LUB Lubys Inc

HOUSTON, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) ("Luby's") today announced unaudited financial results for its twelve-week third quarter fiscal 2015, which ended on May 6, 2015. Comparisons in this press release for the third quarter fiscal year 2015 are referred to as "third quarter."

Third Quarter Highlights

• Income from continuing operations increased to $0.09 per diluted share compared to $0.06 the prior year
• Other operating and general and administrative expenses reduced
• Debt balance reduced by $6.5 million
• Combo restaurant sales were $6.4, million representing 7.2% of total restaurant sales
• Total same-store sales decreased 1.1%
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.6%

Chris Pappas, President and CEO, commented, "In the third quarter, income from continuing operations increased $0.03 per share year over year driven by enhanced Combo location profitability and lower overhead costs. While we are pleased with the improved profitability in the quarter, we remain focused on improving restaurant sales.

"In the third quarter, we paid down $6.5 million of our revolving credit facility and had $5.4 million of capital expenditures, keeping us on pace to achieve our capital expenditure estimate for the fiscal year of $20 million to $22 million.

"Our six Combo locations (consisting of a side-by-side Luby's Cafeteria and Fuddruckers at one property location) accounted for 7.2% of total restaurant sales in the third quarter, up from 5.8% in the second quarter, due to our sixth location opening this quarter.  Our Combo location in Jackson, Mississippi that opened February 19th continues to outperform sales expectations, which supports our interest in opening Combo locations in new markets.  Combo locations are performing well and continue to represent a strategic growth driver for our company.

"We continue to execute on our strategic plan to convert certain Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants to Fuddruckers restaurants. We have completed four restaurant conversions this year with up to three additional conversions set to re-open in the fourth quarter."

Same-Store Sales Year-Over-Year Comparison

Third Quarter Results:

• Restaurant sales decreased $1.2 million to $88.8 million in the third quarter compared to $90.0 million in the third quarter last year.
• Sales decreased $1.9 million at Luby's Cafeterias to $54.0 million. The decrease in sales at Luby's Cafeterias resulted from a 1.0% decrease in same-store sales and the absence in sales from three closed Luby's Cafeterias. The 1.0% decrease in same-store Luby's Cafeteria sales resulted from a 2.7% decrease in guest traffic, due in part to adverse weather, offset by a 1.7% increase in average spend per guest.
• Sales increased $0.6 million at our Fuddruckers restaurants. The sales increase at Fuddruckers restaurants resulted from a 0.2% increase in same-store sales and the incremental sales contribution from five new Fuddruckers restaurants (including two locations that were converted from Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants), partially offset by the absence of sales from four closed Fuddruckers restaurants.  The 0.2% increase in same-store sales at Fuddruckers restaurants resulted from a 1.5% increase in average spend per guest, offset by a 1.3% decrease in guest traffic.
• Sales increased $3.5 million at our Combo locations due to the addition of three new Combo locations, offset by a 3.7% decrease in sales at our first Combo location (included in our same-store grouping) due in part to adverse weather. The Combo locations together represented 7.2% of our total restaurant sales in the third quarter compared to 3.2% of our total restaurant sales in the third quarter fiscal 2014.
• Sales declined $3.2 million at our Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants due to locations closed for future conversions.  Operating restaurants decreased from 19 restaurants in the third quarter fiscal 2014 to eight restaurants in third quarter 2015.  Sales declined 7.2% at the eight remaining Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants in operation during the third quarter fiscal 2015. Partially offsetting the $3.2 million sales decline was $1.2 million in sales recaptured at the four locations that were converted from Cheeseburger in Paradise to Fuddruckers.
• Revenue from franchise operations was $1.6 million in the third quarter compared to $1.7 million in the third quarter fiscal 2014. We ended the third quarter with 105 franchise locations in our Fuddruckers franchise network.
• Revenue from Culinary Contract Services decreased to $3.6 million operating at 21 locations in the third quarter compared to $4.5 million operating at 26 locations at the end of the third quarter last year. Compared to the second quarter, revenue declined $0.2 million as operating locations decreased from 24 locations to 21 locations.  
• Store level profit, defined as restaurant sales less cost of food, payroll and related costs, other operating expenses, and occupancy costs, was $13.1 million, or 14.8% of restaurant sales in the third quarter compared to $13.5 million or 15.0% of restaurant sales in the third quarter fiscal 2014.  This decline was primarily related to lower restaurant sales in the quarter along with higher payroll and related costs, partially offset by new Combo location profits. Store level profit is a non-GAAP measure and reconciliation to income from continuing operations is presented after the financial statements.
• In the third quarter, income from continuing operations was $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share compared to $1.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter fiscal 2014. Results in the third quarter of 2015 and 2014 included various special items.  Excluding special items, income from continuing operations was $2.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in third quarter, compared to $1.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in third quarter fiscal 2014.  The income tax provision decreased $1.2 million in the third quarter compared to the third quarter fiscal 2014.  Income from continuing operations before special items and before provision for income taxes was approximately $3.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the third quarter, consistent with the third quarter fiscal 2014.

