LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 19, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH), today announced financial results for the 13 and 52 week periods ended December 25, 2018.

	Fourth Quarter							Year to Date
($000's)	2018			2017			% Change	2018		2017			% Change
Total revenue	$	605,912		$	545,076		11.2%	$	2,457,449		$	2,219,531	10.7%
Income from operations	33,207			37,459			(11.4%)	187,789		186,206			0.9%
Net income	30,332			28,618			6.0%	158,225		131,526			20.3%
Diluted EPS	$	0.42		$	0.40		5.4%	$	2.20		$	1.84	19.6%

Results for the fourth quarter included the following highlights:

• Comparable restaurant sales increased 5.6% at company restaurants and 4.8% at domestic franchise restaurants;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, decreased 112 basis points to 15.9%, primarily due to higher labor costs. Restaurant margin dollars increased 3.7% to $95.6 million from $92.2 million in the prior year;
• Our income tax rate decreased to 5.8% from 19.8% in the prior year primarily due to the impact of new tax legislation;
• Diluted earnings per share increased 5.4% to $0.42 from $0.40 in the prior year primarily due to higher revenue and lower income tax expense partially offset by higher labor costs and higher general and administrative expenses; and
• Eleven company restaurants, including one Bubba’s 33, and one international franchise restaurant were opened.

Results for the year-to-date period included the following highlights:

• Comparable restaurant sales increased 5.4% at company restaurants and 4.3% at domestic franchise restaurants;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, decreased 104 basis points to 17.4%, primarily due to higher labor costs. Restaurant margin dollars increased 4.4% to $424.2 million from $406.4 million in the prior year;
• Our income tax rate decreased to 12.9% from 26.1% in the prior year primarily due to the impact of new tax legislation;
• Diluted earnings per share increased 19.6% to $2.20 from $1.84 in the prior year primarily due to higher revenue and lower income tax expense partially offset by higher labor costs. In addition, we overlapped a pre-tax charge of $14.9 million ($9.2 million after-tax), or $0.13 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017, related to the settlement of a legal matter; and
• 28 company restaurants, including five Bubba’s 33, and five international franchise restaurants were opened.

Kent Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc., commented, "We finished the year strong, with double digit revenue growth for both the fourth quarter and full year. This represented the 36th consecutive quarter of positive comparable restaurant sales, with growth of 5.6% driven by increased traffic. In addition, our solid balance sheet and healthy cashflow allowed us to open 28 company restaurants this year, while also increasing our quarterly cash dividend to $0.30 per share which is our sixth straight year of increasing our dividends by double digits."

Taylor continued, “Looking ahead to 2019, our development pipeline is in great shape as we expect to open 25 to 30 company restaurants and as many as eight franchise restaurants. While we expect to face continued cost pressures in the near term, we remain excited about the top-line momentum that our operators have generated.”

2019 Outlook

Comparable restaurant sales at company restaurants for the first 54 days of our first quarter of fiscal 2019 increased approximately 6.0% compared to the prior year period, including a positive impact of approximately 1.3% related to the calendar shift of the New Year’s holiday.

Management updated the following expectations for 2019:

• Positive comparable restaurant sales growth including a menu price increase of approximately 1.5% to be implemented at the beginning of our second quarter;
• An income tax rate of approximately 15.0%; and
• Total capital expenditures of approximately $210 million to $220 million.

Management reiterated the following expectations for 2019:

• 25 to 30 company restaurant openings, including as many as four Bubba’s 33 restaurants;
• Commodity cost inflation of approximately 1.0% to 2.0%; and
• Mid-single digit growth in labor dollars per store week, excluding the impact of higher guest counts.

Cash Dividend Payment

On February 13, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock. This payment, which will be distributed on March 29, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 13, 2019, represents a 20% increase from the cash dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock declared during each quarter of 2018. Since the inception of our dividend program in 2011, our cash dividend per share of common stock has increased an average of 18.0% per year.

Non-GAAP Measures

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Within our press release, we make reference to restaurant margin (in dollars and as a percentage of sales). Restaurant margin represents restaurant and other sales less restaurant-level operating costs, including cost of sales, labor, rent and other operating costs. Restaurant margin should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to income from operations. This non-GAAP measure is not indicative of overall company performance and profitability in that this measure does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders due to the nature of the costs excluded. Restaurant margin is widely regarded as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. In calculating restaurant margin, we exclude certain non-restaurant-level costs that support operations, including pre-opening and general and administrative expenses, but do not have a direct impact on restaurant-level operational efficiency and performance. We also exclude depreciation and amortization expense, substantially all of which relates to restaurant-level assets, as it represents a non-cash charge for the investment in our restaurants. We also exclude impairment and closure expense as we believe this provides a clearer perspective of ongoing operating performance and a more useful comparison to prior period results. Restaurant margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry. A reconciliation of income from operations to restaurant margin is included in the accompanying financial tables.

