Gregory S. Levin
Analyst · Brian Bittner with Oppenheimer & Co
Hi, thank you, Greg. As we noted in our press release today, first quarter revenues increased approximately 9.1% to $205.8 million, and our net income and diluted net income per share were $4.6 million and $0.16, respectively. During the first quarter, we incurred approximately $1.6 million in pre-tax charges or around $0.04 per diluted share for professional fees related to our shareholder settlement. Therefore, excluding the settlement charges, our adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share is $5.8 million and $0.20, respectively. And you can see that reconciliation on our press release today. Our 9.1% increase in the first quarter revenue reflects an approximate 13% increase in total operating weeks, and that's partially offset by a decrease in our weekly sales average of about 3.3%. Our comparable restaurant sales decreased 2.9% during the quarter, and that's compared to a positive 0.4% from last year's first quarter. Our 2.9% decrease in comparable sales for the quarter consisted primarily of a decrease in traffic of about 2.2% and an increase in our average check of approximately 0.7%, driven primarily by mix and incident rates and not driven from any significant increase in discounting. As we mentioned on our fourth quarter call, the first part of the quarter was impacted by weather, which ultimately impacted comp sales by about 40 basis points for the entire first quarter. We also are comping over mid-teen increases in comparable restaurant sales in the Dallas, San Antonio and Oklahoma markets from our TV test last year that ran in March and April. These markets were not included in our TV run this year as we decided TV dollar returns were better spent in our California market where we have the greater penetration of restaurants. In the first quarter, we had approximately 1.1% of menu pricing. As Greg Trojan mentioned, we finally got to play some offense, and it allowed us to exceed our initial expectations for the first quarter in terms of sales and operating profit. Our restaurant level margin was 17.1%, sequentially improving from Q3 and Q4 of last year when our restaurant level margins were 16.3% and 15.1%, respectively. As we discussed at our Analyst Day, our target is to get our restaurant level margins back to the 19 plus percent. So while we have quite a lot of room to go, we are off to a good start as our restaurant operators did a good job of controlling those items within their control, coupled with the start of our cost savings initiative focused on our nonstrategic restaurant operating cost and support. Specifically, our cost of sales of 24.9% was up about 40 basis points compared to last year's first quarter and sequentially down about 30 basis points from the fourth quarter. The increase compared to last year's first quarter is primarily due to commodity cost increases and changes in menu mix, while the decrease sequentially is due to less discounting compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Labor during the first quarter was 36.1%, that was up 110 basis points from last year's first quarter, which was a result of the de-leveraging from lower sales on both hourly labor and our fixed management wages. However, as Greg Trojan mentioned, our restaurant operators did a good job managing labor productivity during the quarter, despite the choppiness from the severe weather in the first half. In fact, our hours used were down approximately 2%, as we mentioned, compared to our guest count, which were down about 2.2%. Our operating and occupancy costs were 21.9% of sales for the first quarter, an increase of 40 basis points from last year's first quarter. The increase in operating occupancy costs is a result of an approximate 70 basis point increase in marketing spend, which went from 1.8% of sales last year to 2.5% this year. Overall, we spent approximately $5.2 million during the first quarter on marketing, as compared to approximately $3.3 million in marketing spend last year. Our increase in marketing spend was offset by an approximate 30 basis point decrease in the other operating and occupancy cost. Therefore, excluding marketing expense from operating and occupancy in both years, we averaged about 21,000 per operating week this quarter compared to 22,000 last year, that is a decrease, as we mentioned, of about 4.5% year-over-year. At our Analyst Day, we said we are targeting to remove at least 100 basis points from our operating and occupancy costs, excluding marketing over the next 3 years. So while we're off to a good start, it's just the beginning. We're pleased to see that 30 basis point reduction in cost and we're looking forward to the ability to gain some additional leverage on these costs going forward. And we're frankly, very happy with the 30 basis point reduction despite the soft sales. Our general and administrative expenses for the quarter were approximately $12.9 million or 6.3% of sales, in line with expectations. Actually, the $12.9 million is about 6.2% of sales, not 6.3% of sales -- excuse me there. Depreciation and amortization was approximately $13.4 million or 6.5% of sales, and it averaged a little over 7,000 per restaurant week, which is in line with our most recent trends regarding depreciation and amortization. Preopening was $1.1 million during the quarter, that represents costs primarily for 2 restaurants we opened during the quarter and some opening costs for restaurants that just recently opened in the second quarter. Our cash rate for the quarter was 24.6%. It's a little lower than what we anticipated due to some additional WOTC or work opportunity tax credits during the quarter. Before we open the all call up to questions, let me spend a couple of minutes providing some commentary on our outlook for 2014 and the second quarter. All of this commentary is subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements as discussed in our filings with the SEC. As you know, Easter Sunday last year was in the first quarter and this year, it moved to the second