Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2015 Results

ADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Fiesta” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FRGI), parent company of the Pollo Tropical® and Taco Cabana® fast-casual restaurant brands, today reported results for the second quarter 2015, which ended on June 28, 2015.

Highlights of the second quarter 2015 results as compared to the second quarter 2014 include:

• Total revenues increased 11.5% to $171.9 million;
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 4.3% and comparable guest traffic decreased 0.2% at Pollo Tropical;
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 5.6% and comparable guest traffic increased 1.0% at Taco Cabana;
• Net income increased 20.8% to $11.2 million;
• Earnings per diluted share increased 20.0% to $0.42; and
• Seven Company-owned and -operated restaurants were opened, including one Taco Cabana and six Pollo Tropical restaurants. Two Company-owned Taco Cabana restaurants were closed.

Fiesta President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Taft commented, “We extended our track record of generating stronger year-over-year results in each successive quarter since the May 2012 spin-off, with continued, strong performance during the recent three-month period. Double-digit top-line growth and robust improvement in restaurant-level profitability resulted in a 20% increase in diluted EPS on top of a 67% gain in the same period last year that we believe demonstrates Fiesta’s ongoing ability to deliver exceptional operational and financial results.”

Taft added, “As we expected, sales at Pollo Tropical accelerated in July with comparable restaurant sales growth of 6.4%, as we believe the impact of healthcare enrollment and related premiums in south Florida dissipated. The improved results at Taco Cabana are also gratifying.”

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Review

Consolidated Results

Total revenues increased 11.5% to $171.9 million from $154.2 million compared to the prior year period, due primarily to 21 net Company-owned restaurant openings as well as comparable restaurant sales growth of 4.3% at Pollo Tropical and 5.6% at Taco Cabana. Pollo Tropical has generated comparable restaurant sales growth for 23 consecutive quarters while Taco Cabana has generated comparable restaurant sales growth for 19 of the past 20 quarters and for six consecutive quarters.

Cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales improved 20 basis points compared to the prior year period as price increases, supply chain management initiatives and favorable sales mix related to the implementation of new menu boards at Taco Cabana earlier this year were partially offset by commodity cost increases.

Restaurant wages and related expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales improved 80 basis points compared to the prior year period, due primarily to the favorable impact of sales increases on fixed costs, partially offset by higher labor costs at new Company-owned restaurants.

General and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million to $13.6 million compared to the prior year period due primarily to continued investments in human capital and training to support the ongoing Pollo Tropical expansion effort in new markets. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses were consistent with the prior year period.

Other income of $142,000 reflected expected business interruption insurance proceeds for a Pollo Tropical restaurant location that was temporarily closed due to a fire.

Interest expense decreased $0.2 million to $0.4 million compared to the prior year period, due primarily to lower borrowing rates as well as higher capitalized interest in 2015.

The estimated annual effective tax rate of 38.3% is consistent with the prior year period.

Net income increased to $11.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $9.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share in the prior year period.

Brand Results

Pollo Tropical restaurant sales increased 19.0% to $89.6 million compared to the prior year period due to 24 net Company-owned restaurant openings and a comparable restaurant sales increase of 4.3%. The growth in comparable restaurant sales resulted from a 4.5% increase in average check, slightly offset by a 0.2% decrease in comparable guest traffic, and is inclusive of more than 1% in estimated comparable restaurant sales cannibalization, primarily due to new restaurant development in the brand’s highest volume South Florida markets. Average check was primarily driven by menu price increases that positively impacted restaurant sales by 5.4%. This is the 23rd consecutive quarter the brand has delivered comparable restaurant sales growth. On a two-year basis, quarterly comparable restaurant sales grew 11.0%. Adjusted EBITDA for Pollo Tropical, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 18.2% to $15.9 million compared to the prior year period (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below).

Taco Cabana restaurant sales increased 4.4% to $81.7 million compared to the prior year period due to a 5.6% increase in comparable restaurant sales, net of restaurant closures. The increase in comparable restaurant sales resulted from a 4.6% increase in average check along with a 1.0% increase in comparable guest traffic. Average check was driven by menu price increases that positively impacted restaurant sales by 2.9% and a favorable shift in sales mix due to the new menu board implementation earlier this year. This is the sixth consecutive quarter and 19 out of the past 20 quarters the brand has delivered comparable restaurant sales growth. On a two-year basis, quarterly comparable restaurant sales grew 8.4%. Adjusted EBITDA for Taco Cabana, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 24.8% to $11.1 million compared to the prior year period (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below).

