RRGB Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (NASDAQ: RRGB), a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today reported financial results for the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 12, 2009.

Financial and Operational Highlights

Highlights for the 12 weeks ended July 12, 2009, compared to the 12 weeks ended July 13, 2008, are as follows:

• Total revenues decreased 2.6% to $201.1 million.
• Restaurant revenue decreased 2.4% to $198.0 million.
• Company-owned comparable restaurant sales decreased 11.5%.
• Restaurant-level operating profit decreased 6.0% to $35.6 million.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.41 vs. $0.49 in the same period a year ago, which included a $0.03 charge for reacquired franchise costs and related acquisition integration expenses in the fiscal second quarter of 2008.
• A total of seven new Red Robin® restaurants, six company-owned restaurants and one franchised location, were opened during the second quarter 2009.

As of the end of the fiscal second quarter of 2009, there were 304 company-owned and 131 franchised Red Robin® restaurants.

“Red Robin’s financial performance during the second quarter reflected the continued weak macroeconomic climate that is impacting the casual dining industry as a whole, combined with the lapping of our successful brand-building national advertising last year,” said Dennis B. Mullen, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., chairman and chief executive officer. “We are encouraged by our Team Members’ abilities to streamline operations and manage controllable costs, while delivering a consistently great dining experience, in addition to their focus on targeted traffic-driving and retention initiatives to improve our top line. For the balance of the year, we will concentrate on making further progress on improving productivity and executing on our targeted marketing strategies.”

Fiscal Second Quarter 2009 Results

Comparable restaurant sales decreased 11.5% for company-owned restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to the fiscal second quarter of 2008, driven by a 12.2% decline in guest counts, which was partially offset by a 0.7% increase in the average guest check. Average weekly comparable sales from the 245 company-owned comparable restaurants were $56,335 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $64,842 for the 207 company-owned comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly sales for the 44 non-comparable company-owned restaurants were $56,053 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $56,233 for the 43 non-comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter a year ago. For all company-owned restaurants, average weekly sales were $55,973 from 3,619 operating weeks in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to $63,013 from 3,281 operating weeks, in the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

Early in the second quarter of 2008, the Company acquired 15 existing Red Robin franchised restaurants from three franchisees (the “2008 Acquired Restaurants”). Average weekly sales for these 15 restaurants were $49,842 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and $54,905 in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. These 15 locations will be included in the company-owned comparable restaurant base in the fiscal third quarter of 2009.

Total Company revenues, which include company-owned restaurant sales and franchise royalties and fees, decreased 2.6% to $201.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, versus $206.4 million last year. Franchise royalties and fees decreased 10.4% to $3.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to $3.4 million in the same period a year ago. Franchise royalties and fees in the fiscal second quarter of 2008 included $276,000 of royalties attributed to the 2008 Acquired Restaurants.

For the fiscal second quarter of 2009, the Company’s U.S. franchise restaurant sales of $69.2 million were lower compared to $74.9 million in the prior year period, primarily as a result of franchise restaurants acquired by the company early in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Comparable sales in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 for franchise restaurants in the U.S. decreased 10.3% and for franchise restaurants in Canada decreased 1.6% from the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly comparable sales for the U.S. franchised restaurants were $51,970 from the 100 comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $58,353 for the 87 comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly sales in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 for the Company’s 18 comparable franchise restaurants in Canada were C$52,977 versus C$53,829 in the same period last year. Canadian results are in Canadian dollars.

Restaurant-level operating profit margins at company-owned restaurants were 18.0% in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to 18.6% in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Fiscal second quarter 2009 restaurant-level operating profit margins were negatively impacted by an approximately 0.5% increase in food and beverage costs, a 0.2% increase in labor costs, along with a 0.8% increase in occupancy costs, partially offset by 0.9% lower operating costs, largely driven by lower year-over-year contributions to the Company’s national advertising fund, which were 0.25% of restaurant revenue in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 versus 1.5% of restaurant revenue last year.

The Company's restaurant-level operating profit metric does not represent income from operations or net income calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Schedule I of this earnings release reconciles restaurant-level operating profit to income from operations and net income for all periods presented.

General and administrative expense was $15.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and $14.5 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2008, which were 7.5% and 7.0% of total revenue, respectively. Reacquired franchise and other acquisition costs in the fiscal second quarter last year represented one-time pre-tax charges of $0.5 million.

Interest expense was $1.6 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $1.8 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

In the fiscal second quarter of 2009, the Company realized a reduction in the effective tax rate to 23.2% compared to 27.8% for the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

Net income for the fiscal second quarter of 2009 was $6.4 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $7.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Net income for the fiscal second quarter of 2008 included a $0.03 per diluted share charge for reacquired franchise costs and acquisition-related integration expenses.

