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JOINT Corp (JYNT)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q4 2024 delivered accelerating top-line growth from continuing operations: revenue rose 14% year over year to $14.45M, while system-wide sales grew 9% to $145.2M and comp sales improved to 6% from 4% in Q3 .
  • Profitability on continuing ops flipped positive: net income from continuing operations was $0.99M ($0.06 diluted EPS) vs a $(10.18)M loss in Q4 2023 (impacted by a large tax valuation allowance); consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $3.32M vs $4.04M in Q4 2023 .
  • 2025 outlook frames a transition year: system-wide sales guided to $550–$570M, mid-single-digit comps, and consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $10.0–$11.5M as the company refranchises its ~125 corporate clinics and reduces overhead to become a “pure-play franchisor” .
  • Near-term catalysts: completion of refranchising (majority of corporate portfolio under LOIs; targeting wrap closer to 1H 2025), dynamic revenue management (pricing), and launch of a patient-facing mobile app expected by end of Q2 2025 to drive conversion and retention .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Momentum in the core: system-wide comp sales accelerated to 6% in Q4 (from 4% in Q3), and revenue from continuing operations increased 14% YoY as royalty, software and other franchise-related fees grew across a larger base of clinics .
    • Strategic clarity and execution: management reiterated the refranchising strategy with “vast majority” of corporate clinics in final LOI stages; focus is to reduce overhead and increase operating leverage as a “world-class, pure-play franchisor” .
    • Management tone and tactical levers: CEO emphasized “dynamic revenue management,” stronger digital marketing/promotions, and patient-facing tech; mobile app targeted by end of Q2 2025 to improve conversion and engagement (“frictionless” experience) .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Elevated operating costs: selling & marketing +64% YoY (to $2.7M) and G&A +5% YoY (to $7.2M); CFO cited a $1.5M medical malpractice settlement accrued in Q4 along with bonuses, search/restructuring, IT and audit costs .
    • Discontinued ops drag: consolidated net loss of $(2.72)M in Q4 (driven by $(3.70)M discontinued ops), and FY24 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA down modestly to $11.4M vs $12.2M in 2023 .
    • Estimate “miss” optics due to reporting change: S&P consensus still reflected pre-recast revenue constructs (est. ~$29.0M) while reported continuing ops revenue was $14.45M, creating an apparent miss; management did not guide GAAP revenue given refranchising timing uncertainty [functions.GetEstimates]* .

Financial Results

Note: Results below reflect continuing operations unless stated.

MetricQ4 2023Q3 2024Q4 2024
Revenue ($USD Millions)$12.71 $12.65 $14.45
Operating Income (Loss) ($USD Millions)$0.99 $(0.49) $0.94
Net Income from Continuing Ops ($USD Millions)$(10.18) $(0.41) $0.99
Diluted EPS – Continuing Ops ($)$(0.68) $(0.03) $0.06
Adjusted EBITDA – Consolidated ($USD Millions)$4.04 $2.43 $3.32

Revenue composition (Q4 YoY):

Revenue Component ($USD)Q4 2023Q4 2024
Royalty Fees$7,978,859 $8,840,890
Franchise Fees$703,072 $925,184
Advertising Fund Revenue$2,277,481 $2,525,307
Software Fees$1,340,168 $1,454,193
Other Revenues$409,121 $701,883
Total Revenues$12,708,701 $14,447,457

Key KPIs:

KPIQ3 2024Q4 2024
System-wide Sales ($USD Millions)$129.3 $145.2
System-wide Comp Sales (%)4% 6%
Total Clinics (end of period)963 967 (YE)

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
System-wide SalesFY 2025N/A$550–$570M New
System-wide Comp Sales (clinics ≥13 months)FY 2025N/AMid-single digits New
Adjusted EBITDA – ConsolidatedFY 2025N/A$10.0–$11.5M (includes ~$4.4M adj. for SBC, D&A; excludes potential refranchising impairments/restructuring) New
New Franchised Clinic Openings (excl. refranchised)FY 2025N/A30–40 (vs 57 in 2024) New