Restaurant Development

During the second quarter 2015, Fiesta opened six Company-owned and -operated Pollo Tropical restaurants in Florida and Texas, one Company-owned and -operated Taco Cabana restaurant in Texas, and closed two Company-owned and -operated Taco Cabana restaurants in Texas.

As of June 28, 2015, the Company owned and operated 136 Pollo Tropical restaurants and 163 Taco Cabana restaurants (including two Cabana Grill® restaurants) and franchised 35 Pollo Tropical restaurants in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela and six Taco Cabana restaurants in the U.S.

Investor Conference Call Today

Fiesta will host a conference call to review second quarter 2015 results today at 4:30 p.m. ET. Hosting the call will be President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Taft and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lynn Schweinfurth.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone domestically at 877-407-0789 or internationally at 201-689-8562. A replay will be available after the call until Thursday, August 6, 2015, and can be accessed domestically by dialing 877-870-5176 or for internationally at 858-384-5517. The passcode is 13613707.

The conference call will also be webcast live from the corporate website at www.frgi.com, under the investor relations section. A replay of the webcast will be available through the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

About Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. is the parent company of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana restaurant brands. The brands specialize in the operation of fast-casual, ethnic restaurants that offer distinct and unique Caribbean and Mexican inspired flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature made-from-scratch cooking, fresh salsa bars, drive-thru service and catering. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., visit the corporate website at www.frgi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained in this news release, the matters addressed are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, written, oral or otherwise made, represent Fiesta's expectation or belief concerning future events. Without limiting the foregoing, these statements are often identified by the words "may," "might," "believes," "thinks," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends" or similar expressions. In addition, expressions of Fiesta's strategies, intentions or plans, are also forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond Fiesta's control. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties as included in Fiesta's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 28, 2015 AND JUNE 29, 2014
(In thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
					Three months ended (a)														Six months ended (a)
					June 28, 2015							June 29, 2014							June 28, 2015							June 29, 2014
Revenues:
Restaurant sales					$		171,268					$		153,515					$		334,326					$		298,340
Franchise royalty revenues and fees					632							670							1,449							1,281
Total revenues					171,900							154,185							335,775							299,621
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales					54,223							48,960							105,346							94,489
Restaurant wages and related expenses (b)					42,383							39,116							82,973							75,622
Restaurant rent expense					8,048							7,374							16,055							14,578
Other restaurant operating expenses					21,362							19,466							41,221							37,351
Advertising expense					5,144							4,676							10,698							10,095
General and administrative expenses (b)					13,624							12,132							27,388							24,283
Depreciation and amortization					7,401							5,578							14,248							10,923
Pre-opening costs					1,211							1,188							2,162							1,871
Impairment and other lease charges					—							32							94							17
Other (income) expense (c)					(142			)				—							(514			)				(6			)
Total operating expenses					153,254							138,522							299,671							269,223
Income from operations					18,646							15,663							36,104							30,398
Interest expense					414							568							852							1,171
Income before income taxes					18,232							15,095							35,252							29,227
Provision for income taxes					6,983							5,781							13,502							11,194
Net income					$		11,249					$		9,314					$		21,750					$		18,033
Basic net income per share					$		0.42					$		0.35					$		0.81					$		0.67
Diluted net income per share					$		0.42					$		0.35					$		0.81					$		0.67
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding					26,490,673							26,271,116							26,462,919							26,236,432
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding					26,497,658							26,271,116							26,470,130							26,236,713

(a)  The Company uses a 52 or 53 week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three and six month periods ended June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014 each included 13 and 26 weeks, respectively.

(b)  Restaurant wages and related expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $40 and $21 for the three month periods ended June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively, and $107 and $30 for the six month periods ended June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. General and administrative expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $1,055 and $1,058 for the three month periods ended June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively, and $1,929 and $1,770 for the six month periods ended June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively.

(c)  Other (income) expense for the three months ended June 28, 2015 primarily includes expected business interruption insurance proceeds related to a Pollo Tropical location that was temporarily closed due to a fire.

