DALLAS - April 25, 2017 // PRNewswire // - Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) today announced results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 29, 2017.
Highlights include the following:
"Our third quarter earnings performance reflects the operational focus of our restaurant level leadership at both our brands," said Wyman Roberts, chief executive officer and president. "We are also encouraged by our progress with the strategic work designed to better position our brands and capture market share."
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CHILI'S third quarter company sales decreased 2.0 percent to $689.6 million from $703.5 million in the prior year primarily due to a decline in comparable restaurant sales. As compared to the prior year, Chili's restaurant operating margin1 declined. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, increased due to sales deleverage, higher advertising and marketing related expenses and increased workers' compensation insurance expenses, partially offset by decreased repairs and maintenance expenses. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, increased compared to the prior year due to higher wage rates and sales deleverage. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, decreased due to increased menu pricing and favorable commodity pricing primarily related to poultry and beef.
MAGGIANO'S third quarter company sales decreased 0.6 percent to $101.0 million from $101.6 million in the prior year primarily due to a decline in comparable restaurant sales, partially offset by an increase in restaurant capacity. As compared to the prior year, Maggiano's restaurant operating margin1 declined. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, increased primarily due to higher workers' compensation insurance and advertising expenses. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, increased due to higher wages, partially offset by lower manager bonuses. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, was positively impacted by favorable commodity pricing and increased menu pricing, partially offset by unfavorable menu item mix.
1Restaurant operating margin is defined as Company sales less Cost of sales, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses and excludes Depreciation and amortization expenses. (See non-GAAP reconciliation below)
FRANCHISE AND OTHER revenues increased 2.6 percent to $20.0 million for the third quarter compared to $19.5 million in the prior year third quarter. Brinker franchisees generated approximately $336 million in sales2 for the third quarter of fiscal 2017.
2Royalty revenues are recognized based on the sales generated and reported to the company by franchisees.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.3 million for the quarter compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016 primarily due to depreciation on asset replacements and new restaurant openings, partially offset by an increase in fully depreciated assets and restaurant closures.
General and administrative expense increased $5.8 million for the quarter compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016 primarily due to higher performance-based compensation.
On a GAAP basis, the effective income tax rate increased to 28.9 percent in the current quarter from 26.4 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 due to the prior year benefit associated with the resolution of certain tax positions, partially offset by lower profits. Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate decreased to 29.9 percent in the current quarter compared to 30.1 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 primarily due to lower profits.
Brinker management uses certain non-GAAP measures in analyzing operating performance and believes that the presentation of these measures in this release provides investors with information that is beneficial to gaining an understanding of the company's operating results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in the tables below.
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Brinker provides annual guidance as it relates to comparable restaurant sales, earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, and other key line items in the statements of comprehensive income and will only provide updates if there is a material change versus the original guidance. We do not provide annual guidance as it relates to US GAAP earnings per diluted share as we are unable to reliably forecast special items such as restaurant impairments, restaurant closures, reorganization charges and legal settlements without unreasonable effort.
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 Brinker's Web site at 9 a.m. CDT today (April 25) -
http://investors.brinker.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=119205&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=5250905
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 Brinker's Web site until the end of the day May 23, 2017.
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 Brinker's Web site 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 March 29, 2017, Brinker owned, operated, or franchised 1,660 restaurants under the names Chili's® Grill & Bar (1,608 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy® (52 restaurants).Forward-Looking StatementsThe statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond our control. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, 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, as well as the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Joe Taylor
Investor Relations
Investor.relations@brinker.com
Aisha Fletcher
Media Relations
Media.requests@brinker.com
(800) 775-7290
SOURCE Brinker International, Inc
Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies.