LEBANON, Tenn., May 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 ended April 27, 2018.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Highlights

• Comparable restaurant sales growth of 1.5% and traffic of -1.3% outperformed the casual dining industry.
• Net income was $48.7 million, a 3.9% increase over prior year third quarter net income of $46.9 million.
• Diluted earnings per share were $2.03, a 4.1% increase compared to $1.95 in the prior year third quarter.
• The Company announced that its Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend to $1.25 per share on the Company's common stock, which represents a 4.2% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20.
• The Board of Directors also declared a special dividend of $3.75 per share on the Company's common stock.

Commenting on the third quarter, Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra B. Cochran said, "I am pleased that we again delivered positive comparable store sales growth in both restaurant and retail and that the sales trend reflected sequential improvement versus previous quarters. Higher commodity inflation and expenses related to our strategic initiatives pressured operating margins, but I'm pleased with the progress we're making. Our confidence in the strength of our business is reflected in our increased regular dividend and our declared special dividend."

Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results
Revenue
The Company reported total revenue of $721.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2018, representing an increase of 3.0% over the third quarter of the prior year. Cracker Barrel comparable store restaurant sales increased 1.5%, including a 2.8% increase in average check partially offset by a 1.3% decrease in comparable store restaurant traffic. The average menu price increase for the quarter was approximately 2.5%. Comparable store retail sales increased 0.9% from the prior year quarter.

Cracker Barrel comparable store restaurant traffic, average check, and comparable store restaurant sales and retail sales for the fiscal months of February, March, and April and the third quarter were as follows:

Operating Income
Operating income in the third quarter was $63.3 million, or 8.8% of total revenue, a decrease from the prior year quarter result of $71.5 million, or 10.2% of total revenue. As a percentage of total revenue, increases in other store operating expenses and cost of goods sold were partially offset by reductions in labor and related expenses and general and administrative expenses.

Diluted Earnings per Share
Diluted earnings per share were $2.03, an $0.08 increase over the prior year third quarter.

Quarterly Dividend Increase and Special Dividend
The Company announced that its Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend to $1.25 per share on the Company's common stock, which represents a 4.2% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. The quarterly dividend is payable on August 6, 2018 to shareholders of record on July 13, 2018.

The Board of Directors also declared a special dividend of $3.75 per share on the Company's common stock. This is the Company's fourth special dividend declaration. The special dividend is payable on August 3, 2018 to shareholders of record on July 13, 2018.

Fiscal 2018 Outlook
The Company now expects to report earnings per diluted share for the 2018 fiscal year of between $10.35 and $10.45 and adjusted earnings per diluted share for the 2018 fiscal year of between $9.30 and $9.40. The Company continues to anticipate total revenue of approximately $3.1 billion, reflecting the expected opening of eight new Cracker Barrel stores and three new Holler & Dash Biscuit House restaurants. The Company continues to anticipate comparable store restaurant sales growth of between 1.0% and 2.0% and approximately flat comparable store retail sales growth. The Company now expects food commodity inflation of approximately 3.25% for the year. The Company now projects an operating income margin of approximately 9.5% of total revenue for fiscal 2018. The Company expects depreciation expense of approximately $95 million; net interest expense in the range of $15 million and $16 million; and capital expenditures of approximately $150 million. The Company now estimates a blended effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 of approximately 11%.

The Company's 2018 fiscal year is a 53-week year. The Company estimates the impact of the 53^rd week, which is included in its guidance, to contribute earnings per diluted share of approximately $0.35.

The Company reminds investors that its outlook for fiscal 2018 reflects a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company's control.

Fiscal 2018 Third Quarter Conference Call
As previously announced, the live broadcast of Cracker Barrel's quarterly conference call will be available to the public on-line at investor.crackerbarrel.com today beginning at 11:00 a.m. (ET). The on-line replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and continue through June 7, 2018.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store^®
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) shares warm welcomes and friendly service while offering guests high-quality homestyle food and unique shopping – all at a fair price. By creating a world filled with hospitality and charm through an experience that combines dining and shopping, guests are cared for like family. Established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel and its affiliates operate 653 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 45 states and own the fast-casual Holler and Dash® restaurants. For more information about the company, visit crackerbarrel.com.

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Except for specific historical information, certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These, and similar statements are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion. All forward-looking information is subject to completion of our financial procedures for Q3 FY 2018 and is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals," "objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may," "will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue" (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology and include the expected effects of operational improvement initiatives, such as new menu items and retail offerings. Factors which could materially affect actual results include, but are not limited to: the effects of uncertain consumer confidence, higher costs for energy, general or regional economic weakness, weather on sales and customer travel, discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of our customers; our ability to identify, acquire and sell successful new lines of retail merchandise and new menu items at our restaurants; our ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; the effects of plans intended to promote or protect our brands and products; commodity price increases; the ability of and cost to us to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees in an escalating wage environment; the effects of increased competition at our locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; workers' compensation, group health and utility price changes; consumer behavior based on negative publicity or concerns over nutritional or safety aspects of our food or products or those of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about pandemics, as well as the possible effects of such events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our restaurants; the effects of our indebtedness and associated restrictions on our financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue our operating plans and objectives; changes in interest rates or capital market conditions affecting our financing costs and ability to refinance all or portions of our indebtedness; the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations; our ability to retain key personnel; the availability and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development and our ability to identify those sites; our ability to enter successfully into new geographic markets that may be less familiar to us; changes in land, building materials and construction costs; the actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations and the costs and effects of negative publicity associated with these activities; practical or psychological effects of natural disasters or terrorist acts or war and military or government responses; disruptions to our restaurant or retail supply chain; changes in foreign exchange rates affecting our future retail inventory purchases; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"); and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. We expressly disclaim any intent, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

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SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.