DALLAS - Aug. 6, 2015 // PRNewswire // - Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) today announced results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 24, 2015.
Highlights include the following:
"We delivered solid sales and earnings performance for fiscal 2015, and we improved margins for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year," said Wyman Roberts, Chief Executive Officer and President. "We experienced some comp sales challenges during the quarter, which we're already taking steps to address," he added.
"Looking ahead to fiscal 2016, we're excited about our new My Chili's Rewards program and have signed up 2.6 million members in just over two months since the national launch. We're also focused on implementing our differentiated culinary point of view and enhancing our digital guest experience, which are key components of our plan to drive fiscal 2016 sales and traffic. We remain confident in our long-term strategy to deliver top line growth and increased shareholder value," Wyman concluded.
1 Restaurant operating margin is defined as Company sales less Cost of sales, Restaurant Labor and Restaurant expenses. Restaurant operating margin is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. Restaurant operating margin is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to operating income or other similarly titled measures of other companies.
2Free cash flow is defined as cash flows provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.
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CHILI'S fourth quarter company sales decreased 0.3 percent to $638.2 million from $639.8 million in the prior year primarily due to decreases in comparable restaurant sales, partially offset by increases in restaurant capacity. As compared to the prior year, Chili's restaurant operating margin1 improved. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, was positively impacted by favorable menu pricing and commodity pricing related to cheese, avocados, limes and oil, partially offset by unfavorable menu item mix and commodity pricing primarily related to fajita meat. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, decreased slightly due to lower asset retirements, favorable utilities and the timing of restaurant opening expenses, partially offset by expenses associated with the launch of My Chili's Rewards. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, was flat compared to the prior year, as the benefit of lower employee health insurance expense was offset by higher wage rates.
MAGGIANO'S fourth quarter company sales increased 5.3 percent to $100.2 million from $95.2 million in the prior year primarily due to increases in restaurant capacity. As compared to the prior year, Maggiano's restaurant operating margin1 improved. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, was positively impacted by menu item changes and increased menu pricing, partially offset by unfavorable commodity pricing on beef and seafood. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, were positively impacted by leverage related to higher company sales, the timing of restaurant opening expenses, and favorable utilities and workers' compensation insurance expense, partially offset by higher advertising costs. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, was flat.
1 Restaurant operating margin is defined as Company sales less Cost of sales, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses. Restaurant operating margin is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. Restaurant operating margin is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to operating income or other similarly titled measures of other companies.
FRANCHISE AND OTHER revenues increased 3.5 percent to $25.8 million for the fourth quarter compared to $24.9 million in the prior year driven primarily by royalty revenues related to Chili's new retail food products, higher revenues associated with tabletop devices, and higher royalty income primarily driven by international franchise restaurant openings. U.S. franchise comparable restaurant sales increased 2.1 percent and international comparable restaurant sales increased 1.2 percent. Brinker franchisees generated approximately $426 million in sales2 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.
2Royalty revenues are recognized based on the sales generated and reported to the company by franchisees.
"For the fourth quarter, our overall restaurant operating margin improved 80 basis points," said Tom Edwards, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "On an annual basis, we delivered our fifth consecutive year of double-digit earnings per share growth and are on target to achieve our $4.00 dollar EPS goal by Fiscal 2017."
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.9 million for the quarter primarily due to investments in the Chili's reimage program, new restaurant openings and asset replacements, partially offset by an increase in fully depreciated assets.
General and administrative expense decreased $0.3 million primarily due to cost management and lower performance-based compensation.
On a GAAP basis, the effective income tax rate increased to 29.7 percent in the current quarter from 18.1 percent in the prior year quarter primarily due to the impact of tax benefits related to special items in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate increased to 31.2 percent in the current quarter compared to 29.4 percent in the prior year primarily due to increased earnings.
Brinker believes excluding special items from its financial results provides investors with a clearer perspective of the company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results. Special items in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 consist primarily of the impairment of restaurants, acquisition-related costs and severance charges.
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Fiscal 2016 includes a 53rd week versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2015. The company anticipates earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, to increase 16 to 19 percent in the range of $3.55 to $3.65. Earnings are based on the following expectations, including the impact of the recently acquired Chili's restaurants from Pepper Dining:
The company believes providing fiscal 2016 earnings per diluted share guidance provides investors the appropriate insight into the company's ongoing operating performance.
Brinker provides annual guidance as it relates to comparable restaurant sales, earnings per diluted share, and other key line items in the comprehensive income statement and will only provide updates if there is a material change versus the original guidance. Consistent with prior practice, management will not discuss intra-period sales or other key operating results not yet reported as the limited data may not accurately reflect the final results of the period or quarter referenced.
Investors and interested parties are invited to listen to today's conference call, as management will provide further details of the quarter. The call will broadcast live on the Brinker website (www.brinker.com) at 9 a.m. CDT today (Aug. 6). For those who are unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the call will be available shortly thereafter and will remain on the Brinker website until the end of the day Sept. 3, 2015.
Additional financial information, including statements of income which detail operations excluding special items, franchise and other revenues, and comparable restaurant sales trends by brand, is also available on the Brinker website under the Financial Information section of the Investor tab.
Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, as of June 24, 2015, Brinker owned, operated, or franchised 1,629 restaurants under the names Chili's® Grill & Bar (1,580 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy® (49 restaurants).
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and, consequently, could be affected by general business and economic conditions, financial and credit market conditions, credit availability, reduced disposable income, the impact of competition, the impact of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions, franchisee success, the seasonality of the company's business, increased minimum wages, increased health care costs, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, product availability, fuel and utility costs and availability, terrorist acts, consumer perception of food safety, changes in consumer taste, health epidemics or pandemics, changes in demographic trends, availability of employees, unfavorable publicity, the company's ability to meet its business strategy plan, acts of God, governmental regulations, inflation, technology failures, and failure to protect the security of data of our guests and teammates.
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SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.
Joe Taylor
Investor Relations
(972) 770-9040
Ashley Johnson
Media Relations
(800) 775-7290
Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies.