754	747	732	731	NM	577
Comparable venues (end of period)(2)	531	529	489	485	NM	485
Comparable venue sales change(2)	(4.8)%	2.8%	(0.4)%	NM	NM	0.4%

As of
December 31,
2017	As of
January 1, 2017	As of
January 3, 2016	As of
December 28, 2014	As of
February 14,
2014	As of
December 29,
2013
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets	$ 1,695,044	$1,710,112	$1,733,035	$1,836,113	NM	$ 791,611
Total debt(5)	986,419	989,948	994,448	999,783	NM	382,879
Stockholders’ equity	262,148	206,005	208,546	292,586	NM	160,768
Dividends declared	—	—	70,000	—	—	17,372

(1) We operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest December 31. Fiscal year 2015 was 53 weeks in length, which resulted in our fourth quarter consisting of 14 weeks. All other fiscal years presented were 52 weeks.

(2) We define “comparable venue sales” as sales for our domestic owned company-operated venues that have been open for more than 18 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year or for acquired venues we have operated for at least 12 months as of the beginning of each respective fiscal year. We define “comparable venue sales change” as the percentage change in comparable venue sales for each respective period. We believe comparable venue sales change to be a key performance indicator within our industry; it is a critical factor in evaluating our performance, as it is indicative of acceptance of our strategic initiatives and local economic and consumer trends. Our comparable venue sales for Fiscal 2015, and the Successor 2014 period exclude the Peter Piper Pizza venues that were acquired in October 2014 as we had operated them for less than 12 months at the beginning of each respective fiscal year. As a result of the 53 week fiscal year in 2015, our 2016 fiscal year began one calendar week later than our 2015 fiscal year. In order to provide useful information and to better analyze our business, we provided comparable venue sales for our 2016 fiscal year presented on both a fiscal week basis and calendar week basis. Comparable venue sales change for 2016 on a calendar week basis compared the results for the period from January 4, 2016 through January 1, 2017 (weeks 1 through 52 of our 2016 fiscal year) to the results for the period from January 5, 2015 through January 3, 2016 (weeks 2 through 53 of our 2015 fiscal year). We believe comparable venue sales change calculated on a same calendar week basis is more indicative of the operating trends in our business. However, we also recognize that comparable venue sales change calculated on a fiscal week basis is a useful measure when analyzing year-over-year changes in our financial statements. The comparable venue sales change in the table above is presented on a calendar week basis, excluding the additional week of operations in 2015. On a fiscal basis, excluding the additional week of operations in 2015, comparable venue sales change would have been 3.0% in 2016.

(3) For our definition of Adjusted EBITDA, see the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below.

(4) Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined by us as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Total revenues.

(5) Total debt includes our senior notes, our outstanding borrowings under the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility, net of deferred financing costs, capital leases, and the Predecessor Facility.

(6) Results for the Successor 2014 period include the revenues and expenses for Peter Piper Pizza for the 73 day period from October 17, 2014 through December 28, 2014

(7) As a result of the Merger, we applied the acquisition method of accounting and established a new basis of accounting on February 15, 2014. Periods presented prior to and including February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the predecessor company (“Predecessor”) and the periods presented after February 14, 2014 represent the operations of the successor company (“Successor”). The financial results for the period December 29, 2013 through February 14, 2014 represent the 47 day Predecessor period.

# Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA, a measure used by management to assess operating performance, is defined as Net income (loss) plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization expense, impairments, gains and losses on asset disposals, and stock based compensation. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes other items we consider unusual or non-recurring and other adjustments required or permitted in calculating covenant compliance under our secured credit facilities and the indenture governing our senior notes (see discussion of our senior notes in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s