Conference Call

Texas Roadhouse is hosting a conference call today, February 19, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The dial-in number is (877) 699-0953 or (647) 689-5456 for international calls. A replay of the call will be available for one week following the conference call. To access the replay, please dial (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642 for international calls, and use 9984178 as the pass code. There will be a simultaneous Web cast conducted at www.texasroadhouse.com.

About the Company

Texas Roadhouse is a casual dining concept that first opened in 1993 and today has grown to over 580 restaurants system-wide in 49 states and ten foreign countries. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.texasroadhouse.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this release that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, those relating to our anticipated financial performance, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of Texas Roadhouse. Actual results may vary materially from those contained in forward-looking statements based on a number of factors including, without limitation, the actual number of restaurants opening; the sales at these and our other company and franchise restaurants; changes in restaurant development or operating costs, such as food and labor; our ability to acquire franchise restaurants; our ability to integrate the franchise restaurants we acquire or other concepts we develop; our ability to continue to generate the necessary cash flows to fund our new restaurant growth, continue our share repurchase program and pay a quarterly cash dividend; strength of consumer spending; pending or future legal claims; breaches of security; conditions beyond our control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting our customers or food supplies; food safety and food-borne illness concerns; acts of war or terrorism and other factors disclosed from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Investor Relations Tonya Robinson(502) 515-7269

MediaTravis Doster(502) 638-5457

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
	13 Weeks Ended									52 Weeks Ended
	December 25,2018					December 26,2017				December 25,2018					December 26,2017
Revenue:
Restaurant and other sales	$	600,936				$	541,196			$	2,437,115				$	2,203,017
Franchise royalties and fees	4,976					3,880				20,334					16,514
Total revenue	605,912					545,076				2,457,449					2,219,531
Costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales	196,476					175,688				795,300					721,550
Labor	200,086					173,258				793,384					687,545
Rent	12,491					11,569				48,791					44,807
Other operating	96,295					88,526				375,477					342,702
Pre-opening	5,522					4,972				19,051					19,274
Depreciation and amortization	25,724					24,263				101,216					93,499
Impairment and closure	150					641				278					654
General and administrative	35,961					28,700				136,163					123,294
Total costs and expenses	572,705					507,617				2,269,660					2,033,325
Income from operations	33,207					37,459				187,789					186,206
Interest (income) expense, net	(219		)			366				591					1,577
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(203		)			(339		)		(1,353		)			(1,488		)
Income before taxes	33,629					37,432				188,551					186,117
Provision for income taxes	1,936					7,422				24,257					48,581
Net income including noncontrolling interests	31,693					30,010				164,294					137,536
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,361					1,392				6,069					6,010
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	$	30,332				$	28,618			$	158,225				$	131,526
Net income per common share attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries:
Basic	$	0.42				$	0.40			$	2.21				$	1.85
Diluted	$	0.42				$	0.40			$	2.20				$	1.84
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	71,584					71,138				71,467					70,989
Diluted	72,182					71,753				71,964					71,527
Cash dividends declared per share	$	0.25				$	0.21			$	1.00				$	0.84

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
			December 25, 2018				December 26, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents			$	210,125			$	150,918
Other current assets, net			134,894				106,163
Property and equipment, net			956,676				912,147
Goodwill			123,220				121,040
Intangible assets, net			1,959				2,700
Other assets			42,402				37,655
Total assets			$	1,469,276			$	1,330,623
Other current liabilities			385,142				329,998
Long-term debt and obligation under capital lease, excluding current maturities			2,081				51,981
Other liabilities, net			121,345				97,253
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries stockholders' equity			945,569				839,079
Noncontrolling interests			15,139				12,312
Total liabilities and equity			$	1,469,276			$	1,330,623

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
				52 Weeks Ended
				December 25, 2018				December 26, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income including noncontrolling interests				$	164,294			$	137,536
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
	Depreciation and amortization			101,216				93,499
	Share-based compensation expense			33,983				26,934
	Other noncash adjustments, net			18,726				438
Change in working capital				34,649				27,966
		Net cash provided by operating activities		352,868				286,373
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures - property and equipment				(155,980)				(161,628)
Acquisition of franchise restaurants, net of cash acquired				(2,165)				(16,528)
		Net cash used in investing activities		(158,145)				(178,156)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligation				(50,000)				(558)
Dividends paid				(68,550)				(58,154)
Other financing activities, net				(16,966)				(11,531)
		Net cash used in financing activities		(135,516)				(70,243)
		Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		59,207				37,974
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period				150,918				112,944
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period				$	210,125			$	150,918