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q2 & Q3 2024)Current Period (Q4 2024)Trend
RefranchisingEngaged Capstone; early LOIs; timing likely to spill into 2025 Vast majority of 125 corporate clinics in final LOI stages; aim to wrap closer to 1H 2025 Advancing; larger bundles lengthen diligence
Pricing / Dynamic Revenue ManagementEvaluating levers incl. walk-in, legacy pricing; tested promotions Walk-in rate raised; dynamic RM to continue, potentially smaller, ongoing adjustments; price influence ~1.5–2% of comps More active pricing discipline
Patient-facing TechnologyBeta mobile check-in/app planned; digital intake; initial visit booking rollout App targeted in stores by end Q2 2025; features include clinic finder, doctor schedules, in-clinic check-in, push notifications Building moat via UX
Marketing / Lead GenShift toward top-of-funnel, co-op optimization, TikTok/PMAX, influencer efforts Enhance digital marketing/promotional calendar to drive organic leads and conversion Scaling newer channels
Macro / DemandConsumer headwinds; comps cooled in Q2; 4Q promos anticipated Q1-to-date cadence broadly consistent; inflation-sensitive cohort $50–100k HHI Cautious near-term tone
Labor / Provider SupplySchool relationships, preceptorships; retention focus DOC and coordinator labor costs relatively stable in 2024 Stable labor backdrop
Legal/Other Costs$1.5M CA wage/time litigation in Q2 $1.5M med-mal settlement accrued in Q4 G&A One-offs weighed on G&A

Management Commentary

  • “We are focused on…becoming a world class, pure play franchisor… strengthen our core, reignite growth and improve…profitability.”
  • “We will initiate dynamic revenue management, enhance our digital marketing and promotional calendar, and upgrade our patient facing technology.”
  • “We are in the final stages of executing letters of intent for the vast majority of our corporate portfolio.”
  • “Our new mobile app…anticipated to be in the app store by the end of Q2 2025…with features like clinic finder…in clinic check-in and push notifications.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Near-term trends and cadence: Management expects quarterly cadence similar to historical patterns; Q1-to-date broadly consistent with late Q4 trends, with February noise from leap year and promo structure .
  • Refranchising valuation: Bidders generally apply a multiple to franchise-centric EBITDA on adjusted corporate-clinic pro formas, accounting for royalty streams and modest above-store G&A for clusters; timing targeted closer to 1H 2025 .
  • Pricing/attrition: Walk-in price increases boosted conversion to memberships; January attrition seasonally elevated but leveled in February; management pursuing ongoing, smaller pricing actions, including legacy cohorts .
  • Royalty math and GAAP revenue: Roughly 10–10.5% of corporate gross sales convert to royalties/fees post-refranchising; no GAAP revenue guidance due to transaction timing uncertainty; focus on G&A rationalization to lift profitability .

Estimates Context

  • Q4 2024 vs S&P Global consensus (Primary EPS, Revenue, EBITDA): EPS beat; revenue and EBITDA misses reflect the shift to continuing ops reporting (recasting corporate clinics to discontinued operations).

    • EPS: $0.01 est vs $0.1651 actual (Primary EPS) → Beat*
    • Revenue: $28.99M est vs $14.45M actual → Miss*
    • EBITDA: $2.70M est vs $1.29M actual → Miss*
    • Estimate counts: EPS (5), Revenue (5)*
      Values retrieved from S&P Global.* [functions.GetEstimates]
  • Important context: The company recast corporate clinics as discontinued operations for all periods presented; analysts’ models may not have fully reflected this at the time, distorting revenue/EBITDA comparisons to consensus .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Transition to franchisor model is the crux: Completing refranchising (majority under LOIs) and rightsizing G&A should expand operating leverage and durability of cash flows .
  • Demand momentum improving: Q4 comps up to 6% and system-wide sales up 9% YoY; near-term comps likely helped by pricing/mix and improved marketing execution .
  • Pricing is turning from reactive to programmatic: Dynamic revenue management (walk-in changes, legacy migration) targets 1.5–2% comp lift with sensitivity to value positioning .
  • Digital and product roadmap adds optionality: Mobile app by end Q2 2025, enhanced intake/booking, and exploration of new use occasions/services should aid conversion and retention .
  • FY25 is a bridge year; FY26 the payoff: Guidance implies modest EBITDA compression during refranchising, with management pointing to higher royalties/margins and stronger KPIs in 2026 .
  • Watch items: pace/terms of refranchising closings, G&A reductions, new patient traffic recovery, and one-off legal/settlement costs in G&A .

Appendices

Additional Context and Selected Data

  • Balance sheet/liquidity: YE cash of $25.1M; access to $20M JPMorgan LOC through Feb 2027; federal NOL carryforward $9.1M .
  • FY 2024: revenue $51.9M (+10%); consolidated Adjusted EBITDA $11.4M (vs $12.2M in 2023) .
  • FY operating metrics: 14.7M adjustments, 957k new patients, 967 clinics YE (842 franchised; 125 company-managed) .

Footnote: Values marked with * are retrieved from S&P Global consensus/actuals via GetEstimates (Primary EPS, Revenue, EBITDA, and # of estimates). Methodological differences (e.g., normalized EPS, continuing vs consolidated presentation) may cause variances relative to GAAP figures reported in company filings. [functions.GetEstimates]

Sources: Company 8-K/press release, earnings presentation, and transcript for Q4 2024, prior quarters’ earnings materials, and S&P Global estimate data: .