Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Increases Quarterly Dividend 20% to $0.36 per Share


LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH) today announced financial results for the 14 and 53 week periods ended December 31, 2019. 

 Fourth Quarter Year to Date
($000's)20192018% Change 20192018% Change
        
Total revenue$  725,238$  605,91219.7% $  2,756,163$  2,457,44912.2%
Income from operations 53,411 33,20760.8%  212,023 187,78912.9%
Net income 42,686 30,33240.7%  174,452 158,22510.3%
Diluted EPS$  0.61$  0.4245.4% $  2.46$  2.2011.9%
              

Note:  Fourth quarter and full year 2019 results include 14 and 53 weeks, respectively, compared to 13 and 52 weeks in the fourth quarter and full year of 2018, respectively.

Results for the fourth quarter included the following highlights:  

  • Comparable restaurant sales increased 4.4% at company restaurants and 3.4% at domestic franchise restaurants;
  • Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, increased 117 basis points to 17.1% as the benefit of the 53rd week, a higher average check, and labor productivity were partially offset by wage rate and commodity inflation.  Restaurant margin dollars increased 28.6% to $122.9 million from $95.6 million in the prior year;
  • Diluted earnings per share increased 45.4% to $0.61 from $0.42 in the prior year.  Diluted earnings per share were positively impacted by $0.10 to $0.11 as a result of the 53rd week;
  • 11 company restaurants, including two Bubba’s 33 restaurants, and three international franchise restaurants were opened; and
  • The Company repurchased 170,187 shares of common stock for $8.9 million. 

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

  • Comparable restaurant sales increased 4.7% at company restaurants and 3.8% at domestic franchise restaurants;
  • Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, decreased six basis points to 17.3%, as higher labor costs driven by wage rate and other inflation was offset by lower cost of sales due to the benefit of a higher average check.  Restaurant margin dollars increased 11.8% to $474.2 million from $424.2 million in the prior year;
  • Diluted earnings per share increased 11.9% to $2.46 from $2.20 in the prior year.  Diluted earnings per share were positively impacted by $0.10 to $0.11 as a result of the 53rd week;
  • 22 company restaurants, including three Bubba’s 33 restaurants, and nine, primarily international, franchise restaurants were opened; and
  • The Company repurchased 2,625,245 shares of common stock for $139.8 million. 

Kent Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc., commented, “We are very pleased to end the year on a strong note, highlighted by our double digit revenue growth and improved restaurant margins in the second half of the year.  Fourth quarter comparable restaurant sales grew 4.4% at company restaurants, which represents our 40th consecutive quarter of growth.  This is certainly a credit to our operators, who for 10 straight years have found ways to continue to grow sales.  In addition, our healthy cash flow allowed us to increase our quarterly cash dividend to $0.36 per share in 2020 which is our seventh straight year of increasing our dividends by double digits.”

Taylor continued, “We are off to a solid start in 2020, with comparable restaurant sales growth of 6.4% for the first seven weeks of the year.  In addition, our development pipeline remains strong and we continue to target at least 30 company restaurant openings for the year.”

2020 Outlook

Comparable restaurant sales at company restaurants for the first seven weeks of our first quarter of fiscal 2020 increased 6.4% compared to the prior year period.

Management reiterated the following expectations for 2020:

  • Positive comparable restaurant sales growth;
  • At least 30 company restaurant openings;
  • Store week growth of 3.5% to 4.5%, including the negative impact of lapping the 53rd week from 2019;
  • Commodity cost inflation of 1.0% to 2.0%;
  • Mid-single digit growth in labor dollars per store week; and
  • An income tax rate of 14.0% to 15.0%.

Management updated the following expectations for 2020:

  • Total capital expenditures of $210 million to $220 million.