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Restaurant Margin
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
		13 Weeks Ended						52 Weeks Ended
		December 25, 2018			December 26, 2017			December 25, 2018			December 26, 2017
Income from operations		$	33,207		$	37,459		$	187,789		$	186,206
Less:
Franchise royalties and fees		4,976			3,880			20,334			16,514
Add:
Pre-opening		5,522			4,972			19,051			19,274
Depreciation and amortization		25,724			24,263			101,216			93,499
Impairment and closure		150			641			278			654
General and administrative		35,961			28,700			136,163			123,294
Restaurant margin		$	95,588		$	92,155		$	424,163		$	406,413
Restaurant margin (as a percentage of restaurant and other sales)		15.9%			17.0%			17.4%			18.4%

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Financial and Operating Information
($ amounts in thousands, except weekly sales by group)
(unaudited)
			Fourth Quarter						Change			Year to Date						Change
			2018			2017			vs LY			2018			2017			vs LY
Restaurant openings
	Company - Texas Roadhouse		10			7			3			23			23			0
	Company - Bubba's 33		1			0			1			5			4			1
	Company - Other		0			0			0			0			0			0
	Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - U.S.		0			0			0			0			1			(1)
	Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - International		1			2			(1)			5			4			1
	Total		12			9			3			33			32			1
Restaurant acquisitions/dispositions
	Company - Texas Roadhouse		1			0			1			1			4			(3)
	Franchise - Texas Roadhouse		(1)			0			(1)			(1)			(4)			3
	Total		0			0			0			0			0			0
Restaurants open at the end of the quarter
	Company - Texas Roadhouse		464			440			24
	Company - Bubba's 33		25			20			5
	Company - Other		2			2			0
	Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - U.S.		69			70			(1)
	Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - International		22			17			5
	Total		582			549			33
Company restaurants
	Restaurant and other sales		$	600,936		$	541,196		11.0	%		$	2,437,115		$	2,203,017		10.6	%
	Store weeks		6,307			5,950			6.0	%		24,693			23,274			6.1	%
	Comparable restaurant sales growth (1)		5.6		%	5.8		%				5.4		%	4.5		%
	Texas Roadhouse restaurants only:
		Comparable restaurant sales growth (1)	5.6		%	5.9		%				5.4		%	4.5		%
		Average unit volume (2)	$	1,252		$	1,193		5.0	%		$	5,211		$	4,973		4.8	%
		Weekly sales by group:
		Comparable restaurants (424 units)	$	96,879
		Average unit volume restaurants (23 units) (3)	$	85,690
		Restaurants less than 6 months old (17 units)	$	104,533
Restaurant operating costs (as a % of restaurant and other sales)
Cost of sales			32.7		%	32.5		%	23	bps		32.6		%	32.8		%	(12)	bps
Labor			33.3		%	32.0		%	128	bps		32.6		%	31.2		%	134	bps
Rent			2.1		%	2.1		%	(6)	bps		2.0		%	2.0		%	(3)	bps
Other operating			16.0		%	16.4		%	(33)	bps		15.4		%	15.6		%	(15)	bps
Total			84.1		%	83.0		%	112	bps		82.6		%	81.6		%	104	bps
	Restaurant margin		15.9		%	17.0		%	(112)	bps		17.4		%	18.4		%	(104)	bps
	Restaurant margin ($ in thousands)		$	95,588		$	92,155		3.7	%		$	424,163		$	406,413		4.4	%
	Restaurant margin $/Store week		$	15,156		$	15,488		(2.1)	%		$	17,177		$	17,462		(1.6)	%
Franchise restaurants
	Franchise royalties and fees		$	4,976		$	3,880		28.2	%		$	20,334		$	16,514		23.1	%
	Store weeks		1,192			1,117			6.7	%		4,670			4,381			6.6	%
	Comparable restaurant sales growth (1)		2.7		%	2.9		%				2.2		%	2.9		%
	U.S. franchise restaurants only:
		Comparable restaurant sales growth (1)	4.8		%	4.7		%				4.3		%	4.2		%
		Average unit volume (2)	$	1,284		$	1,226		4.8	%		$	5,338		$	5,077		5.1	%
Pre-opening expense			$	5,522		$	4,972		11.1	%		$	19,051		$	19,274		(1.2)	%
Depreciation and amortization			$	25,724		$	24,263		6.0	%		$	101,216		$	93,499		8.3	%
	As a % of revenue		4.2		%	4.5		%	(21)	bps		4.1		%	4.2		%	(9)	bps
General and administrative expenses			$	35,961		$	28,700		25.3	%		$	136,163		$	123,294		10.4	%
	As a % of revenue		5.9		%	5.3		%	67	bps		5.5		%	5.6		%	(1)	bps
(1) Comparable restaurant sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for restaurants open a full 18 months before the beginning of the period measured, excluding sales from restaurants closed during the period.
(2) Average unit volume includes sales from Texas Roadhouse restaurants open for a full six months before the beginning of the period measured, excluding any sales at restaurants closed during the period.
(3) Average unit volume restaurants include restaurants open a full six and up to 18 months before the beginning of the period measured.
Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Source: Texas Roadhouse, Inc

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