Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results - DILUTED EARNINGS
PER SHARE INCREASED 23% - COMPANY-OWNED RUBY TUESDAY SAME-STORE
SALES INCREASED 4.1% - DOMESTIC FRANCHISE SAME-STORE SALES
INCREASED 6.8% MARYVILLE, Tenn., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. today reported results for its third quarter of
fiscal 2004, which ended March 2, 2004. For the quarter, diluted
earnings per share increased 23.1% to $0.48, while net income
increased 27.6% to $32.4 million. Total operating revenues
increased 16.4% to $271.0 million, and pre-tax profit margin
increased 190 basis points to 18.6%. Same-store sales at
Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants increased 4.1%, while
same-store sales at domestic franchise restaurants (including
restaurants owned by businesses in which the Company holds an
equity interest as well as restaurants owned by traditional
franchisees) increased 6.8% during the quarter. Highlights for the
third quarter, compared with the same periodof the prior year, are
shown below: 3Q fiscal 2004 3Q fiscal 2003 Diluted earnings per
share $0.48 $0.39 Company-owned same-store sales change 4.1% (0.4%)
Company-owned average unit volume increase 4.8% (0.8%) Total
operating revenues $270,965,000 $232,856,000 Pre-tax margins 18.6%
16.7% "To-go" sales accounted for 6.0% of the Company's sales at
its Company- owned freestanding restaurants during the Company's
February period. The "curb-side to-go(SM)" program has been in
place at both Company-owned and franchise restaurants since the
Company's secondfiscal quarter of this year. Phase one of the "Ruby
Tuesday Smart Eating(SM)" initiative rolled out in November, 2003
and has been very well received by the Company's guests based on
research performed. As previously announced, phase two of Smart
Eating, which is scheduled to be rolled out in late April, will
include nutritional information, such as calories, fat grams, net
carbohydrate grams and fiber grams for all menu items. The Company
is taking an industry-leading role in this area and plans to
leverage this leadership position going forward. Sandy Beall, the
Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are
excited about our recent performance and very excited about our
plans going forward. We have received increasingly positive
feedback on our Smart Eating menu -- both phase one, which rolled
out in the fall, as well as phase two, which has been in test since
late February. In addition to focusing on setting ourselves apart
from the competition in terms of service, standards, people and
facilities, we believe that by providing unparalleled nutritional
information, our Smart Eating initiative creates a tremendous
opportunity for the Ruby Tuesday brand. It is clear Americans want
to know more about what they are eating, and we are going to
provide that information so they can make more informed choices. We
believe providing information on items such as calories, fat,
carbohydrates, and fiber in a clear and concise manner on our menus
will be another step towards distinguishing Ruby Tuesday from our
competition. Our customers have told us they want this information,
and we intend to provide it to them." Fiscal 2004 Guidance For the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company's goal for diluted
earnings per share growth is 17-18%, based on the Company's
projected same- store sales growth of 2.4% at Company-owned Ruby
Tuesday restaurants. The Company's goal for fiscal 2004 diluted
earnings per share growth is approximately 20%, based on same-store
sales growth of approximately 2.5% at Company-owned Ruby Tuesday
restaurants for the year. Fiscal 2005 Guidance For fiscal 2005, the
Company's goal for diluted earnings per share growth is 15.0-18.0%.
This is based on the same-store sales growth of 2.0-3.0% at
Company-owned and domestic franchise Ruby Tuesday restaurants. The
Company anticipates 50-55 Company-owned restaurant openings during
fiscal 2005, and anticipates its franchisees will open
approximately 40 Ruby Tuesday restaurants during the same period.
Additionally, the Company anticipates reinstating share repurchases
as a means of returning excess capital to its shareholders. Five
million shares remain authorized for share repurchase under the
existing Board approved program. Additional Third Quarter
Highlights: - Diluted earnings per share increased 23.1% to $0.48
from $0.39. - Net income increased 27.6% to $32,405,000 from
$25,392,000. - Sales at franchise (including franchise partnership
and traditional franchise) Ruby Tuesdayrestaurants (which is the
basis for determining royalty fees included in franchise income on
the Company's income statement) totaled $122,735,000 and
$100,202,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003,
respectively. - Nine Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants were
opened and one was closed due to normal lease expiration. - Ten
franchise restaurants were opened and two were closed (one due to
lease expiration). Year-to-Date Highlights: - Diluted earnings per
share increased 21.6% to $1.18 from $0.97. - Net income increased
25.0% to $78,960,000 from $63,166,000. - Sales at franchise
(including franchise partnership and traditional franchise) Ruby
Tuesday restaurants (which is the basis for determining royalty
fees included in franchise income on the Company's income
statement) totaled $329,687,000 and $285,536,000 for the third
quarter year-to-date of fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003, respectively.