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
					June 28, 2015										December 28, 2014
Assets
Cash					$					5,519					$	5,087
Other current assets					23,778										23,018
Property and equipment, net					218,589										191,371
Goodwill					123,484										123,484
Deferred income taxes					11,055										11,055
Deferred financing costs, net					1,079										1,233
Other assets					2,696										2,708
Total assets					$					386,200					$	357,956
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities					$					38,696					$	39,423
Long-term debt, net of current portion					72,264										67,264
Lease financing obligations					1,662										1,660
Deferred income sale-leaseback of real estate					31,899										34,079
Other liabilities					17,290										15,943
Total liabilities					161,811										158,369
Stockholders' equity					224,389										199,587
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity					$					386,200					$	357,956

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Information
The following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental financial and other data for the periods indicated
(In thousands, except percentages):
					(unaudited)																(unaudited)
					Three months ended																Six months ended
					June 28, 2015								June 29, 2014								June 28, 2015								June 29, 2014
Segment revenues:
Pollo Tropical					$			90,046					$			75,795					$			177,616					$			147,639
Taco Cabana					81,854								78,390								158,159								151,982
Total revenues					$			171,900					$			154,185					$			335,775					$			299,621
Change in comparable restaurant sales (a):
Pollo Tropical					4.3				%				6.7				%				5.4				%				6.5				%
Taco Cabana					5.6				%				2.8				%				4.7				%				1.8				%
Average sales per Company-owned restaurant (b):
Pollo Tropical
Comparable restaurants (c)					$			729					$			734					$			1,466					$			1,449
New restaurants					498								523								1,006								1,020
Total company-owned					672								697								1,358								1,379
Taco Cabana
Comparable restaurants (c)					$			504					$			474					$			966					$			923
New restaurants					355								423								695								822
Total company-owned					499								472								957								917
Income before income taxes:
Pollo Tropical					$			10,908					$			9,888					$			22,498					$			20,384
Taco Cabana					7,324								5,207								12,754								8,843
Adjusted EBITDA (d):
Pollo Tropical					$			15,862					$			13,425					$			31,873					$			27,102
Taco Cabana					11,138								8,927								20,095								16,030
Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA (d):
Pollo Tropical					$			23,623					$			19,724					$			47,151					$			39,334
Taco Cabana					16,525								14,220								30,989								26,901

(a)  Restaurants are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been open for 18 months.

(b)  Average sales for total Company-owned restaurants are derived by dividing restaurant sales for such period for the applicable segment by the average number of open restaurants for the applicable segment for such period.

(c)  Average sales for comparable Company-owned restaurants are derived by dividing comparable restaurant sales for such period for the applicable segment by the average number of comparable restaurants for the applicable segment for such period.

(d)  Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see the reconciliation of Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income in the table titled "Supplemental Non-GAAP Information" on the last page of this release.

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Information
The following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental data for the periods indicated:
					Three months ended										Six months ended
					June 28, 2015					June 29, 2014					June 28, 2015					June 29, 2014
Company-owned restaurant openings:
Pollo Tropical					6					6					12					10
Taco Cabana					1					1					1					1
Total new restaurant openings					7					7					13					11
Company-owned restaurant closings:
Pollo Tropical					—					—					—					—
Taco Cabana					(2	)				—					(5	)				—
Net change in restaurants					5					7					8					11
Number of Company-owned restaurants:
Pollo Tropical					136					112					136					112
Taco Cabana					163					166					163					166
Total Company-owned restaurants					299					278					299					278
Number of franchised restaurants:
Pollo Tropical					35					35					35					35
Taco Cabana					6					7					6					7
Total franchised restaurants					41					42					41					42
Total number of restaurants:
Pollo Tropical					171					147					171					147
Taco Cabana					169					173					169					173
Total restaurants					340					320					340					320

