155
Total liabilities1,074,680918,967
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Equity:
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding——
Common stock; $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 61,023,971 and 60,700,090 shares issued and outstanding at June 29, 2025 and December 29, 2024, respectively610607
Additional paid-in capital654,446649,045
Accumulated deficit(52,545)(53,822)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,198)(441)
Total equity601,313595,389
Total liabilities and equity$1,675,993$1,514,356

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Revenues:
Restaurant sales$304,983$255,457$584,574$494,765
Franchise revenues2,9043,1045,5536,245
Total revenues307,887258,561590,127501,010
Operating costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below):
Food and beverage costs71,97855,803138,625107,987
Labor and other related expenses101,31083,841198,064163,576
Other restaurant operating expenses46,60337,54990,86274,341
Occupancy expenses24,80920,49047,95839,658
Pre-opening expenses3,5071,8286,1673,395
General and administrative expenses33,18527,18963,40454,847
Depreciation and amortization18,13614,53634,69326,807
Impairments and loss on disposal of assets127153136272
Transaction expenses, net9197251,7921,394
Total operating costs and expenses300,574242,114581,701472,277
Income from operations7,31316,4478,42628,733
Interest expense(4,003)(3,381)(7,337)(5,980)
Other income, net2667139501,039
Income before income taxes3,57613,7792,03923,792
Income tax expense(1,470)(4,879)(762)(7,678)
Net income$2,106$8,900$1,277$16,114
Net income$2,106$8,900$1,277$16,114
Other comprehensive income
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives(125)(99)(1,008)1,139
Income tax related to other comprehensive income3125251(284)
Comprehensive income$2,012$8,826$520$16,969
Net income per common share - basic$0.03$0.15$0.02$0.27
Net income per common share - diluted$0.03$0.14$0.02$0.26
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic61,005,64860,384,69660,886,52560,198,743
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted62,579,65862,464,42462,732,07262,507,183

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)

Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-inCapital · AccumulatedDeficit · Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) · TotalEquity
Shares · Amount
Balance at December 31, 202359,891,705$599$634,099$(72,747)$(667)$561,284
Net income———7,214—7,214
Stock-based compensation——1,866——1,866
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans, net480,82653,142——3,147
Other comprehensive income, net of tax————929929
Balance at March 31, 202460,372,531604639,107(65,533)262574,440
Net income———8,900—8,900
Stock-based compensation——2,452——2,452
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans, net30,307—66——66
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax————(74)(74)
Balance at June 30, 202460,402,838$604$641,625$(56,633)$188$585,784
Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-inCapital · AccumulatedDeficit · Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss · TotalEquity
Shares · Amount
Balance at December 29, 202460,700,090$607$649,045$(53,822)$(441)$595,389
Net loss———(829)—(829)
Stock-based compensation——2,259——2,259
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans, net274,4533130——133
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax————(663)(663)
Balance at March 30, 202560,974,543610651,434(54,651)(1,104)596,289
Net income———2,106—2,106
Stock-based compensation——2,842——2,842
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans, net49,428—170——170
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax————(94)(94)
Balance at June 29, 202561,023,971$610$654,446$(52,545)$(1,198)$601,313

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN THOUSANDS)

TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income$1,277$16,114
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization34,69326,807
Stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized5,0494,318
Non-cash operating lease costs15,77912,229
Non-cash portion of gain on lease modifications—(5)
Non-cash loss on extinguishments and modifications of debt—358
Deferred income taxes(466)6,600
Amortization of debt discount and deferred issuance costs322255
Impairments and loss on disposal of assets136272
Gain on insurance proceeds(47)(3)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations:
Accounts receivable1,7511,500
Inventory(465)(57)
Prepaid expenses(1,319)(969)
Other assets, current and long-term(1,130)(641)
Accounts payable545853
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities8,8183,655
Accrued compensation and deferred payroll taxes(1,412)(4,732)
Deferred revenues, current and long-term(2,659)(2,535)
Other liabilities—(259)
Operating lease liabilities(1,302)(6,867)
Net cash provided by operating activities59,57056,893
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures(77,683)(58,199)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired(54,833)(77,095)
Purchase of intangible assets(380)(64)
Insurance proceeds473
Net cash used in investing activities(132,849)(135,355)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility127,00022,500
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facility(91,500)(52,500)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt27,500197,500
Repayments of long-term debt, including finance lease liabilities(4,159)(94,045)
Payment of debt discount and deferred issuance costs—(2,430)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, net of employee taxes paid3033,213
Contingent consideration payment—(375)
Net cash provided by financing activities59,14473,863
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents(14,135)(4,599)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period33,31249,961
End of period$19,177$45,362

