Brinker International Reports Third Quarter Of Fiscal 2021 Results And Provides Fourth Quarter Of Fiscal 2021 Outlook

DALLAS, April 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) today announced results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 ended March 24, 2021, and provided a financial update for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.

"I am very pleased with the ongoing growth of our business as our guests are able to return in greater numbers to Chili's and Maggiano's dining rooms," said Wyman Roberts, CEO and President. "This reopening trend, supported by investment in our digital platforms and virtual brands, now has us meaningfully outperforming our F19 sales and traffic results."

Fiscal 2021 Highlights - Third Quarter

The third quarter of fiscal 2021 results reflect the continued impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the third quarter, substantially all of our Company-owned restaurant dining rooms or patios were open in some capacity in accordance with state and local mandates.

• Operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 increased to $52.2 million as compared to $41.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Restaurant operating margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 increased to 13.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 12.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Chili's Company sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 increased to $749.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to $748.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Net income per diluted share, on a GAAP basis, in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $0.73 compared to $0.81 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, and excluding special items Net income per diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $0.78 compared to $1.28 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Net cash provided by operating activities in the thirty-nine week period ended March 24, 2021 was $268.6 million, and capital expenditures totaled $62.4 million resulting in free cash flow of $206.2 million.
• The estimated impact of Winter Storm "Uri" during the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was a decrease in Company sales of $10.5 million, comparable restaurant sales of 1.2%, and Net income per diluted share, excluding special items, of $0.06.

For comparable restaurant sales details and non-GAAP reconciliations, please refer to the Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations section of this release.

Comparable Restaurant Sales for Selected Periods in Fiscal 2021 vs. Fiscal 2019

The following table compares fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2019 due to the impact of the pandemic on fiscal 2020 sales:

Comparable restaurant sales includes restaurants that are currently open and had been open under the Company's ownership at least six months at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Financial Metrics

 

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2021 Guidance

We are providing a financial outlook for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The uncertainties created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.

• Revenues are expected to be in the range of $950 million to $1.0 billion.
• Net income per diluted share, excluding special items, is expected to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.70.
• Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of 47.0 million to 48.0 million.

Fiscal 2021 is a 53-week year, and includes an extra operating week in the fourth quarter.

We are unable to reliably forecast special items such as restaurant impairments, restaurant closures, reorganization charges and legal settlements without unreasonable effort. As such, we do not present a reconciliation of forecasted non-GAAP measures to the corresponding GAAP measures. If special items are reported during fiscal 2021, reconciliations to the appropriate GAAP measures will be provided.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2021 Operating Performance

Segment Performance

The table below presents selected financial information (in millions, except as noted) related to our segments' operational performance for the thirteen week periods ended March 24, 2021 and March 25, 2020:

Chili's

• Chili's Company sales increased primarily due to increased off-premise sales including It's Just Wings, partially offset by lower dining room sales and the impact of Winter Storm Uri.
• Chili's Company restaurant expenses, as a percentage of Company sales, decreased primarily due to lower advertising expenses, lower hourly labor expenses, and favorable menu item mix, partially offset by higher expenses related to delivery fees and supplies in connection with the growth in off-premise sales and higher manager bonus expenses.

Maggiano's

• Maggiano's Company sales decreased primarily due to lower dining room sales, partially offset by increased off-premise sales.
• Maggiano's Company restaurant expenses, as a percentage of Company sales, decreased primarily due to lower manager and hourly labor expenses, lower repairs and maintenance expenses, lower variable rent expenses, favorable menu item mix, lower banquet expenses, lower credit card fees, lower advertising expenses and lower utilities expenses. These decreases were partially offset by sales deleverage, higher expenses related to delivery fees and supplies in connection with the growth in off-premise sales, higher manager bonus expenses and higher insurance expenses.