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Information
The following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental financial and other data for the periods indicated
(In thousands, except percentages):
					Three months ended
					June 28, 2015													June 29, 2014
													(a)													(a)
Pollo Tropical:
Restaurant sales					$			89,569										$			75,253
Cost of sales					30,094								33.6	%				24,983								33.2	%
Restaurant wages and related expenses					19,251								21.5	%				16,423								21.8	%
Restaurant rent expense					3,820								4.3	%				3,071								4.1	%
Other restaurant operating expenses					10,893								12.2	%				9,422								12.5	%
Advertising expense					1,904								2.1	%				1,639								2.2	%
Depreciation and amortization					4,340								4.8	%				2,750								3.7	%
Pre-opening costs					1,144								1.3	%				968								1.3	%
Impairment and other lease charges					—								—	%				(31				)				—	%
Taco Cabana:
Restaurant sales					$			81,699										$			78,262
Cost of sales					24,129								29.5	%				23,977								30.6	%
Restaurant wages and related expenses					23,132								28.3	%				22,693								29.0	%
Restaurant rent expense					4,228								5.2	%				4,303								5.5	%
Other restaurant operating expenses					10,469								12.8	%				10,044								12.8	%
Advertising expense					3,240								4.0	%				3,037								3.9	%
Depreciation and amortization					3,061								3.7	%				2,828								3.6	%
Pre-opening costs					67								0.1	%				220								0.3	%
Impairment and other lease charges					—								—	%				63								0.1	%
					Six months ended
					June 28, 2015													June 29, 2014
													(a)													(a)
Pollo Tropical:
Restaurant sales					$			176,458										$			146,609
Cost of sales					58,633								33.2	%				48,212								32.9	%
Restaurant wages and related expenses					38,005								21.5	%				31,688								21.6	%
Restaurant rent expense					7,469								4.2	%				5,988								4.1	%
Other restaurant operating expenses					20,982								11.9	%				17,799								12.1	%
Advertising expense					4,262								2.4	%				3,601								2.5	%
Depreciation and amortization					8,079								4.6	%				5,327								3.6	%
Pre-opening costs					2,014								1.1	%				1,501								1.0	%
Impairment and other lease charges					—								—	%				(70				)				—	%
Taco Cabana:
Restaurant sales					$			157,868										$			151,731
Cost of sales					46,713								29.6	%				46,277								30.5	%
Restaurant wages and related expenses					44,968								28.5	%				43,934								29.0	%
Restaurant rent expense					8,586								5.4	%				8,590								5.7	%
Other restaurant operating expenses					20,239								12.8	%				19,552								12.9	%
Advertising expense					6,436								4.1	%				6,494								4.3	%
Depreciation and amortization					6,169								3.9	%				5,596								3.7	%
Pre-opening costs					148								0.1	%				370								0.2	%
Impairment and other lease charges					94								0.1	%				87								0.1	%

(a) Percent of restaurant sales for the applicable segment.

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.Supplemental Non-GAAP InformationThe following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental financial data for the periods indicated(In thousands):

Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other lease charges, stock-based compensation expense and other income and expense. Adjusted EBITDA for each of our segments includes an allocation of general and administrative expenses associated with administrative support for executive management, information systems and certain accounting, legal, supply chain, development and other administrative functions. Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Adjusted EBITDA excluding franchise royalty revenues and fees, pre-opening costs and general and administrative expenses (including corporate-level general and administrative expenses).

Adjusted EBITDA for each of our segments is a measure of segment profit or loss used by our chief operating decision maker for purposes of allocating resources to our segments and assessing their performance. In addition, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with our results of operations calculated in accordance with GAAP and our reconciliation of Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (i) provide useful information about our operating performance and period-over-period growth, (ii) provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of our business, and (iii) permit investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our ongoing earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced. However, such measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as alternatives to net income or cash flow from operating activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity. Also these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies.

					(unaudited)																(unaudited)
					Three months ended																Six months ended
					June 28, 2015								June 29, 2014								June 28, 2015								June 29, 2014
Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA:
Pollo Tropical					$			23,623					$			19,724					$			47,151					$			39,334
Taco Cabana					16,525								14,220								30,989								26,901
Consolidated					40,148								33,944								78,140								66,235
Add:
Franchise royalty revenue and fees					632								670								1,449								1,281
Less:
Pre-opening costs					1,211								1,188								2,162								1,871
General and administrative (excluding stock-based compensation
expense of $1,055, $1,058, $1,929 and $1,770, respectively)					12,569								11,074								25,459								22,513
Adjusted EBITDA:
Pollo Tropical					15,862								13,425								31,873								27,102
Taco Cabana					11,138								8,927								20,095								16,030
Consolidated					27,000								22,352								51,968								43,132
Less:
Depreciation and amortization					7,401								5,578								14,248								10,923
Impairment and other lease charges					—								32								94								17
Interest expense					414								568								852								1,171
Provision for income taxes					6,983								5,781								13,502								11,194
Stock-based compensation expense					1,095								1,079								2,036								1,800
Other (income) expense					(142				)				—								(514				)				(6				)
Net income					$			11,249					$			9,314					$			21,750					$			18,033

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150730006406/en/

Investor Relations:
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.
Raphael Gross, 203-682-8253
[email protected]

Source: Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

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