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - continued

(IN THOUSANDS)

TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized$2,792$4,362
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds$1,015$2,103
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities (1)$83,433$73,569
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities$4,246$160
Remeasurements and terminations of operating lease assets and lease liabilities$3,540$1,613
Remeasurements and terminations of finance lease assets and lease liabilities$(407)$(13)
Decrease in liabilities from acquisition of property, fixtures and equipment$(581)$(550)

(1)Leased assets and liabilities obtained during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024 include $23.6 million and $28.1 million from business acquisitions, respectively.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  1. Nature of Business and Organization

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (collectively with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, “the Company,” or “Management”) is a Delaware holding company. The Company operates and franchises restaurants in 31 states operating under the “First Watch” trade name, which are focused on made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch. The Company does not operate outside of the United States and all of its assets are located in the United States. As of June 29, 2025, the Company operated 531 company-owned restaurants and had 69 franc hise-owned restaurants.

  1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Company reports financial information on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday of each calendar year. The quarters ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024 were 13-week periods. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 29, 2024 (“2024 Form 10-K”).

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in the 2024 Form 10-K and include all adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the consolidated financial statements for the quarterly periods presented. The results of operations for quarterly periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other quarterly periods or the entire fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from the estimates and such differences could be material.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value. Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities.

Interest Rate Swaps

As an element of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy, Management uses interest rate swaps. The intent of these instruments is to reduce cash flow exposure to variability in future interest rates on the Company’s debt. Management has elected to designate and qualify the interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. As such, the instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Thereafter, gains or losses on the instruments are recognized in equity as changes to Other Comprehensive Income and subsequently reclassified into earnings at the time of the Company’s debt interest payments.

Summary of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which establishes new income tax disclosure requirements including disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as disaggregated information on income taxes paid. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and should be applied on a prospective basis, however, retrospective application is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and anticipates an expansion in the Company’s annual income tax disclosures.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, which establishes new disclosure requirements related to purchases of inventory, employee compensation, selling expenses, depreciation and intangible amortization. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027 and should be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard.

Recent accounting guidance not discussed herein is not applicable, did not have, or is not expected to have a material impact to the Company.

  1. Business Acquisitions

During the second quarter of 2025, the Company acquired, intwo separate transactions, substantially all the assets associated with 19 franchise-operated First Watch restaurants. For both transactions, the purchase price was allocated to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The allocations were based on preliminary valuations and are subject to adjustment as additional information is available. The Company expects to finalize the valuations of these assets no later than one year from the respective acquisition dates.

DATE OF ACQUISITION
(in thousands, except number of acquired restaurants)APRIL 14, 2025APRIL 28, 2025
Number of acquired restaurants316
Purchase price (cash)$6,985$49,247
Transaction costs incurred$411$985
Deferred franchise fees recognized as a result of termination of pre-existing franchise agreement$—$398
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Cash$5$24
Inventory$31$159
Other assets$9$124
Property, fixtures and equipment$2,998$19,800
Reacquired rights$1,920$13,060
Goodwill$2,876$18,767
Operating right-of-use assets, net of lease positions and prepaid rent$2,922$17,305
Operating lease liabilities$(3,735)$(19,896)
Accounts payable$(2)$—
Deferred revenues - gift card liabilities assumed$(39)$(96)

Goodwill reflects the value of expected synergies and assembled workforce, and was assigned to the Company’s single reporting unit. The Company will treat the transactions as asset acquisitions for income tax purposes, which allows for any goodwill recognized to be tax deductible and amortized over a 15-year statutory life.

The weighted average estimated useful life of the reacquired rights is 6.1 years.

Pro-forma financial information of the acquired restaurants for periods prior to the acquisition dates is not presented due to the immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements.

