Investors

Cracker Barrel Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results, Increases Quarterly Dividend, Declares Special Dividend, And Authorizes Share Repurchases

June 4, 2019 at 8:00 AM EDT
Comparable store restaurant sales growth and traffic outperform the casual dining industry
Board increases regular quarterly dividend to $1.30 per share, declares special dividend of $3.00 per share, and authorizes share repurchases up to $50 million

LEBANON, Tenn., June 4, 2019 /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 2019 ended May 3, 2019.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Highlights

  • Comparable store restaurant sales growth of 1.3% and traffic of -1.8% outperformed the casual dining industry.
  • Earnings per diluted share were $2.09, a 3.0% increase compared to $2.03 in the prior year third quarter.
  • The Company announced its Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend to $1.30 per share on the Company's common stock, which represents a 4.0% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share.
  • The Board of Directors also declared a special dividend of $3.00 per share on the Company's common stock and authorized new share repurchases for up to $50 million of the Company's outstanding common stock.

Commenting on the third quarter results, Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra B. Cochran said, "I am pleased that we again delivered positive comparable store restaurant sales growth and outperformed the casual dining industry. Our teams continued to make progress on key initiatives, and I am encouraged by our performance, in particular with the early results of our new Signature Fried Chicken initiative."

Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results
Revenue 
The Company reported total revenue of $739.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, representing an increase of 2.5% over the third quarter of the prior year. Cracker Barrel comparable store restaurant sales increased 1.3%, representing a 3.1% increase in average check and a 1.8% decrease in comparable store restaurant traffic. The average menu price increase for the quarter was approximately 1.8%. Comparable store retail sales decreased 2.6% from the prior year quarter.

Cracker Barrel comparable store restaurant traffic, average check, and comparable store restaurant sales and retail sales for the third quarter were as follows:


Third Quarter(1)

Comparable restaurant traffic

-1.8%

Average check

3.1%

Comparable restaurant sales

1.3%

Comparable retail sales

-2.6%

(1) The Company estimates third quarter inclement weather reduced traffic
by approximately 0.3%.

Operating Income
Operating income in the third quarter was $65.1 million, representing an increase of 2.8% over the prior year quarter operating income of $63.3 million. As a percentage of total revenue, operating income was 8.8%, which was flat to the prior year quarter. As a percentage of total revenue, increases in labor and related expenses, other operating expenses, and general and administrative expenses were offset by reductions in cost of goods sold.

Earnings per Diluted Share
Earnings per diluted share were $2.09, compared to prior year third quarter earnings per diluted share of $2.03.

Quarterly Dividend Increase and Special Dividend
The Company announced that its Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend to $1.30 per share on the Company's common stock, which represents a 4.0% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. The quarterly dividend is payable on August 5, 2019 to shareholders of record on July 19, 2019.

The Board of Directors also declared a special dividend of $3.00 per share on the Company's common stock. This is the Company's fifth special dividend declaration. The special dividend will be payable on August 2, 2019 to shareholders of record on July 19, 2019.

Share Repurchase Authorization
The Board of Directors authorized share repurchases up to $50 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. The share repurchase authorization is effective immediately and replaces the prior authorization.

Fiscal 2019 Outlook
For fiscal 2019, the Company continues to expect total revenue of approximately $3.05 billion and the opening of eight new Cracker Barrel stores. The Company now expects comparable store restaurant sales growth of approximately 2%. The Company now anticipates flat to slightly negative comparable store retail sales growth. The Company continues to project food commodity inflation of approximately 2% for the year. The Company continues to project operating income margin in the range of 9.0% to 9.3% as a percentage of total revenue. The Company continues to expect depreciation expense of approximately $110 million and net interest expense of approximately $17 million. The Company continues to project capital expenditures of approximately $150 million. The Company continues to anticipate an effective tax rate for fiscal 2019 of approximately 17%. The Company continues to project earnings per diluted share for fiscal 2019 of between $8.95 and $9.10. This compares to fiscal 2018 GAAP earnings per diluted share of $10.29 and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $8.87, which reflects the $1.06 impact of the one-time non-cash revaluation of the net deferred tax liability and the $0.36 impact of the 53rd week (for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table accompanying this release).

The Company reminds investors that its outlook for fiscal 2019 reflects a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company's control. 

Fiscal 2019 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 18, 2019.

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 660 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.

CBRL-F

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 statements are subject to completion of our financial procedures for Q3 FY 2019 and are 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, and weather on sales and customer travel, discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of our customers; information technology-related incidents, including data privacy and information security breaches, whether as a result of infrastructure failures, employee or vendor errors, or actions of third parties; 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.

 



CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts, percentages and ratios) 



Third Quarter Ended  


Nine Months Ended






Percentage






Percentage


5/3/19


4/27/18


Change


5/3/19


4/27/18


Change


Total revenue

$739,603


$721,413


3%


$2,284,853


$2,219,552


3%


Cost of goods sold (exclusive of 
     depreciation and rent)

217,073


217,719


(0)


704,545


689,420


2


Labor and other related expenses

267,641


257,360


4


802,574


769,154


4


Other store operating expenses

152,679


147,616


3


461,976


441,843


5


Store operating income

102,210


98,718


4


315,758


319,135


(1)


General and administrative
      expenses

37,125


35,409


5


112,284


108,314


4


Operating income

65,085


63,309


3


203,474


210,821


(3)


Interest expense

4,111


3,594


14


12,637


10,892


16


Pretax income

60,974


59,715


2


190,837


199,929


(5)


Provision for income taxes

10,560


10,968


(4)


32,461


13,663


138


Net income

$50,414


$48,747


3


$158,376


$186,266


(15)















Earnings per share – Basic:

$2.10


$2.03


3


$6.59


$7.76


(15)


Earnings per share – Diluted:

$2.09


$2.03


3


$6.57


$7.74


(15)















Weighted average shares:













    Basic

24,041,673


24,003,611


0


24,034,878


24,013,435


0


    Diluted

24,104,432


24,065,783


0


24,090,626


24,075,834


0















Ratio Analysis













Total revenue:













    Restaurant

82.5%


82.2%




80.2%


79.9%




    Retail

17.5


17.8




19.8


20.1




            Total revenue

100.0


100.0




100.0


100.0




Cost of goods sold, (exclusive of

depreciation and rent)

 

29.3


 

30.2




 

30.8


 

31.1




Labor and other related expenses

36.2


35.7




35.1


34.6




Other store operating expenses

20.7


20.4




20.3


19.9




Store operating income

13.8


13.7




13.8


14.4




General and administrative expenses

5.0


4.9




4.9


4.9




Operating income

8.8


8.8




8.9


9.5




Interest expense

0.6


0.5




0.5


0.5




Pretax income

8.2


8.3




8.4


9.0




Provision for income taxes

1.4


1.5




1.5


0.6




Net income

6.8%


6.8%




6.9%


8.4%





         


CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)



5/3/19


4/27/18


Assets





   Cash and cash equivalents

$167,585


$174,294


   Accounts receivable

22,190


18,630


   Inventory

152,582


156,991


   Prepaid expenses and other current assets

18,811


20,160


   Property and equipment, net

1,166,425


1,126,840


   Other long-term assets

67,477


71,416


Total assets

$1,595,070


$1,568,331







Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity





   Accounts payable

$115,317


$104,702


   Other current liabilities

248,439


246,862


   Long-term debt

400,000


400,000


   Other long-term obligations

132,814


128,389


   Deferred income taxes

50,477


47,997


   Shareholders' equity, net

648,023


640,381


Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$1,595,070


$1,568,331












Common shares issued and outstanding

24,044,402


24,003,611








 


CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

(Unaudited and in thousands)



Nine Months Ended


5/3/19


4/27/18

Cash flows from operating activities:




