Luby's Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results

HOUSTON, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) ("Luby's") today announced unaudited financial results for its twelve-week third quarter fiscal 2016, which ended on June 1, 2016.  Certain comparisons for third quarter fiscal 2016 are relative to the prior-year twelve-week period that ended June 3, 2015, instead of the third quarter fiscal 2015, which ended May 6, 2015.  Comparisons in this press release for the third quarter fiscal year 2016 are referred to as "third quarter."

Third Quarter Highlights

• Fuddruckers total restaurant sales increased $0.7 million compared to the comparable 12 weeks last year, including the contribution from a net increase of five operating Fuddruckers restaurants.
• Same-store sales decreased 0.6%
  • Luby's Cafeterias same-store sales decreased 0.2%
  • Fuddruckers same-store sales decreased 1.0%
  • Cheeseburger in Paradise same-store sales decreased 0.6%
  • Combo location same-store sales decreased 3.3%
• Capital expenditures decreased $2.0 million in the third quarter compared to the same period last year

Fiscal Year to Date Highlights:

• Restaurant sales grew to $286.3 million during the first three fiscal quarters of 2016 (40 weeks), a $2.8 million increase from the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015
• Same-store sales increased 1.0% during the first three fiscal quarters of 2016 (40 weeks) from the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015
• Store level profit was $42.5 million, or 14.9% of restaurant sales, during the first three quarters of fiscal 2016 (40 weeks), a $2.7 million increase from $39.8 million or 14.0% of restaurant sales, in the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015
• Adjusted EBITDA grew to $15.8 million during the first three fiscal quarters of 2016 (40 weeks), a $1.6 million increase from the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015

Chris Pappas, President and CEO, commented, "During the quarter we continued to make progress on our store-level initiatives to 'delight' our guests and enhance our store-level performance across all brands. Despite challenging weather conditions in several of our major Texas markets we were able to hold same-store sales relatively flat in the quarter with increased guest traffic at Luby's Cafeterias. Year to date, we have maintained positive sales comps. Adjusted EBITDA improved year to date for the first 40 weeks of fiscal 2016 to $15.8 million, an increase of 11% compared to the same 40 weeks in fiscal 2015. 

In addition, we opened four new Fuddruckers franchise restaurants during the quarter and a fifth location opened in early June, at the beginning of our fourth quarter. The three U.S. franchise openings in the quarter were in Norfolk, VA, Ashland, VA and Amarillo, TX. Our international opening in the third quarter was in Bologna, Italy.  The fourth quarter June opening was also an international location: in the city of Bogota, our second franchise location in Colombia.  We remain focused on the key drivers of our businesses to achieve operational excellence of our brands and to efficiently manage costs to grow profitability and enhance shareholder value."

 

 

• Restaurant sales in the third quarter decreased to $86.5 million, a decrease of 1.5% versus the comparable 12 weeks of fiscal 2015.
  • Luby's Cafeterias sales decreased $1.1 million versus the comparable 12 weeks of fiscal 2015, due to the closure of three locations and a 0.2% decrease in Luby's same-store sales. The 0.2% decrease was the result of a 3.9% decrease in average spend per guest offset by a 3.7% increase in guest traffic.
  • Fuddruckers sales increased $0.7 million versus the comparable 12 weeks of fiscal 2015, due to a net increase of five operating Fuddruckers restaurants offset by a same-store sales decrease of 1.0%. The 1.0% decrease was the result of a 1.9% decrease in guest traffic offset by a 0.9% increase in average spend per guest.
  • Cheeseburger in Paradise sales decreased 0.6%, with all eight Cheeseburger in Paradise locations in operation included in our same-store grouping in the third quarter.
  • Combo location sales decreased $0.9 million and represented 6.1% of total restaurant sales in the third quarter. Our sixth combo location opened in the third quarter fiscal 2015 with a high volume of sales. The $0.9 million decrease in Combo sales is due to a comparison to this high volume sales period and a 3.3% same-store sales decrease at the other five Combo locations.
• 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 $13.0 million, or 15.0% of restaurant sales, in the third quarter compared to $14.2 million, or 16.1% of restaurant sales, during the comparable 12 weeks of fiscal 2015. Higher payroll and related costs partially offset by lower cost of food and other operating expenses led to this decrease in profitability. Store level profit is a non-GAAP measure, and reconciliation to income from continuing operations is presented after the financial statements.
• Culinary Contract Services revenues increased to $3.9 million with 26 operating locations during the third quarter compared to $3.3 million with 21 operating locations during the comparable 12 weeks of fiscal 2015. Culinary profit was 9.2% of Culinary Contract Services sales in the third quarter and 8.3% in the comparable 12-week period of fiscal 2015.
• Franchise revenue decreased 1.2% versus the comparable 12-week period of fiscal 2015. In the third quarter, franchisees opened three U.S. locations and one international location (in Italy).
• Income from continuing operations was a loss of $0.1 million, or a loss of $0.01 per diluted share, compared to income of $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter fiscal 2015. Excluding special items, loss from continuing operations was $6 thousand, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the third quarter compared to income of $2.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the third quarter fiscal 2015.

 

 

Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures

We ended the third quarter with a debt balance outstanding of $36.0 million, down from $37.5 million at the end  of  fiscal 2015.  During the third quarter, our capital expenditures were $3.4 million, compared to $5.4 million in the third quarter fiscal 2015.  At the end of the third quarter, we had $1.4 million in cash and $173.3 million in total shareholders' equity.

Fiscal Year to Date:

• Restaurant sales were $286.3 million during the first three fiscal quarters of 2016 (40 weeks), a $2.8 million increase from the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015
• Same store sales increased 1.0% during the first three fiscal quarters of 2016 (40 weeks) from the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015
• Store level profit was $42.5 million, or 14.9% of restaurant sales, in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016 (40 weeks), a $2.8 million increase from $39.8 million, or 13.9% of restaurant sales, in the comparable 40 weeks of fiscal 2015

 

 

Conference Call

Luby's will host a conference call on July 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss further its third quarter fiscal 2016 results. To access the call live, dial (412) 902-0030 and use the access code 13638900# 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 July 15, 2016 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the access code 13638900#.  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 178 restaurants nationally: 92 Luby's Cafeterias, 77 Fuddruckers, 8 Cheeseburger in Paradise and one Bob Luby's Seafood Grill. The Company is the franchisor for 115 Fuddruckers franchise locations across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Mexico, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Poland, Chile, and Colombia. Additionally, a licensee operates 35 restaurants with the exclusive right to use the Fuddruckers proprietary marks, trade dress, and system in certain countries in the Middle East.  The Company does not receive revenue or royalties from these Middle East restaurants.  Luby's Culinary Contract Services provides food service management to 26 sites consisting of healthcare, higher education and corporate dining locations.

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.

For additional information contact: Dennard-Lascar AssociatesRick Black / Ken DennardInvestor Relations713-529-6600

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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 income (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 gain (loss) on disposing of property and equipment, provision for asset impairments, non-cash compensation expense, and other income (expense).

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.

 

 

 

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SOURCE Luby's, Inc.