Schedule II of this earnings release reconciles the impact on the net income and diluted earnings per share as reported on a GAAP basis in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and 2008 to adjusted amounts excluding certain acquisition costs.

Outlook

The Company expects to open two new company-owned restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Both of these restaurants currently are under construction. A new franchised restaurant that opened early in the fiscal third quarter of 2009 is expected to be the last new franchised opening of the fiscal year. For the full 52-week period, the Company expects to open a total of 15 new company-owned restaurants, while franchisees have opened a total of four new restaurants.

The Company continues to expect that guest counts will remain negative in fiscal year 2009. In addition to the general macroeconomic pressures, the extent of the traffic declines may also be influenced by prior-year marketing activities, which create more difficult comparisons during certain periods. The Company also expects certain costs, such as minimum wage increases and select commodity cost increases, to continue to put pressure on restaurant-level profitability. Based on these factors, the Company anticipates that without any menu price increases, restaurant-level operating margins could decline by 50 to 80 basis points during fiscal year 2009, even after considering the benefit from reduced national advertising contributions and other cost reduction activities. For every 10 basis point change in restaurant level operating profit during fiscal year 2009, diluted earnings per share are estimated to be impacted by approximately $0.04.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

Red Robin will host an investor conference call to discuss its second quarter 2009 results today at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call number is (888) 211-7360. To access the webcast, please visit www.redrobin.com and select the “Investors” link from the menu. The quarterly financial information that the Company intends to discuss during the conference call is included in this press release and will be available on the "Investors" link of the Company's website at www.redrobin.com prior to the conference call.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a kid- and family-friendly environment. Red Robin® restaurants are famous for serving more than two dozen insanely delicious, high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 430 Red Robin® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including company-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information and statements contained in this press release, including those under the heading “Outlook,” 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. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. These statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “will” or comparable terms or the negative thereof. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update any such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof. These statements are based on assumptions believed by us to be reasonable, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the downturn in general economic conditions including severe volatility in financial markets and decreasing consumer confidence, resulting in changes in consumer preferences, or consumer discretionary spending; potential fluctuation in our quarterly operating results due to economic conditions, seasonality and other factors; changes in availability of capital or credit facility borrowings to us and to our franchisees; the adequacy of cash flows generated by our business to fund operations and growth opportunities; our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion, including both in new markets and existing markets; changes in the cost and availability of building materials and restaurant supplies; the concentration of our restaurants in the Western United States and the associated disproportionate impact of macroeconomic factors; changes in the availability and costs of food; changes in labor and energy costs and changes in the ability of our vendors to meet our supply requirements; labor shortages, particularly in new markets; the effectiveness of our initiative to normalize new restaurant operations; lack of awareness of our brand in new markets; the effectiveness of our advertising strategy; higher percentage of operating weeks from non-comparable restaurants; concentration of less mature restaurants in the comparable restaurant base which impacts profitability; the ability of our franchisees to open and manage new restaurants; the effect of increased competition in the casual dining market and discounting by competitors; health concerns about our food products and food preparation; our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our team members or the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; our franchisees’ adherence to our practices, policies and procedures; and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s 10-Q and 10-K filings with the SEC.

RESTAURANT UNIT DATA

The following table details restaurant unit data for company-owned and franchise locations for the periods indicated.

                            Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-eight Weeks Ended July 12, 2009     July 13, 2008 July 12, 2009     July 13, 2008

Company-owned:

Beginning of period 298 258 294 249 Opened during period 6 8 13 17 Acquired during period - 15 1 15 Closed during period - -   (4 ) -   End of period 304 281   304   281    

Franchised:

Beginning of period 130 135 129 135 Opened during period 1 3 3 4 Sold or closed during period - (15 ) (1 ) (16 ) End of period 131 123 131 123  

Total number of Red Robin® restaurants

435 404   435   404    

On December 31, 2008, the Company acquired a restaurant that was managed by the Company under a management agreement with a franchisee since May 2008.