Reconciliation of income from continuing operations to income from continuing operations, before special items and income taxes ^(1,2):

Third Quarter Operating Expense Review

Cost of food as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased to 28.4% in the third quarter compared to 28.6% in the third quarter fiscal 2014.  The cost of food as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased in part due to higher average menu prices, partially offset by higher food commodity prices.

In the third quarter, payroll and related costs as a percentage of restaurant sales increased to 34.0% compared to 33.3% in the third quarter fiscal 2014. The increase reflects primarily the fixed component of management labor costs, and to a lesser extent hourly labor costs, over lower sales volumes.  These increases were partially offset by lower management and hourly labor costs as a percentage of restaurant sales at our Combo locations where the prior year included increased labor deployed during the first several months of operations at newly opened Combo locations.

Other operating expenses include restaurant-related expenses for utilities, repairs and maintenance, advertising, insurance, supplies, and services. As a percentage of restaurant sales, other operating expenses decreased to 17.4% in the third quarter from 17.7% in the third quarter fiscal 2014. The decrease was attributable to lower utilities expenses, insurance costs, and marketing and advertising costs as percentage of restaurant sales.  These expenses were partially offset by higher supplies expenses and higher repairs and maintenance costs as percentage of restaurant sales.    

Occupancy costs include property lease expense, property taxes, and common area maintenance charges.  Occupancy costs were $4.8 million in the third quarter, consistent with occupancy costs of $4.8 million in the third quarter fiscal 2014. 

Opening costs include labor, supplies, occupancy, and other costs necessary to support the restaurant through its opening period.  Opening costs were $0.4 million in the third quarter compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter fiscal 2014.  Included in the opening costs in the third quarter were the carrying costs for five locations that were previously operated as Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants and were selected for conversion to Fuddruckers restaurants, one of which is schedule to re-open this month.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 1.6% to $4.8 million in the third quarter compared to $4.7 million in the third quarter fiscal 2014. This increase was due primarily to the addition of depreciation related to new capital expenditures from new construction and restaurant conversion activity offset by the reduction in depreciation related to certain assets reaching the end of their depreciable lives.

General and administrative expenses decreased to $7.3 million in the third quarter compared to $8.3 million in the third quarter fiscal 2014. General and administrative expenses included decreased spending on outside professional fees and services, office supplies and equipment, travel expenses, and lower overall compensation expenses.  As a percentage of total revenues, general and administrative expenses were 7.8% in the third quarter, a decrease from 8.7% in the third quarter last year. 

Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures

We ended the third quarter with an outstanding debt balance of $48.0 million, down from $54.5 million at the end of the second quarter.  During the third quarter, our capital expenditures were $5.4 million bringing the total for the first three quarters of fiscal 2015 to $16.4 million, down from $31.1 million for the first three quarters of fiscal 2014. At the end of the third quarter, we had $1.6 million in cash and $174.1 million in total shareholders' equity.

