Luby's Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results

Luby’s, Inc.
Published: April 22nd, 2019

HOUSTON, April 22, 2019 // PRNewswire // - Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) ("Luby's") today announced unaudited financial results for its twelve-week second quarter fiscal 2019 referred to as "second quarter." Comparisons in this earnings release are for the second quarter compared to second quarter fiscal 2018.

Second Quarter Key Metrics

• Same-store sales decreased 3.3%
• Culinary Contract Services sales increased by 28% to $7.5 million, up from $5.9 million
• Income from continuing operations of $6.6 million (including $12.7 million in gains on sales of property) compared to loss of $11.5 million in the second quarter fiscal 2018
• Store level profit was 10.7%, up from 7.7% -- a 300 basis points improvement (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)
• Adjusted EBITDA increased $2.9 million (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)

Chris Pappas, President and CEO, commented, "We continue to make positive progress through our turn-around efforts to reduce costs while repositioning our brands for improved sales and increased store-level profit efficiencies to drive better financial results in 2019 and beyond. Since the beginning of the second quarter last year, we have closed 27 underperforming units and through our $45.0 million asset sales program that began last year, we have generated proceeds of $34.7 million.

"Cost management remains a primary focus throughout our organization and even after adjusting for the number of closed stores, our cost run-rate came down in the second quarter. Store-level profit as a percentage of restaurant sales improved in the second quarter to 10.7% compared to 7.7% in the same quarter last year due primarily to effective cost controls to reduce food and supply expenses, efficient hourly labor scheduling, and reductions in repairs and maintenance expense.

"While our same-store sale results for the quarter are below our expectations for the full year, they improved sequentially at both our Luby's Cafeteria and Fuddruckers brands. Our chief operating officer, Todd Coutee, continues to realign our organization by putting the right people in the right positions. Todd and the team are also hard at work at several initiatives to enhance sales at each brand with new everyday value choices, focus on convenience and the dinner meal part, and re-introducing a breakfast service option at several Luby's locations.

"Lastly, as we transition to primarily a franchise model for Fuddruckers, we converted five company-operated Fuddruckers restaurants to franchise-operated restaurants. These restaurants are in the San Antonio market and were transferred in early April to a new franchise operator with prior Fuddruckers experience. We continue to work on additional re-franchising opportunities in markets outside of our home market in Houston, Texas."

2019 Same-Store Sales Year-Over-Year Comparison

Second Quarter Restaurant Sales:
($ thousands)

• Luby's Cafeterias sales decreased $2.9 million versus the second quarter fiscal 2018, due to the closure of seven locations over the prior year and a 2.2% decrease in Luby's same-store sales. The decrease in same-store sales was the result of a 4.0% decrease in guest traffic, partially offset by a 1.9% increase in average spend per guest.
• Fuddruckers sales at company-owned restaurants decreased $3.8 million versus the second quarter fiscal 2018, due to 14 restaurant closings and a 5.3% decrease in same-store sales. The decrease in same-store sales was the result of a 9.3% decrease in guest traffic, partially offset by a 4.4% increase in average spend per guest.
• Combo location sales decreased $0.3 million, or 7.0%, versus second quarter fiscal 2018.
• Cheeseburger in Paradise sales decreased $1.9 million. The decrease in sales is related to reducing operations to a single store compared to operating seven locations in the second quarter fiscal 2018.
• Income from continuing operations was $6.6 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $11.5 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the second quarter fiscal 2018.
• Store level profit, defined as restaurant sales plus vending revenue less cost of food, payroll and related costs, other operating expenses, and occupancy costs, was $7.0 million, or 10.7% of restaurant sales, in the second quarter compared to $5.7 million, or 7.7% of restaurant sales, in the second quarter fiscal 2018. The improvement in store level profit, despite a decline in same-store sales, was the result of effective cost management in several areas. Food costs as percent of restaurant sales decreased as we focused on on a return to "classic favorites" with favorable food costs as well as an overall higher average spend per guest. Our restaurant supplies expense and repairs and maintenance expense each experienced significant reductions over prior year as these expenses continued to be opportunities of focus. We also managed to reduce our hourly labor costs on a per store basis through efficient restaurant staffing. Store level profit is a non-GAAP measure, and reconciliation to loss from continuing operations is presented after the financial statements.
• Culinary Contract Services revenues increased by $1.7 million to $7.5 million with 33 operating locations during the second quarter. New locations contributed approximately $1.4 million in revenue and locations continually operated over the prior full year increased revenue approximately $0.3 million. Culinary Contract Services profit margin increased to 11.0% of Culinary Contract Services sales in the second quarter compared to 3.6% in the second quarter fiscal 2018.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.2 million. Removing one-time proxy-solicitation and communication costs of approximately $1.0 million, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.2 million. The decrease reflects reductions in corporate staff and related costs as well as reductions in other overhead expenses, including general liability claims expense, corporate travel, and corporate supplies expense. Included in selling, general, and administrative expenses was approximately $0.8 million in marketing and advertising expense which represents 1.0% of total sales.

Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures

We ended the second quarter with net debt (total debt less cash) of $29.6 million, a decrease from $35.8 million at the end of fiscal 2018. During the second quarter, our capital expenditures decreased to $0.7 million compared to $3.7 million in the second quarter fiscal 2018. At the end of the second quarter, we had $3.9 million in available cash, $10.8 million in restricted cash, and $115.1 million in total shareholders' equity.

Restaurant Counts:

Conference Call

Luby's will host a conference call on April 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss further its second quarter fiscal 2019 results. To access the call live, dial (412) 902-0030 and use the access code 13689012# at least 10 minutes prior to the start time, or listen live over the Internet by visiting the events page in the investor relations section of www.lubysinc.com. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through April 29, 2019 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the access code 13689012#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 90 days on the "Investors" section of the Company's website.

About Luby's

Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) operates 136 restaurants nationally as of March 13, 2019: 81 Luby's Cafeterias, 54 Fuddruckers, one Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants. Luby's is the franchisor for 102 Fuddruckers franchise locations across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama. Luby's Culinary Contract Services provides food service management to 33 sites consisting of healthcare, corporate dining locations, sports stadiums, and sales through retail grocery stores.

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions, including the statements under the caption "Outlook" and any other statements regarding scheduled openings of units, scheduled closures of units, sales of assets, expected proceeds from the sale of assets, expected levels of capital expenditures, effects of food commodity costs, anticipated financial results in future periods and expectations of industry conditions.

Luby's cautions readers that various factors could cause its actual financial and operational results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made from time-to-time in news releases, reports, proxy statements, registration statements, and other written communications, as well as oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Luby's. The following factors, as well as any other cautionary language included in this press release, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause Luby's actual results to differ materially from the expectations Luby's describes in such forward-looking statements: general business and economic conditions; the impact of competition; our operating initiatives; fluctuations in the costs of commodities, including beef, poultry, seafood, dairy, cheese and produce; increases in utility costs, including the costs of natural gas and other energy supplies; changes in the availability and cost of labor; the seasonality of Luby's business; changes in governmental regulations, including changes in minimum wages; the effects of inflation; the availability of credit; unfavorable publicity relating to operations, including publicity concerning food quality, illness or other health concerns or labor relations; the continued service of key management personnel; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Luby's annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Contact:

Rick Black / Ken Dennard
Dennard-Lascar Associates
Investor Relations
713-529-6600

The following table contains information derived from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations expressed as a percentage of sales. Percentages may not total due to rounding.

Store Level Profit

Although store level profit, defined as restaurant sales plus vending revenue, less cost of food, payroll and related costs, other operating expenses, and occupancy costs, is a non-GAAP measure, we believe its presentation is useful because it explicitly shows the results of our most significant reportable segment.   The following table reconciles between store level profit, a non-GAAP measure to loss from continuing operations, a GAAP measure:

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, provision (benefit) for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, and excluding net loss (gain) on disposing of property and equipment, provision for asset impairments and restaurant closings, non-cash compensation expense, franchise taxes, and decrease / (increase) in fair value of derivatives.

Adjusted EBITDA is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe Adjusted EBITDA  provides useful information to management and investors in valuing the Company and evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our results to other competitors. Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating management's performance when determining incentive compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA, as defined, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as computed by other companies. These measures should be considered supplemental and not a substitute or superior to other GAAP performance measures.

SOURCE Luby's, Inc.