             

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

July 12,2009

 

December 28,2008

Assets: Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,937 $ 11,158 Accounts receivable, net 8,029 5,611 Inventories 14,002 13,123 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,928 9,032 Income tax receivable 2,159 6,208 Deferred tax asset 4,143 3,366 Restricted current assets—marketing funds   1,358     1,590   Total current assets $ 45,556   $ 50,088   Property and equipment, net 440,663 442,012 Goodwill 61,769 60,982 Intangible assets, net 50,505 51,990 Other assets, net   3,544     4,665   Total assets $ 602,037   $ 609,737     Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: Current Liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 9,868 $ 11,966 Construction related payables 4,054 9,747 Accrued payroll and payroll related liabilities 27,078 25,489 Unredeemed gift certificates 8,587 11,997 Accrued liabilities 23,574 20,385 Accrued liabilities—marketing funds 1,358 1,590 Current portion of term loan notes payable 18,739 10,313 Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations   636     696   Total current liabilities $ 93,894   $ 92,183   Deferred rent 29,556 26,790 Long-term portion of term loan notes payable 108,639 122,687 Other long-term debt and capital lease obligations 80,410 88,876 Other non-current liabilities   8,017     10,293   Total liabilities $ 320,516   $ 340,829     Stockholders’ Equity: Common stock 17 17 Treasury stock, 1,492,280 shares, at cost (50,125 ) (50,125 ) Paid-in capital 168,453 165,932 Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (1,796 ) (1,622 ) Retained earnings   164,972     154,706   Total stockholders’ equity   281,521     268,908   Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 602,037   $ 609,737                  

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

  Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

July 12,2009

   

July 13,2008

 

July 12,2009

   

July 13,2008

    Revenues: Restaurant revenue $ 197,963 $ 202,898 $ 464,558 $ 453,800 Franchise royalties and fees 3,078 3,434 7,230 8,068 Rent revenue   47   56     113   113   Total revenues   201,088   206,388     471,901   461,981     Costs and expenses: Restaurant operating costs: Cost of sales 48,228 48,505 113,511 107,853 Labor (includes $137, $308, $1,123 and $663 of stock-based compensation, respectively) 67,679 68,956 159,950 154,095 Operating 32,008 34,397 75,026 76,903 Occupancy 14,494 13,216 33,402 29,218 Depreciation and amortization 13,066 11,680 30,703 26,529 General and administrative (includes $615, $1,041, $4,342, and $2,514 of stock-based compensation, respectively) 15,099 14,454 38,971 36,929 Pre-opening costs 588 2,041 3,138 4,604 Reacquired franchise and other acquisition costs   -   451     -   451   Total costs and expenses   191,162   193,700     454,701   436,582     Income from operations 9,926 12,688 17,200 25,399 Other expense (income): Interest expense, net 1,559 1,763 3,673 4,059 Other   9   (38 )   19   (25 ) Total other expenses   1,568   1,725     3,692   4,034     Income before income taxes 8,358 10,963 13,508 21,365 Provision for income taxes   1,937   3,047     3,242   6,196   Net income $ 6,421 $ 7,916   $ 10,266 $ 15,169   Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.42 $ 0.49   $ 0.67 $ 0.92   Diluted $ 0.41 $ 0.49   $ 0.66 $ 0.91   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic   15,380   16,093     15,366   16,460   Diluted   15,486   16,221     15,467   16,586              

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

  Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

July 12,2009

   

July 13,2008

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:   Net income $ 10,266 $ 15,169 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 30,703 26,529 Stock-based compensation expense 5,465 3,177 Restaurant closure costs 598 - Other, net (1,224 ) 152 Changes in operating assets and liabilities   3,479     7,349   Cash provided by operating activities   49,287     52,376     Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Changes in marketing fund restricted cash - 45 Acquisition of franchise restaurants, net of cash acquired of $0 and $55, respectively (1,248 ) (30,257 ) Purchases of property and equipment   (32,905 )   (41,765 ) Cash used in investing activities   (34,153 )   (71,977 )   Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Borrowings of long-term debt 97,500 125,900 Payments of long-term debt (110,730 ) (58,025 ) Purchase of treasury stock - (50,042 ) Payment for tender offer for stock options (3,498 ) - Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plan 607 1,295 Excess tax benefit related to exercise of stock options 76 232 Payments of other debt and capital lease obligations   (310 )   (264 ) Cash provided (used) by financing activities   (16,355 )   19,096     Net change in cash and cash equivalents (1,221 ) (505 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   11,158     12,914   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 9,937   $ 12,409     Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Income taxes paid $ 936 $ 1,364 Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized 3,469 3,925   Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Items: Capital lease obligations incurred for equipment purchases - 156 Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge, net of tax (174 ) 1,203  

Schedule I

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Restaurant-Level Operating Profit to Incomefrom Operations and Net Income

The Company defines restaurant-level operating profit to be restaurant revenues minus restaurant-level operating costs, excluding restaurant closures and impairment costs in the event closure or impairment charges are incurred. It does not include general and administrative costs, depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs and costs associated with the tender offer of stock options attributed to non-restaurant employees. The Company believes that restaurant-level operating profit is an important measure of financial performance because it is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. The Company excludes restaurant closure costs as they do not represent a component of the efficiency of continuing operations. Restaurant impairment costs are excluded, because, similar to depreciation and amortization, they represent a non-cash charge for the Company’s investment in its restaurants and not a component of the efficiency of restaurant operations. Restaurant-level operating profit is not a measurement determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to income from operations or net income as indicators of financial performance. Restaurant-level operating profit as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The table below sets forth certain unaudited information for the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 12, 2009 and July 13, 2008, expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except for the components of restaurant operating costs, which are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenues.