  1. Revenues

Revenues recognized disaggregated by type were as follows:

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Restaurant sales:
In-restaurant dining sales$247,400$211,176$474,127$406,375
Third-party delivery sales34,46524,37566,47050,310
Take-out sales23,11819,90643,97738,080
Total restaurant sales$304,983$255,457$584,574$494,765
Franchise revenues:
Royalty and system fund contributions$2,451$2,661$5,038$5,670
Initial fees5560117162
Business combinations - revenues recognized398383398413
Total franchise revenues2,9043,1045,5536,245
Total revenues$307,887$258,561$590,127$501,010

The following tables include a detail of liabilities from contracts with customers:

(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
Deferred revenues:
Deferred gift card revenue$3,301$5,385
Deferred franchise fee revenue - current206238
Total current deferred revenues$3,507$5,623
Other long-term liabilities:
Deferred franchise fee revenue - non-current$1,283$1,691

Changes in deferred gift card contract liabilities were as follows:

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Deferred gift card revenue:
Balance, beginning of period$3,154$3,067$5,385$5,224
Gift card sales3,3022,8384,8504,247
Gift card redemptions(2,975)(2,739)(6,349)(5,851)
Gift card breakage(315)(304)(720)(763)
Gift card liabilities assumed through acquisitions135160135165
Balance, end of period$3,301$3,022$3,301$3,022

Changes in deferred franchise fee contract liabilities were as follows:

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Deferred franchise fee revenue:
Balance, beginning of period$1,902$2,264$1,929$2,061
Cash received407275407
Franchise revenues recognized(55)(60)(117)(162)
Business combinations - franchise revenues recognized(398)(383)(398)(413)
Balance, end of period$1,489$1,893$1,489$1,893
  1. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
Receivable rebates from vendors$1,306$1,657
Receivables from third-party delivery providers2,2021,445
Receivables from franchisees966987
Receivables related to gift card sales6281,683
Other receivables3821,463
Total accounts receivable$5,484$7,235
  1. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
Construction liabilities$16,188$16,769
Sales tax9,0757,919
Interest payable4,373267
Insurance liabilities2,9012,521
Utilities2,5452,156
Credit card fees2,2321,973
Property tax1,748830
Contingent rent9171,058
Common area maintenance477618
Other7,2805,496
Total accrued liabilities$47,736$39,607
  1. Debt

Long-term debt, net consisted of the following:

JUNE 29, 2025 · DECEMBER 29, 2024
(in thousands) · Balance · Interest Rate · Balance · Interest Rate
Term Facilities$217,2506.90%$193,7976.93%
Revolving Credit Facility35,5007.30%—
Finance lease liabilities7,4232,766
Financing obligation3,0503,050
Less: Unamortized debt discount and deferred issuance costs(1,399)(1,342)
Total debt, net261,824198,271
Less: Current portion of long-term debt(11,815)(9,228)
Long-term debt, net$250,009$189,043

Credit Facility

FWR Holding Corporation (“FWR”), a subsidiary of the Company, is the borrower under the credit agreement dated October 6, 2021, the terms of which were amended on February 24, 2023 and January 5, 2025, which provides for (i) a $225.0 million term loan A facility and delayed draw facility (the “Term Facilities”) and (ii) a $125.0 million revolving credit facility (“the Revolving Credit Facility”), and together with the Term Facilities, (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility matures on January 5, 2029.

During the second quarter of 2025, the Company drew $27.5 million on the delayed draw facility and $32.5 million on the revolving credit facility, primarily to fund the business acquisitions. As of June 29, 2025, the delayed draw facility was fully drawn and the balances shall be due under the same repayment terms as the term loan A facility.

As of June 29, 2025, borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the option of FWR at either (i) the alternate base rate plus a margin of between 150 and 225 basis points depending on the total rent adjusted net leverage ratio of FWR and its restricted subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (the “Total Rent Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio”) or (ii) SOFR plus a credit spread adjustment of 10 basis points plus a margin of between 250 and 325 basis points depending on the Total Rent Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio. Refer to Note 8, Interest Rate Swaps, for information about the Company’s variable-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements.

Fair Value of Debt

The estimated fair value of the outstanding debt, excluding finance lease obligations and financing obligations, is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy and was estimated using discounted cash flow models, market yield and yield volatility. The following table includes the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s debt as of the dates indicated:

JUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
(in thousands)Carrying ValueFair ValueCarrying ValueFair Value
Term Facilities$217,250$216,925$193,797$193,417
Revolving Credit Facility$35,500$35,443$—$—

Debt Covenants

The Credit Facility is guaranteed by all of FWR’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and by AI Fresh Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the direct parent company of FWR (“Holdings”), and is secured by associated collateral agreements that pledge a lien on substantially all of FWR’s and each guarantor’s assets, including fixed assets and intangibles, in each case, subject to customary exceptions.

Under the credit agreement, FWR (and in certain circumstances, Holdings) and its subsidiaries are subject to affirmative, negative and financial covenants, maintenance of certain ratios, restrictions on additional indebtedness and events of default for facilities of this type (with customary grace periods, as applicable, and lender remedies). FWR was in compliance with its covenants under the credit agreement as of June 29, 2025.

  1. Interest Rate Swaps

The Company utilizes interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of the cash flows of the Company’s variable rate debt.

On June 23, 2023, the Company entered intotwo variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps. These interest rate swaps have an aggregate notional amount of $90.0 million and mature on October 6, 2026. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company will pay a weighted average fixed rate of 4.16% on the notional amount and will receive payments from, or make payments to, the counterparties based on the three-month SOFR rate.

On May 17, 2024, the Company entered intotwo additional variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps. These interest rate swaps have an aggregate notional amount of $60.0 million and mature on June 30, 2027. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company will pay a weighted average fixed rate of 4.42% on the notional amount and will receive payments from, or make payments to, the counterparties based on the three-month SOFR rate.

The fair value measurement of the interest rate swaps was based on the contractual terms and market-based inputs. The interest rate swaps were valued using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows using observable inputs including interest rate curves and credit spreads. Although the majority of the inputs used to value the instruments fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments utilized Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and the counterparties. The impact of the credit valuation adjustments was not determined to be significant to the overall valuation. As a result, the derivative was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Amounts reported in Other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. During the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025, a total of $0.1 million was reclassified from Other comprehensive income as a reduction to Interest expense. Over the next 12 months, the Company estimates that $0.6 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

  1. Leases

The following table includes detail of lease assets and liabilities:

(in thousands)Consolidated Balance Sheet ClassificationJUNE 29, 2025DECEMBER 29, 2024
Finance lease assets - currentOther current assets$930$—
Operating lease right-of-use assetsOperating lease right-of-use assets595,464527,674
Finance lease assetsProperty, fixtures and equipment, net6,1432,724
Total lease assets$602,537$530,398
Operating lease liabilities - current(1)Current portion of operating lease liabilities$67,606$55,704
Operating lease liabilities - non-currentOperating lease liabilities629,345555,576
Finance lease liabilities - current(1)Current portion of long-term debt565587
Finance lease liabilities - non-currentLong-term debt, net6,8582,179
Total lease liabilities$704,374$614,046

(1) Excludes all variable lease expense for real estate leases.

The components of lease expense are as follows:

(in thousands) · Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income Classification · THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED · TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025 · JUNE 30, 2024 · JUNE 29, 2025 · JUNE 30, 2024
Operating lease expenseOther restaurant operating expensesOccupancy expensesPre-opening expensesGeneral and administrative expenses$20,914$17,059$40,544$32,752
Variable lease expenseFood and beverage costsOccupancy expensesGeneral and administrative expenses5,8104,81811,0449,426
Finance lease expense:
Amortization of leased assetsDepreciation and amortization225133418261
Interest on lease liabilitiesInterest expense871813136
Total lease expense (1)$27,036$22,028$52,137$42,475

(1) Includes contingent rent expense of $0.4 million during both the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively, and $0.9 million for both the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024.

Supp lemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

(in thousands)TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows - operating leases$26,067$27,391
Operating cash flows - finance leases$131$36
Financing cash flows - finance leases$112$311

Supplemental information related to leases was as follows:

TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
Operating leases13.013.5
Finance leases13.63.3
Weighted-average discount rate (1)
Operating leases7.7%8.0%
Finance leases6.2%6.5%

(1) Based on the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.