             Net income

$158,376


$186,266

             Depreciation and amortization

78,499


68,297

             Loss on disposition of property and equipment

7,522


4,757

             Share-based compensation, net of excess tax benefit

5,672


6,063

             Decrease (increase) in inventories

3,671


(624)

             Decrease in accounts payable

(7,015)


(13,693)

             Net changes in other assets and liabilities

5,861


(30,091)

                           Net cash provided by operating activities

252,586


220,975

Cash flows from investing activities:




             Purchase of property and equipment, net of insurance recoveries

(103,259)


(101,685)

             Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

134


393

                           Net cash (used in) investing activities

(103,125)


(101,292)

Cash flows from financing activities:




              (Taxes withheld) from exercise of share-based compensation awards, net

(2,220)


(3,360)

              Purchases and retirement of common stock

0


(14,772)

              Deferred Financing Costs

(3,022)


0

              Dividends on common stock

(91,290)


(88,258)

                           Net cash (used in) financing activities

(96,532)


(106,390)





Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

52,929


13,293

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

114,656


161,001

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$167,585


$174,294







 

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

Supplemental Information

(Unaudited)



Third Quarter Ended


Nine Months Ended


5/3/19


4/27/18


5/3/19


4/27/18









Units in operation:








     Open at beginning of period

664


654


660


649

     Opened during period

2


5


7


10

     Closed during period

0


0


1


0

     Open at end of period

666


659


666


659









Total revenue: (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$610,120


$592,677


$1,832,273


$1,774,112

      Retail

129,483


128,736


452,580


445,440

      Total revenue

$739,603


$721,413


$2,284,853


$2,219,552









Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and rent): (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$153,947


$151,953


$468,996


$453,016

      Retail

63,126


65,766


235,549


236,404

      Total cost of goods sold

$217,073


$217,719


$704,545


$689,420









  Average unit volume: (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$916.3


$902.7


$2,760.2


$2,715.5

      Retail

194.5


196.1


681.8


681.8

      Total

$1,110.8


$1,098.8


$3,442.0


$3,397.3









Operating weeks:

8,656


8,535


25,889


25,480



























Q3 2019 vs. Q3 2018


9 mo. 2019 vs. 9 mo. 2018






Comparable store sales period to period increase (decrease):

Restaurant


1.3%


2.2%

Retail


-2.6%


0.0%






Number of locations in comparable store base:



644


640












 

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP basis operating results to adjusted non-GAAP operating results

(Unaudited)


In the accompanying press release the Company makes reference to its full year 2018 adjusted earnings per share which excluded the one-time non-cash revaluation of a net deferred tax liability and the impact of the 53rd week during the 2018 fiscal year. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which became effective on January 1, 2018 and prior to the end of our fiscal 2018 second quarter, lowered the federal corporate income tax rate to 21%.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded a provisional tax benefit for re-measurement of deferred tax liabilities due to this rate change of approximately $25 million. The Company believed that excluding this item from its financial results reflected the cash impact of tax reform for fiscal 2018, and as such provided investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's financial results.  This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or earnings per share information prepared in accordance with GAAP.




Twelve months ended August 3, 2018


As Reported

Adjust

53rd week

As Adjusted



(1)



Total Revenue

$      3,030,445

$                   -

(58,353)

$      2,972,092






Store operating income

437,348

-

(13,309)

424,039

General and administrative expenses

143,756

-

(2,071)

141,685

Operating income

293,592

-

(11,238)

282,354

Interest Expense

15,169

-

(323)

14,846

Pretax income

278,423

-

(10,915)

267,508

Provision for income taxes

30,803

25,596

(2,383)

54,016

Net income

$     247,620

$    (25,596)

$    (8,532)

$     213,492






Earnings per share - Basic

$10.31

(1.06)

(0.36)

$8.89

Earnings per share - Diluted

$10.29

(1.06)

(0.36)

$8.87











(1) One-time Non-Cash Revaluation of Net Deferred Tax Liability



 

Investor Contact:

Adam Hanan 


(615) 443-9887



Media Contact:

Janella Escobar


(615) 235-4618

 

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