News Details

Increases Quarterly Dividend 13% to $0.17 per Share

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH), today announced financial results for the 13 and 52 week periods ended December 30, 2014.

NOTE: Fourth quarter and full year 2014 results include 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, compared to 14 and 53 weeks in the fourth quarter and full year of 2013.

Results for the fourth quarter included the following highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share increased 10.9% to $0.26 from $0.24 in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share in the prior year period was positively impacted by an estimated $0.03 to $0.04 as a result of the 14th week;
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 7.0% at company restaurants and 5.7% at franchise restaurants on a comparable 13-week basis;
• Seven Texas Roadhouse and two Bubba's 33 company-owned restaurants were opened, along with five Texas Roadhouse franchise-owned restaurants;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 47 basis points to 16.5%, primarily due to food cost inflation of approximately 4.5%;
• Income tax rate decreased 156 basis points to 27.7%, primarily due to the retroactive reinstatement of certain federal tax credits during the current year quarter; and
• The Company repurchased 100,000 shares of its common stock for $2.8 million.

Results for the full year included the following highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share increased 9.4% to $1.23 from $1.13 in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share in the prior year was positively impacted by an estimated $0.03 to $0.04 as a result of the 53^rd week;
• Comparable restaurant sales increased 4.7% at company restaurants and 4.9% at franchise restaurants on a comparable 52-week basis;
• 22 Texas Roadhouse and two Bubba's 33 company-owned restaurants were opened along with six franchise-owned restaurants;
• Restaurant margin, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 26 basis points to 17.6%;
• Income tax rate increased 112 basis points to 30.0%, primarily due to the retroactive reinstatement of certain federal tax credits in 2013; and
• The Company repurchased 1,675,000 shares of its common stock for $42.7 million.

Kent Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc., commented, "We are very pleased with our 2014 results and the fact that we achieved our fifth consecutive year of positive comparable restaurant sales growth. We reported double digit revenue growth and strong diluted earnings per share growth for the year, despite continued commodity cost pressures and the impact of lapping an extra week last year. At the same time, our healthy balance sheet and cash flow enabled us to return $74.1 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases and quarterly dividend payments."

Taylor continued, "Looking ahead to 2015, our development pipeline is in great shape and we expect to open 25 to 30 company restaurants, as well as four to six franchise restaurants. Although we expect to face continued cost pressures in the near term, we remain excited by the ongoing momentum in our top-line and will continue to focus on our long-term brand positioning and growth potential."

2015 Outlook

The Company reported that comparable restaurant sales at company restaurants for the first seven weeks of fiscal 2015 increased approximately 12% compared to the prior year period.

Management reiterated the following expectations for 2015:

• Positive comparable restaurant sales growth; and
• 25 to 30 company restaurant openings, including as many as five Bubba's 33 restaurants.

Management updated the following expectations for 2015:

• Food cost inflation of 3% to 4%;
• An income tax rate of approximately 30.0% to 31.0% depending on the reinstatement of certain federal tax credits; and
• Total capital expenditures of $135 million to $145 million.

Cash Dividend Payment

On February 18, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share of common stock. This payment, which will be distributed on April 3, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 18, 2015, represents a 13% increase from the cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock declared during each quarter of 2014.

Conference Call

The Company is hosting a conference call today, February 23, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The dial-in number is (877) 719-9791 or (719) 325-4765 for international calls. A replay of the call will be available for one week following the conference call. To access the replay, please dial (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international calls, and use 7805752 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 operates over 450 restaurants system-wide in 49 states and four 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 the Company. 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; conditions beyond our control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting our customers or food supplies; 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.

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.
Investor Relations:
Tonya Robinson, 502-515-7269
or
Media:
Travis Doster, 502-638-5457

Source: Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

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