                      Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-eight Weeks Ended July 12, 2009     July 13, 2008 July 12, 2009     July 13, 2008 Restaurant revenues $ 197,963     98.5 % $ 202,898 98.3 % $ 464,558     98.5 % $ 453,800 98.2 % Restaurant operating costs: Cost of sales 48,228 24.4 48,505 23.9 113,511 24.4 107,853 23.8 Labor 67,679 34.2 68,956 34.0 159,064 34.2 154,095 34.0 Operating 32,008 16.1 34,397 17.0 75,026 16.1 76,903 16.9 Occupancy 14,494 7.3 13,216 6.5 33,402 7.2 29,218 6.4 Tender offer stock-based compensation expense   - -     - -     886 0.2     - -   Restaurant-level operating profit   35,554 18.0     37,824 18.6     82,669 17.8     85,731 18.9     Add – other revenues 3,125 1.5 3,490 1.7 7,343 1.5 8,181 1.8 Deduct – other operating: Depreciation and amortization 13,066 6.5 11,680 5.7 30,703 6.5 26,529 5.7 General and administrative 15,087 7.5 14,454 7.0 35,257 7.5 36,929 8.0 Pre-opening costs 588 0.3 2,041 1.0 3,138 0.7 4,604 1.0 Tender offer stock-based compensation expense - - - - 3,116 0.7 - - Restaurant closure costs 12 - - - 598 0.1 - - Reacquired franchise and other acquisition costs   - -     451 0.2     - -     451 0.1   Total other operating   28,753 14.3     28,626 13.9     72,812 15.5     68,513 14.8     Income from operations 9,926 4.9 12,688 6.1 17,200 3.6 25,399 5.5   Total other expenses, net 1,568 0.8 1,725 0.8 3,692 0.8 4,034 0.9 Provision for income taxes   1,937 1.0     3,047 1.5     3,242 0.7     6,196 1.3   Total other 3,505 1.8 4,772 2.3 6,934 1.5 10,230 2.2   Net income   6,421 3.1 %   7,916 3.8 %   10,266 2.1 %   15,169 3.3 %  

Certain percentage amounts in the table above do not sum due to rounding as well as the fact that restaurant operating costs are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenues, as opposed to total revenues.

Schedule II

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Results to GAAP Results

In addition to the results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) throughout this press release, the Company has provided non-GAAP measurements which present the twelve and twenty-eight week periods ended July 12, 2009 year-over-year change in net income and diluted net income per share, for the tender offer for certain stock options and costs associated with the closure of four restaurants during 2009, and the reacquired franchise costs and other acquisition costs, and acquisition related integration-related costs incurred during the twelve and twenty-eight week periods ended July 13, 2008. The non-GAAP measurements are intended to supplement the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that the presentation of these items provides additional information to facilitate the comparison of past and present financial results.

                   

 

Twelve Weeks Ended

Year Over Year

July 12, 2009     July 13, 2008

Percentage Change

Net     Diluted Net Diluted Net     Diluted Income EPS Income EPS Income EPS Reported $ 6,421 $ 0.41 $ 7,916 $ 0.49 -18.9 % -16.3 %   After-tax impact of : Restaurant closure costs 9 - - - Reacquired franchise rights and other acquisition costs - - 326 0.02 Acquisition-related integration costs   -   -   174   0.01 9 - 500 0.03   Adjusted $ 6,430 $ 0.41 $ 8,416 $ 0.52 -23.6 % -21.2 %      

 

Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended

Year Over Year

July 12, 2009 July 13, 2008

Percentage Change

Net Diluted Net Diluted Net Diluted Income EPS Income EPS Income EPS Reported $ 10,266 $ 0.66 $ 15,169 $ 0.91 -32.3 % -27.5 %   After-tax impact of : Cash Tender Offer 3,042 0.20 - - Restaurant closure costs 454 0.03 - - Reacquired franchise rights and other acquisition costs - - 320 0.02 Acquisition-related integration costs   -   -   180   0.01 3,496 0.23 500 0.03   Adjusted $ 13,762 $ 0.89 $ 15,669 $ 0.94 -12.2 % -5.3 %