Note: EPS may not be comparable

Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH) reported Q4 EPS of $0.40, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $0.37. Revenue for the quarter came in at $545.08 million versus the consensus estimate of $545.13 million.

Results for the fourth quarter included the following highlights:

• Comparable restaurant sales increased 5.8% at company restaurants, including a positive impact of approximately 0.4% related to the calendar shift of the Christmas holiday, and 4.7% at domestic franchise restaurants;
• Diluted earnings per share increased 37.0% to $0.40 from $0.29 in the prior year primarily due to restaurant margin performance and a lower income tax rate;
• Restaurant margin dollars increased 11.9% to $92.2 million from $82.4 million in the prior year and restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 11 basis points to 17.0%. The decrease was primarily driven by labor inflation, partially offset by the benefit of lower food costs;
• Our income tax rate decreased to 19.8% from 28.8% in the prior year primarily due to the impact of new tax legislation enacted in the current quarter, which resulted in a $3.1 million reduction in income tax expense, or $0.04 per diluted share; and
• Seven company restaurants and two international franchise restaurants were opened.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) click here.