Franchise and other revenues

• Franchise and other revenues declined primarily due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our domestic and global franchise restaurants. Our franchisees generated sales of approximately $190.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $218.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Maggiano's Franchise and other revenues decreased primarily due to lower banquet volume driven by the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Income Taxes

• On a GAAP basis, the effective income tax rate increased to 11.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to a benefit of 13.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 primarily driven by leverage on the FICA tip tax credit, partially offset by the favorable impact of excess benefits associated with stock-based compensation. Excluding the impact of special items (see non-GAAP reconciliation below for details), the effective income tax rate increased to 15.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 4.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 driven by improved operating performance.

Webcast Information

Investors and interested parties are invited to listen to today's conference call, as management will provide further details of the quarter and business updates. The call will broadcast live on Brinker's website today, April 28, 2021 at 9 a.m. CDT:

http://investors.brinker.com/events/event-details/q3-2021-brinker-international-earnings-conference-call

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 website until the end of the day May 12, 2021.

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 website under the Financial Information section of the Investor tab.

Forward Calendar

• SEC Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 filing on or before May 3, 2021
• Earnings release call for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 on August 18, 2021

Non-GAAP Measures

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 financial results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial 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.

About Brinker

Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies. Based in Dallas, Texas, as of March 24, 2021, Brinker owned, operated, or franchised 1,657 restaurants under the names Chili's® Grill & Bar (1,603 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy® (54 restaurants).

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements and tables contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 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 could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical results or from those projected in forward-looking statements, and are currently, or in the future could be, amplified by the novel strain of the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainty of the magnitude, duration, geographic reach and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local, national and global economies; the current, and uncertain future, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and governments' responses to it on our industry, business, growth, reputation, projections, prospects, financial condition, operations, cash flows, and liquidity; the adequacy or effectiveness of steps we take to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, including cost reduction or other mitigation programs; the impact of competition; changes in consumer preferences; consumer perception of food safety; reduced disposable income; unfavorable publicity; increased minimum wages; governmental regulations; the impact of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions; the Company's ability to meet its business strategy plan; loss of key management personnel; failure to hire and retain high-quality restaurant management; the impact of social media; failure to protect the security of data of our guests and team members; product availability; regional business and economic conditions; litigation; franchisee success; inflation; changes in the retail industry; technology failures; failure to protect our intellectual property; outsourcing; impairment of goodwill or assets; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; actions of activist shareholders; adverse weather conditions; terrorist acts; health epidemics or pandemics (such as COVID-19); and tax reform; as well as the risks and uncertainties described in "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

Of the 1,120 Company-owned restaurants, at March 24, 2021, we own both the building and land for 42 restaurants. The related book values associated with these restaurants included land of $33.1 million and buildings of $11.6 million.

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Net Income Excluding Special Items (in millions, except per share amounts)

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.

Reconciliation of Restaurant Operating Margin (in millions, except percentages)

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 as an indicator of financial performance. Restaurant operating margin is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance of ongoing restaurant-level operations. This non-GAAP measure is not indicative of overall Company performance and profitability because this measure does not directly accrue benefit to the shareholders due to the nature of costs excluded. We define Restaurant operating margin as Company sales less Food and beverage costs, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses. We believe this metric provides a more useful comparison between periods and enables investors to focus on the performance of restaurant-level operations by excluding revenues not related to food and beverage sales at Company-owned restaurants, corporate General and administrative expenses, Depreciation and amortization, and Other (gains) and charges.

Restaurant operating margin excludes Franchise and other revenues which are earned primarily from franchise royalties, advertising fees, and other non-food and beverage revenues streams such as delivery service income, gift card breakage, banquet service charges and digital entertainment revenues. Depreciation and amortization expenses, substantially all of which are related to restaurant-level assets, are excluded because such expenses represent historical costs which do not reflect current cash outlays for the restaurants. General and administrative expenses include primarily non-restaurant-level costs associated with support of the restaurants and other activities at our corporate offices and are therefore excluded. We believe that excluding special items, included within Other (gains) and charges, from Restaurant operating margin provides investors with a clearer perspective of the Company's ongoing operating performance and a more useful comparison to prior period results. Restaurant operating margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry.

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow (in millions)

Brinker believes presenting free cash flow provides a useful measure to evaluate the cash flow available for reinvestment after considering the capital requirements and expenditures of our business operations.

 

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SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.