Cash Dividend Payment

On February 20, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share of common stock.  This payment, which will be distributed on March 27, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2020, represents a 20% increase from the cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock declared during each quarter of 2019.  Since the inception of our dividend program in 2011, our cash dividend per share of common stock has increased an average of 18.2% 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 20, 2020 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 8963721 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 610 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, except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Investor Relations
Tonya Robinson
(502) 515-7269

Media
Travis Doster
(502) 638-5457

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
 14 and 13 Weeks Ended 53 and 52 Weeks Ended
 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018
        
Revenue:       
Restaurant and other sales$719,457  $600,936 $2,734,177  $2,437,115 
Franchise royalties and fees 5,781   4,976  21,986   20,334 
        
Total revenue 725,238   605,912  2,756,163   2,457,449 
        
Costs and expenses:       
Restaurant operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below):       
Cost of sales 233,221   196,476  883,357   795,300 
Labor 237,902   200,086  905,614   793,384 
Rent 13,358   12,491  52,531   48,791 
Other operating 112,093   96,295  418,448   375,477 
Pre-opening 7,355   5,522  20,156   19,051 
Depreciation and amortization 30,970   25,724  115,544   101,216 
Impairment and closure, net (1,293)  150  (899)  278 
General and administrative 38,221   35,961  149,389   136,163 
        
Total costs and expenses 671,827   572,705  2,544,140   2,269,660 
        
Income from operations 53,411   33,207  212,023   187,789 
        
Interest (expense) income, net (12)  219  1,514   (591)
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates 278   203  378   1,353 
        
Income before taxes 53,677   33,629  213,915   188,551 
Provision for income taxes 9,066   1,936  32,397   24,257 
        
Net income including noncontrolling interests 44,611   31,693  181,518   164,294 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,925   1,361  7,066   6,069 
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries$42,686  $30,332 $174,452  $158,225 
        
Net income per common share attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries:       
Basic$0.61  $0.42 $2.47  $2.21 
Diluted$0.61  $0.42 $2.46  $2.20 
        
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
Basic 69,431   71,584  70,509   71,467 
Diluted 69,888   72,182  70,916   71,964 
        
Cash dividends declared per share$0.30  $0.25 $1.20  $1.00 
               


Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
      
 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018
      
      
Cash and cash equivalents$  107,879  $  210,125 
Other current assets, net   140,020     134,894 
Property and equipment, net   1,056,563     956,676 
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net   499,801     -  
Goodwill   124,748     123,220 
Intangible assets, net   1,234     1,959 
Other assets   53,320     42,402 
      
Total assets$  1,983,565  $  1,469,276 
      
      
Current liabilities   417,220     385,142 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion   538,710     -  
Other liabilities   96,466     123,426 
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries stockholders' equity   915,994     945,569 
Noncontrolling interests   15,175     15,139 
      
Total liabilities and equity$  1,983,565  $  1,469,276 
      
Note: Beginning in 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification 842, Leases, which requires the recognition of an operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability for virtually all leases.
 


Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

    
 53 and 52 Weeks Ended
 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018
    
    
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income including noncontrolling interests$  181,518  $  164,294 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities   
Depreciation and amortization   115,544     101,216 
Share-based compensation expense   35,500     33,983 
Other noncash adjustments, net   12,374     18,726 
Change in working capital   29,362     34,649 
Net cash provided by operating activities   374,298     352,868 
    
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Capital expenditures - property and equipment   (214,340)    (155,980)
Acquisition of franchise restaurants, net of cash acquired   (1,536)    (2,165)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment   1,056     -  
Net cash used in investing activities   (214,820)    (158,145)
    
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Principal payments on long-term debt   -      (50,000)
Repurchase of shares of common stock   (139,849)    -  
Dividends paid   (102,366)    (68,550)
Other financing activities, net   (19,509)    (16,966)
Net cash used in financing activities   (261,724)    (135,516)
    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (102,246)    59,207 
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period   210,125     150,918 
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period$  107,879  $  210,125 
    


Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Restaurant Margin
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
        
 14 and 13 Weeks Ended 53 and 52 Weeks Ended
 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018 December 31, 2019 December 25, 2018
        
Income from operations$  53,411  $  33,207  $  212,023  $  187,789 
        
Less:       
Franchise royalties and fees   5,781     4,976     21,986     20,334 
        
Add:       
Pre-opening   7,355     5,522     20,156     19,051 
Depreciation and amortization   30,970     25,724     115,544     101,216 
Impairment and closure, net   (1,293)    150     (899)    278 
General and administrative   38,221     35,961     149,389     136,163 
        
Restaurant margin$  122,883  $  95,588  $  474,227  $  424,163 
        
Restaurant margin (as a percentage of restaurant and other sales) 17.1%  15.9%  17.3%  17.4%
        


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 
 2019 2018 vs LY  2019 2018 vs LY 
              