Restaurant Counts:

Fiscal 2015 Outlook

"We remain focused on improving store level profit across all of our restaurant brands through dedicated efforts to continually enhance our product offerings and provide superior service to our guests. Our entire team is focused on improving sales and profitability through efficient operating cost management, store-level performance initiatives and modest price adjustments on selected menu items.  Our fiscal 2015 expectation is to realize same-store sales growth at our core Luby's Cafeterias and Fuddruckers brands and higher store level profit, with lower general and administrative expenses, offset by higher depreciation and interest expense, resulting in improved financial results over the prior year. We continue to effectively manage our capital expenditures in fiscal 2015 and we expect to achieve our capital expenditure guidance range for fiscal 2015 of between $20 and $22 million.  Over the next 24 months, we also expect to sell excess real estate and redeploy over $15 million in estimated net proceeds into a new remodel program, new units, and debt reduction. Our strategy to enhance growth through the opening of new Combo locations remains on track.  We are actively looking for the next Combo site in the Southern U.S. in new markets where we do not already operate with our Luby's Cafeteria brand. In our franchise pipeline, we estimate six new Fuddruckers restaurant location openings in fiscal 2015, in both domestic and international markets, including Italy, Poland, Panama, and Chile," concluded Pappas.

Conference Call

Luby's will host a conference call on June 11, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss further its third quarter fiscal 2015 results. To access the call live, dial (412) 902-0030 and use the access code 13607675# at least 10 minutes prior to the start time, or listen live over the Internet by visiting the events page in the investor relations section of www.lubysinc.com.  For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through June 17, 2015 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the access code 13607675#.  Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 90 days on the "Investors" section of the Company's website.

About Luby's

Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) operates 175 restaurants under the brands Luby's Cafeteria, Fuddruckers and Cheeseburger in Paradise and provides food service management through its Luby's Culinary Contract Services business segment. The company-owned restaurants include 94 Luby's Cafeterias, 72 Fuddruckers, 8 Cheeseburger in Paradise and one Bob Luby's Seafood Grill.  The Company is the franchisor for 105 Fuddruckers franchise locations across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Mexico, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Chile. Additionally, a licensee operates 31 restaurants with the exclusive right to use the Fuddruckers proprietary marks, trade dress, and system in certain countries in the Middle East.  The Company does not receive revenue or royalties from these restaurants.  Luby's Culinary Contract Services provides food service management to 21 sites consisting of healthcare, higher education and corporate dining locations.

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions, including the statements under the caption "Outlook" and any other statements regarding scheduled openings of units, scheduled closures of units, sales of assets, expected proceeds from the sale of assets, expected levels of capital expenditures, effects of food commodity costs, anticipated financial results in future periods and expectations of industry conditions.

Luby's cautions readers that various factors could cause its actual financial and operational results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made from time-to-time in news releases, reports, proxy statements, registration statements, and other written communications, as well as oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Luby's.  The following factors, as well as any other cautionary language included in this press release, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause Luby's actual results to differ materially from the expectations Luby's describes in such forward-looking statements: general business and economic conditions; the impact of competition; our operating initiatives; fluctuations in the costs of commodities, including beef, poultry, seafood, dairy, cheese and produce; increases in utility costs, including the costs of natural gas and other energy supplies; changes in the availability and cost of labor; the seasonality of Luby's business; changes in governmental regulations, including changes in minimum wages; the effects of inflation; the availability of credit; unfavorable publicity relating to operations, including publicity concerning food quality, illness or other health concerns or labor relations; the continued service of key management personnel; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Luby's annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

For additional information contact:

Dennard-Lascar Associates
713-529-6600
Rick Black / Ken Dennard
Investor Relations

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table contains information derived from Luby's Consolidated Statements of Operations expressed as a percentage of total sales, or restaurant sales, applicable.  Percentages may not add due to rounding.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.   

Although store level profit, defined as restaurant sales less cost of food, payroll and related costs, other operating expenses, and occupancy costs is a non-GAAP measure, we believe its presentation is useful because it explicitly shows the results of our most significant reportable segment. The following table reconciles between store level profit, a non-GAAP measure to income from continuing operations, a GAAP measure:

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, provision (benefit) for income taxes and depreciation and amortization and excluding net gain (loss) on disposing of property and equipment, provision for asset impairments, non-cash compensation expense, and other income (loss).

Adjusted EBITDA is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors in in valuing the Company and evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our results to other competitors. Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating management's performance when determining incentive compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA, as defined, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as computed by other companies. These measures should be considered supplemental and not a substitute or superior to other GAAP performance measures.

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SOURCE Luby's, Inc.