  1. Deferred Compensation

The Company adopted a non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the “First Watch Deferred Compensation Plan”) effective January 1, 2025. The First Watch Deferred Compensation Plan allows officers and other key employees to defer their compensation within annual limits designated by the Company. Discretionary matching and other credits may be made to the accounts of active participants, which vest based on an employee’s years of service or vest in full upon an active participant’s death, disability or a Company change in control event, as defined in the plan. Participants’ earnings on contributions fluctuate with the actual earnings and losses of available investment choices selected by the participants.

While the First Watch Deferred Compensation Plan is unsecured, the Company has elected to fund certain of these obligations through a rabbi trust, the assets of which consist of Company-owned life insurance policies. The assets held in the rabbi trust are not available for general corporate purposes and are subject to creditor claims in the event of insolvency.

The cash surrender value of the life insurance policies held in the rabbi trust is recorded in other long-term assets. As of June 29, 2025, rabbi trust assets totaled $1.0 million. Changes to the cash surrender value and any increases or decreases to deferred compensation liabilities incurred under the First Watch Deferred Compensation Plan are recorded as general and administrative expenses. As of June 29, 2025, the deferred compensation obligation included in other long-term liabilities totaled $1.0 million.

  1. Equity and Stock-Based Compensation

Stock option awards

There were no stock option awards granted during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025. A summary of stock option activity during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 is as follows:

NUMBER OF OPTIONSWEIGHTED AVERAGEEXERCISE PRICE PER SHAREAGGREGATE INTRINSIC VALUE (in thousands)WEIGHTED AVERAGEREMAINING CONTRACTUAL LIFE (in years)
Outstanding, December 29, 20243,701,017$10.14$31,6764.1
Forfeited(963)$12.58
Exercised(30,959)$9.79
Outstanding, June 29, 20253,669,095$10.14$21,9143.7
Exercisable, June 29, 20253,655,437$10.13$21,8823.6

The aggregate intrinsic value is based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock option and the closing price of the Company’s common stock on Nasdaq on the last trading day of the period.

A summary of the non-vested stock option activity during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 is as follows:

NUMBER OF OPTIONSWEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE PER SHARE
Nonvested, December 29, 2024324,245$6.55
Forfeited(963)$6.76
Vested(309,624)$6.62
Nonvested, June 29, 202513,658$5.00

Restricted stock units

During the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025, a total of 1,028,509 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were granted. Of the total RSU’s granted,597,737 will vest ratably over a period ofthree years from grant date,65,364 will vestone year from the grant date, and the remaining 365,408 will vest four years from the grant date. A summary of the Company’s RSU activity during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 is as follows:

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITSWEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE PER SHAREAGGREGATE INTRINSIC VALUE (in thousands)
Outstanding, December 29, 2024759,721$20.67$14,207
Granted1,028,509$16.75
Forfeited(7,969)$20.06
Vested(292,922)$19.42
Outstanding, June 29, 20251,487,339$18.21$23,961

The aggregate intrinsic value is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on Nasdaq of $16.11 and $18.70 on June 27, 2025 and December 27, 2024, the last trading days of the periods, respectively.

Stock-based compensation expense, net of amounts capitalized, was $2.8 million and $2.5 million during the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively, and $5.0 million and $4.3 million during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively. Capitalized stock-based compensation included in property, fixtures and equipment totaled $0.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025. The total related income tax benefit for stock-based compensation expense was $0.2 million and $0.1 million during the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively, and $1.2 million and $1.4 million during the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively.

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense

The following represents unrecognized stock-based compensation expense and the remaining weighted average vesting period as of June 29, 2025:

UNRECOGNIZED STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE (in thousands)REMAINING WEIGHTED AVERAGE VESTING PERIOD (in years)
Stock options$80.3
Restricted stock units$23,1122.5
  1. Income Taxes
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Income before income taxes$3,576$13,779$2,039$23,792
Income tax expense$(1,470)$(4,879)$(762)$(7,678)
Effective income tax rate41.1%35.4%37.4%32.3%

The effective income tax rate was 41.1% and 35.4% for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively, and 37.4% and 32.3% for the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively. In the United States, a restaurant company employer may claim a credit against its federal income taxes for FICA taxes paid on certain tipped wages (the “FICA tax credit”). The level of FICA tax credits is primarily driven by restaurant sales. Income tax expense during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 decreased as compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily due to the decrease in income before taxes, the benefit of FICA tax credits and the change in the valuation allowance. The effective income tax rates during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 increased as compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily due to the benefit of FICA tax credits and the change in valuation allowance.

