Luby's Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

HOUSTON, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) ("Luby's") today announced unaudited financial results for its twelve-week second quarter fiscal 2017, which ended on March 15, 2017. Comparisons in this press release for the second quarter fiscal 2017 are referred to as "second quarter."

Second Quarter Key Metrics

• Opened three Fuddruckers franchise locations: one domestic and two international locations
• Capital expenditures decreased $2.2 million in the second quarter compared to the second quarter fiscal 2016
• Same-store sales decreased 3.8%

Chris Pappas, President and CEO, commented, "During the second quarter we achieved improved cost controls and reduced our capital expenditures as previously planned. Going forward we will continue our efforts to control costs while remaining focused on an enhanced guest experience across all of our brands in a reduced sales environment.  In addition, we continue to evaluate under-performing store locations and, when appropriate, close stores to improve overall company profitability.

"We opened three Fuddruckers franchise locations in the second quarter and one new company-owned location earlier this month in our third quarter of fiscal 2017. In December, we announced a new and exclusive partnership with H-E-B grocery stores in the state of Texas to sell Luby's famous Mac & Cheese. We then expanded our retail product line to include Luby's famous Fried Fish in February. We remain encouraged by the sales of these dishes and for the opportunity this additional product branding establishes for our company.  We remain optimistic in our ability to demonstrate financial improvement and to strengthen our iconic brands that guests have loved and trusted for decades."

• Restaurant sales in the second quarter decreased to $81.1 million, a decrease of 6.1% versus the second quarter fiscal 2016.
• Luby's Cafeterias sales decreased $2.9 million versus the second quarter fiscal 2016, due to the closure of two locations over the prior year and a 4.4%  decrease in Luby's same-store sales. The 4.4% decrease was the result of a 6.6% decrease in guest traffic partially offset by a 2.2% increase in average spend per guest primarily due to a modest price increase and reduced discounting.
• Fuddruckers sales at company-owned restaurants decreased $1.7 million versus the second quarter fiscal 2016, due to six restaurant closings over the prior year and a 1.1% decrease in same-store sales, offset by the opening of three company-owned Fuddruckers locations over the prior year.  The 1.1% decrease in same-store sales was the result of a 2.8% decrease in guest traffic offset by a 3.9% increase in average spend per guest.
• Combo location sales decreased $0.3 million and represented 6.1% of total restaurant sales in the second quarter. Approximately half of the decline in sales occurred at one Combo location.   Two of the six Combo locations increased sales by 2.2% and 3.4%, respectively.
• Cheeseburger in Paradise sales decreased $0.3 million, or 7.3%, compared to a significant prior year same-store sales increase of 4.2%.
• Store level profit, defined as restaurant sales plus vending revenue less cost of food, payroll and related costs, other operating expenses, and occupancy costs, was $10.2 million, or 12.6% of restaurant sales, in the second quarter compared to $12.7 million, or 14.8% of restaurant sales, during the second quarter fiscal 2016. While cost controls were more efficient in labor scheduling, food cost management, and certain restaurant operation costs, the lower overall sales volumes led to the decrease in store level profitability.  Store level profit is a non-GAAP measure, and reconciliation to income from continuing operations is presented after the financial statements.
• Culinary Contract Services revenues decreased to $3.3 million with 23 operating locations during the second quarter compared to $3.9 million with 28 operating locations during the second quarter fiscal 2016. Culinary Contract Services profit margin increased to 10.5% of Culinary Contract Services sales in the second quarter compared to 10.2% in the second quarter fiscal 2016.
• Franchise revenue increased $119 thousand, or 7.0%, in the second quarter compared to the second quarter fiscal 2016. The increase included (1) an approximate $291 thousand increase in non-royalty related fee income in realized franchise development fees, partially offset by (2) an approximate $172 thousand decrease in franchise royalties due in part to the closure of certain franchise locations, lower international royalty income, and same-store sales declines at franchise locations, partially offset by the opening of new franchise locations. In the second quarter, franchisees opened two international locations (in Canada and Panama) and one domestic location (in Nevada). Two locations also closed during the second quarter.
• Loss from continuing operations was $12.8 million, or a loss of  $0.44 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $0.6 million, or a loss of $0.02 per diluted share, in the second quarter fiscal 2016. Excluding special non-cash items, loss from continuing operations was $2.1 million, or a loss of $0.07 per diluted share, in the second quarter compared to a loss of $0.9 million, or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share, in the second quarter fiscal 2016.  Loss from continuing operations, excluding special items, is a non-GAAP measure, and reconciliation to loss from continuing operations is presented below.

Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures

We ended the second quarter with a debt balance outstanding of $37.4 million, up from $37.0 million at the end of fiscal 2016. During the second quarter, our capital expenditures decreased to $3.0 million, compared to $5.2 million in the second quarter fiscal 2016. At the end of the second quarter, we had $1.4 million in cash and $147.9 million in total shareholders' equity.

Conference Call

Luby's will host a conference call on April 19, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time to discuss further its second quarter fiscal 2017 results. To access the call live, dial (412) 902-0030 and use the access code 13658969# 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 April 26, 2017 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the access code 13658969#.  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 172 restaurants nationally as of April 19, 2017: 90 Luby's Cafeterias, 73 Fuddruckers, 8 Cheeseburger in Paradise and one Bob Luby's Seafood Grill. Luby's is the franchisor for 113 Fuddruckers franchise locations across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Mexico, Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. Additionally, a licensee operates 35 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 Middle East restaurants. Luby's Culinary Contract Services provides food service management to 23 sites consisting of healthcare 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
Rick Black / Ken Dennard
Investor Relations
713-529-6600

The following table contains information derived from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations expressed as a percentage of sales. Percentages may not total due to rounding.

Although store level profit, defined as restaurant sales plus vending revenue, 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 loss 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 and restaurant closings, non-cash compensation expense, franchise taxes, and decrease / (increase) in fair value of derivatives.

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 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.