LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH), today announced financial results for the 13 and 52 week periods ended December 29, 2020 and provided a business update in response to the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
 

Results for the fourth quarter included the following:

• Total revenue was negatively impacted by lapping the $59.5 million benefit of the 14^th week in 2019, which represented 7.9% of the decrease in total revenue for the quarter. Diluted earnings per share in the prior year quarter benefitted by $0.10 to $0.11 as a result of the 14^th week;
• For the October, November, and December periods, comparable restaurant sales at domestic company restaurants increased 0.8%, decreased 6.3%, and decreased 18.2%, respectively. Sales during the period were negatively impacted by dining room closures and capacity restrictions throughout the country. For the quarter, comparable restaurant sales decreased 8.9% at domestic company restaurants and decreased 11.2% at domestic franchise restaurants;
• Nine company restaurants, including one Jaggers restaurant, our fast-casual concept, were opened and two franchise restaurants were opened;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, was 13.3% and restaurant margin dollars were $84.1 million. Restaurant margin was impacted by a decrease in comparable restaurant sales and higher costs related to the pandemic.   These costs included $0.5 million of costs incurred for relief pay and enhanced benefits for hourly restaurant employees, net of employee retention payroll tax credits of $2.5 million; and,
• The Company ended the quarter with debt of $240.0 million and $363.2 million of cash on hand.

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

• Comparable restaurant sales decreased 14.2% at domestic company restaurants and 15.5% at domestic franchise restaurants;
• 22 company restaurants, including three Bubba’s 33 restaurants and one Jaggers restaurant, were opened and four franchise restaurants were opened. One company restaurant and two international franchise restaurants were closed;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, was 11.2% and restaurant margin dollars were $265.6 million. Restaurant margin was impacted by a decrease in comparable restaurant sales and higher costs related to the pandemic. These costs included $13.2 million of costs incurred for relief pay and enhanced benefits for hourly restaurant employees, net of employee retention payroll tax credits of $7.0 million; and,
• The Company repurchased 252,409 shares of common stock for $12.6 million, the last of which occurred on March 17th. No proceeds from the revolving credit facility were utilized to repurchase shares.

Kent Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc., commented, “This past year has been without question the most challenging I’ve ever experienced in the restaurant business.   Despite these challenges, our operators quickly adapted and found ways to continue to serve our guests, many times in ways they never had before. This sustained our cashflows at a level that allowed us to continue to grow by opening 22 restaurants during the year. While we expect continued headwinds in the first half of 2021, we remain well-positioned for future growth.”

Business Update

For the quarter, the Company continued to operate under various capacity restrictions in the dining rooms along with enhanced To-Go, which included a curbside and/or drive-up operating model, as permitted by local guidelines. Comparable restaurant sales during the fourth quarter were impacted by dining room closures at a number of company restaurants. At the beginning of the quarter, nearly all company restaurants had their dining rooms open under various limited capacity restrictions. At the end of the quarter, 82% of company restaurants had their dining rooms open. By period, the comparable restaurant sales, average weekly sales, and To-Go sales for all company restaurants were as follows:

For the fourth quarter, the Company’s cash on hand position increased approximately $34.5 million due to operating cashflows and working capital inflows, partially offset by cash used for capital expenditures. In addition, the Company acquired two franchise locations for a total purchase price of $10.6 million. As of the end of the year, the Company had opened 22 company restaurants across all concepts and an additional ten company restaurants were under construction.

For the January period and the first seven weeks of the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the comparable restaurant sales, average weekly sales, and To-Go sales for all company restaurants were as follows:

2021 Outlook

As previously announced, due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the Company had not yet provided a financial outlook for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2021. However, based on improved cashflow and stabilizing operations at company restaurants, the Company is providing the following expectations for 2021:

• 25 to 30 company restaurant openings across all concepts;
• Store week growth of 4.0% to 5.0%;
• Commodity cost inflation of approximately 3.0%; and
• Total capital expenditures of $210 million to $220 million.

To the extent that state and local guidelines begin to significantly reduce capacity and/or re-close dining rooms, the Company could pull back on development and reduce capital spend accordingly.

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company prepares the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Within the press release, the Company makes reference to restaurant margin (in dollars and as a percentage of restaurant and other sales). Restaurant margin represents restaurant and other sales less restaurant-level operating costs, including food and beverage costs, 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, the Company excludes 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. The Company also excludes depreciation and amortization expense, substantially all of which relates to restaurant-level assets, as it represents a non-cash charge for the investment in restaurants. The Company also excludes impairment and closure expense as it believes 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 the 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 18, 2021 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 6659886 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 630 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 are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the potential impact of the COVID-19/Coronavirus outbreak and other non-historical statements. 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, conditions beyond its control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting customers or food supplies; food safety and food-borne illness concerns; and other factors disclosed from time to time in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described under “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 18, 2021. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other filings with the 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Investor Relations
Michael Bailen
(502) 515-7298

Media
Travis Doster
(502) 638-5457

Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

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