The effective income tax rates for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025 and June 30, 2024 were different than the blended federal and state statutory rate primarily due to the change in the valuation allowance, the benefit of FICA tax credits and the impacts of executive stock-based compensation.

On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 –One Big Beautiful Bill (“the Bill”) was enacted into law. The Bill provides for significant U.S. tax law changes and modifications, including making permanent 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025. The legislation has multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective in 2025 and others implemented through 2027. Since the legislation was not signed into law until after the end of our second quarter, the impacts are not included in our operating results for the twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2025. We are currently assessing its impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Valuation allowance

Management evaluates quarterly whether the resulting deferred tax assets are realizable given the Company’s earnings history. Based on the available evidence, the Company does not meet the more likely than not standard related to the realization of a portion of the deferred tax assets as of June 29, 2025. Accordingly, the Company has established a valuation allowance on the portion of deferred tax assets deemed not realizable, including state charitable contribution carryovers, various state loss carryforwards and various federal tax credit carryforwards.

Management continues to assess the rationale for recording a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. As the Company’s future taxable earnings increase and deferred tax assets are utilized, it is possible that a portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. Release of any valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and a decrease to income tax expense in the period of the release. The timing and amount of any release related to future taxable income is currently indeterminable.

  1. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims and liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business. The amount of the anticipated liability with respect to these matters was not material as of June 29, 2025. In the event any litigation losses become probable and estimable, the Company will recognize anticipated losses.

  1. Segment Information

Management determined the Company’s single operating segment on the basis that the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”), the Chief Executive Officer, assesses performance and allocates resources at the Company’s consolidated level. The Company’s CODM uses consolidated net income to evaluate performance and make key operating decisions, such as investments in our long-term growth strategy. This measure is also used to monitor budget against actual results.

Revenue is derived from sales of food and beverage, net of discounts, by our restaurants as well as franchise royalty, system fund and initial franchise fees. The measure of total assets for the reporting segment is reported on the consolidated balance sheets as total assets. The measure of capital expenditures for the reporting segment is reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

The following table details consolidated net income for the segment for the periods indicated:

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Total revenues$307,887$258,561$590,127$501,010
Less:
Food and beverage costs71,97855,803138,625107,987
Labor and other related expenses101,31083,841198,064163,576
Other restaurant operating expenses46,60337,54990,86274,341
Occupancy expenses24,80920,49047,95839,658
Pre-opening expenses3,5071,8286,1673,395
Stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized2,7902,4525,0494,318
General and administrative expenses(1)30,39524,73758,35550,529
Depreciation and amortization18,13614,53634,69326,807
Other segment items(2)1,0468781,9281,666
Interest expense4,0033,3817,3375,980
Other income, net(266)(713)(950)(1,039)
Income tax expense1,4704,8797627,678
Net income$2,106$8,900$1,277$16,114

(1) General and administrative expenses excludes stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized presented separately.

(2) Other segment items included in segment net income are primarily transaction expenses, and impairments and loss on disposal of assets.

  1. Net Income Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted net income per common share:

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDEDTWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED
(in thousands, except share and per share data)JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024JUNE 29, 2025JUNE 30, 2024
Numerator:
Net income$2,106$8,900$1,277$16,114
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic61,005,64860,384,69660,886,52560,198,743
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted62,579,65862,464,42462,732,07262,507,183
Net income per common share - basic$0.03$0.15$0.02$0.27
Net income per common share - diluted$0.03$0.14$0.02$0.26
Stock options outstanding not included in diluted net income per common share as their effect is anti-dilutive12,55212,55212,55212,552
Restricted stock units outstanding not included in diluted net income per share as their effect is anti-dilutive543,436417,325—266,115

Diluted net income per common share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average shares outstanding for the theoretical effect of potential common shares that would be issued for stock option awards outstanding and unvested as of the respective periods using the treasury method.

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The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.