Restaurant openings             
Company - Texas Roadhouse 9   10  (1)   19   23  (4) 
Company - Bubba's 33 2   1  1    3   5  (2) 
Company - Other 0   0  0    0   0  0  
Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - U.S. 0   0  0    1   0  1  
Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - International 3   1  2    8   5  3  
Total 14   12  2    31   33  (2) 
              
Restaurant acquisitions/dispositions             
Company 1   1  0    1   1  0  
Franchise (1)  (1) 0    (1)  (1) 0  
Total 0   0  0    0   0  0  
              
Restaurant closures             
Company - Texas Roadhouse 0   0  0    0   0  0  
Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - International 0   0  0    (2)  0  (2) 
Total 0   0  0    (2)  0  (2) 
              
Restaurants open at the end of the quarter             
Company - Texas Roadhouse 484   464  20         
Company - Bubba's 33 28   25  3         
Company - Other 2   2  0         
Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - U.S. 69   69  0         
Franchise - Texas Roadhouse - International 28   22  6         
Total 611   582  29         
              
Company restaurants             
Restaurant and other sales$719,457  $600,936  19.7 % $2,734,177  $2,437,115  12.2 %
Store weeks 7,118   6,307  12.9 %  26,473   24,693  7.2 %
Comparable restaurant sales growth (1) 4.4 % 5.6 %   4.7 % 5.4 % 
Texas Roadhouse restaurants only:             
Comparable restaurant sales growth (1) 4.3 % 5.6 %   4.6 % 5.4 % 
Average unit volume (2)$1,434  $1,251  14.6 % $5,555  $5,209  6.6 %
Average unit volume, 2018 adjusted (3)$1,434  $1,380  4.0 % $5,555  $5,338  4.1 %
Weekly sales by group:         
Comparable restaurants (448 units)$102,824             
Average unit volume restaurants (21 units) (4)$94,379             
Restaurants less than 6 months old (15 units)$106,328             
              
Restaurant operating costs (as a % of restaurant and other sales)             
Cost of sales 32.4 % 32.7 %(28)bps  32.3 % 32.6 %(32)bps
Labor 33.1 % 33.3 %(23)bps  33.1 % 32.6 %57 bps
Rent 1.9 % 2.1 %(22)bps  1.9 % 2.0 %(8)bps
Other operating 15.6 % 16.0 %(44)bps  15.3 % 15.4 %(10)bps
Total 82.9 % 84.1 %(117)bps  82.7 % 82.6 %6 bps
Restaurant margin 17.1 % 15.9 %117 bps  17.3 % 17.4 %(6)bps
Restaurant margin ($ in thousands)$122,883  $95,588  28.6 % $474,227  $424,163  11.8 %
Restaurant margin $/Store week$17,264  $15,156  13.9 % $17,914  $17,177  4.3 %
              
Franchise restaurants             
Franchise royalties and fees$5,781  $4,976  16.2 % $21,986  $20,334  8.1 %
Store weeks 1,330   1,192  11.6 %  4,953   4,670  6.1 %
Comparable restaurant sales growth (1) 3.0 % 2.7 %   3.0 % 2.2 % 
U.S. franchise restaurants only:             
Comparable restaurant sales growth (1) 3.4 % 4.8 %   3.8 % 4.3 % 
Average unit volume (2)$1,489  $1,308  13.8 % $5,732  $5,389  6.4 %
Average unit volume, 2018 adjusted (3)$1,489  $1,440  3.4 % $5,732  $5,521  3.8 %
              
Pre-opening expense$7,355  $5,522  33.2 % $20,156  $19,051  5.8 %
              
Depreciation and amortization$30,970  $25,724  20.4 % $115,544  $101,216  14.2 %
As a % of revenue 4.3 % 4.2 %2 bps  4.2 % 4.1 %7 bps
              
General and administrative expenses$38,221  $35,961  6.3 % $149,389  $136,163  9.7 %
As a % of revenue 5.3 % 5.9 %(66)bps  5.4 % 5.5 %(12)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.  Q4 2019 and 2019 YTD include 14 and 53 weeks, respectively, while Q4 2018 and 2018 YTD include 13 and 52 weeks.
(3)  For comparative purposes, Q4 2018 and 2018 YTD were adjusted to include 14 and 53 weeks, respectively.
(4)  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.