Domino's (NYSE: DPZ) first quarter earnings report showed that the company is weathering the recession to date better than analysts had expected. Net income was up 245% over fourth quarter 2008, and 168% over same quarter a year ago.
However, this and the earnings per share of 41 cents were inflated by $21.2 million realized from early debt retirement. Without this, EPS would have come in at 20 cents, still above analysts' expectations of 17 cents but down by a penny from the first quarter of 2008.
The company jumped at the chance to retire $43 million of 5.261% fixed-rate notes for $22.3 million of cash on-hand and very cheap money draw from its revolving bank account. Continuing on that course, Domino's has already retired an additional $25 million that will show as $12.9 million to the good in the next quarter's earnings.
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