quarter. Easter weekend is very slow for us, so taking out the Easter weekend and trying to normalize for spring breaks, which seem to be all over the calendar this year, as well as difficult comp comparisons in Texas that I mentioned earlier, I'm estimating that our sales trends currently are running in the negative 1.5% to 2% range. Most importantly, guest traffic trends continue to improve meaningfully and are running a bit ahead of our sales as we invest in making our concept even more affordable. Remember, our average check is down year-over-year as our new menu items like our Brewhouse Burgers and kale and Brussels sprouts salads are proving to be very popular. In regards to menu pricing, we have about 1.6% of menu pricing currently on the menu. Our next menu is expected to roll out in July and we are currently evaluating additional menu pricing in select markets. For the second quarter, I would expect around 1,945 or so restaurant operating weeks. I'm expecting cost of sales to be around the 25% range. We've locked in about 60% of our commodities for the rest of 2014. The commodities on shorter-term contracts include cheese and ground beef and steaks. I'm expecting labor to be in the mid to upper 35% range in the second quarter, and that's based on our current sales trend. However, as I mentioned before, labor is significantly influenced by comparable sales increases or decreases. We're going to make sure labor is set up to take care of our guests because the bottom line of great food and great service and hospitality ultimately results in improved top line sales. We have seen too many restaurant companies eliminate the ability to build sales by trying to save on labor by cutting their sales force, reducing the number of hosts at the front desk and minimizing kitchen staff. Therefore, we must and we will hold our line in labor so that we continue to provide great service to our guests and not make rash labor decisions that could tarnish our brand going forward. During the second quarter, I'm expecting total operating and occupancy costs to be in the range of $25,000 a week. Included in this number is about $2,400 per week or $4.7 million in marketing spend. For comparison purposes, last year, our total operating and occupancy costs was also about $25,000 per week and that included about $2,200 related to marketing. Therefore, excluding marketing, we continue to target savings in our restaurant operating costs. I would anticipate G&A in the second quarter to be around $13.5 million or so. It will be up over Q1 as we currently have more managers in our training program for new restaurants. Also, we will see increased support cost related to new restaurant openings as compared to the first quarter. I anticipate opening cost in the $1.5 million to $2 million range in the second quarter, and that's going to be for the opening of 3 restaurants, plus we'll incur some opening costs per restaurant that are going to open later in the year in Q3 and Q4. Income tax should be around 27% for the quarter, and our diluted shares outstanding should be around 29 million. In regards to our liquidity, we ended the first quarter with a little over $45 million of cash and investments. Our line of credit for which we have no funded debt or funded draws is for $75 million and does not expire until January 2017. Our gross CapEx budget for 2014 before expected tenant improvement allowances and sale leaseback proceeds is now expected to be approximately $90 million, and that's based on 11 new restaurants and the purchase of the underlying land for up to 4 restaurants. As we mentioned in the past, our expansion strategy is predicated on leasing our restaurant locations, however, from time to time, we may purchase the underlying land for a new restaurant that is the only way to secure a highly desirable site. In these cases, we generally will sell the underlying land once the restaurant is closed. In 2014, we expect to receive proceeds from tenant allowances and sale leaseback transaction of approximately $10 million. In addition, we will continue to invest in our core restaurants to make sure our restaurants remain in a like-new and first-class manner and remain relevant with our guests. In today's challenging operating environment where casual dining is more central component of the enjoyment as opposed to just pop-in dining, it's extremely important that we continue to raise the bar to provide a higher quality, more differentiated dining experience for our guests, and this is reflected in our planned net CapEx expectation in the $80 million range. Again, that's the net CapEx of $80 million, gross CapEx of about $90 million. We currently expect our -- to fund our expansion and capital expenditures from our cash and investments on our balance sheet, our cash flow from operations and from the proceeds from our tenant improvement allowances and sale leaseback transactions. Finally, while we are happy with the quarterly sequential improvement in restaurant-level margins, they are still not where we believe we can get them over the long run. We're off to a good start in cost-saving initiatives, but there are more to come. We have also had a good start with our new menu and branding, but we're not yet where we want to be on sales. We just started playing offense about 8 weeks ago, and we are excited about the initiatives around affordability, speed, hospitality and menu creativity. In summary, we are taking a holistic approach to strengthening our business and operating practices with the first quarter reflecting some of those initial benefits and this focus. We have established organization-wide initiatives that build on our strength by cultivating new efficiencies. Our corporate and operating personnel are on board with our direction, and we believe that our expansion and our operating plans, combined with prudent management of our capital structure, is a proven formula for sustaining long-term growth and appreciation of shareholder value. That's all for our formal remarks. Operator, let's go ahead and open the line up for questions.