- The Company exercised its right to acquire an additional 49%
interest in four of the franchisees during the year. As of March 2,
2004, the Company held a 50% interest in thirteen franchisees
collectively operating 134 Ruby Tuesday restaurants. Ruby Tuesday,
Inc. has Company-owned, and/or franchise Ruby Tuesday brand
restaurants in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
Hawaii and 13 foreign countries. As of March 2, 2004, the Company
owned and operated 474 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, while domestic and
international franchisees operated 210 and 34 locations,
respectively. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange (Symbol: RI). The Company will host a conference call
which will be a live web-cast tomorrow morning at 8:30 Eastern
Time. Thecall will be available live at the following websites:
http://www.fulldisclosure.com/ http://www.rubytuesday.com/ The call
will be archived on both sites through the close of business on
April 14, 2004. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains various "forward-looking statements"
which represent the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning
future events, including the following: future financial
performance and unit growth (both Company-owned and franchised),
future capital expenditures, future borrowings and repayment of
debt, and payment of dividends. The Company cautions that a number
of important factors could, individually or in the aggregate, cause
actual results to differ materially from those included in the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the
following: consumer spending trends and habits; mall-traffic
trends; increased competition in the casual dining restaurant
market; weather conditions in the regions in which Company- owned
and franchised restaurants are operated; consumers' acceptance of
the Company's development prototypes; laws and regulations
affecting labor and employee benefit costs; costs and availability
of food and beverage inventory; the Company's ability to attract
qualified managers, franchisees and team members; changes in the
availability of capital; impact of adoption of new accounting
standards; and general economic conditions. RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
Financial Results For the ThirdQuarter of Fiscal Year 2004 (Amounts
in thousands except per share amounts) 13 Weeks 13 Weeks Ended
Percent Ended Percent March 2, of March 4, of Percent 2004 Sales
2003 Sales Change Revenues: Restaurant sales and operating revenues
$266,438 98.3 $228,834 98.3 Franchise revenues4,527 1.7 4,022 1.7
Total operating revenues 270,965 100.0 232,856 100.0 16.4 Operating
Costs and Expenses: (as a percent of Company restaurant revenues)
Cost of merchandise 67,419 25.3 60,846 26.6 Payroll and related
costs 81,909 30.7 73,991 32.3 Other restaurant operating costs
43,666 16.4 36,900 16.1 Depreciation and amortization 13,907 5.2
11,744 5.1 (as a percent of Total operating revenues) Selling,
general and administrative, net 15,594 5.8 11,000 4.7 Equity in
(earnings) of unconsolidatedfranchises (2,610) (1.0) (1,534) (0.7)
Total operating costs and expenses 219,885 192,947 Earnings before
Interest and Taxes 51,080 18.9 39,909 17.1 28.0 Interest expense,
net 773 0.3 964 0.4 Pre-tax Profit 50,307 18.6 38,945 16.7
Provision for income taxes 17,902 6.6 13,553 5.8 Net Income $32,405
12.0 $25,392 10.9 27.6 Earnings Per Share: Basic $0.49 $0.40 22.5
Diluted $0.48 $0.39 23.1 Shares: Basic 65,914 64,056 Diluted 67,614
65,050 RUBY TUESDAY, INC. Financial Results For the Third Quarter
of Fiscal Year 2004 (Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
39 Weeks 39 Weeks Ended Percent Ended Percent March 2, of March 4,
of Percent 2004 Sales 2003 Sales Change Revenues: Restaurant sales
and operating revenues $753,178 98.3 $655,601 98.3 Franchise
revenues 12,643 1.7 11,270 1.7 Total operating revenues 765,821
100.0 666,871 100.0 14.8 Operating Costs and Expenses: (as a
percent of Company restaurant revenues) Cost of merchandise 193,015
25.6 175,159 26.7 Payroll and related costs 237,487 31.5 219,255
33.4 Other restaurant operating costs 126,488 16.8 110,825 16.9
Depreciation and amortization 40,109 5.3 33,347 5.1 (as a percent
of Total operating revenues) Selling, general and administrative,
net 46,710 6.1 32,361 4.9 Equity in (earnings) of unconsolidated
franchises (3,879) (0.5) (2,410) (0.4) Total operating costs and
expenses 639,930 568,537 Earnings before Interest and Taxes 125,891
16.4 98,334 14.7 28.0 Interest expense, net 3,288 0.4 1,455 0.2
Pre-tax Profit 122,603 16.0 96,879 14.5 Provision for income taxes
43,643 5.7 33,713 5.1 Net Income $78,960 10.3 $63,166 9.5 25.0
Earnings Per Share: Basic $1.21 $0.99 22.2 Diluted $1.18 $0.97 21.6
Shares: Basic 65,322 63,915 Diluted 66,889 65,017 RUBY TUESDAY,
INC. FinancialResults For the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2004
(Amounts in thousands) March 2, June 3, CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
2004 2003 Assets Cash and Short-TermInvestments $18,430 $8,662
Accounts and Notes Receivable 17,486 * 10,509 Inventories 13,445
12,200 Deferred Income Taxes 3,062 2,609 Income Tax Receivable
5,396 2,485 Prepaid Rent 2,142 2,136 Assets Held for Disposal 2,674
5,217 Other Current Assets 5,834 6,099 Total Current Assets 68,469
49,917 Property and Equipment, Net 731,275 660,897 Goodwill, Net
7,845 7,845 Notes Receivable, Net 35,587 39,827 Other Assets 59,963
46,035 Total Assets $903,139 $804,521 Liabilities Current
Liabilities$90,520 $81,321 Long-Term Debt 165,916 207,064 Deferred
Income Taxes 43,468 32,081 Other Deferred Liabilities 76,984 69,527
Total Liabilities 376,888 389,993 Shareholders' Equity 526,251
414,528 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $903,139
$804,521 * Includes $6,090 of stock option exercises yet to be
settled by the broker as of March 2, 2004. All settlements were
received within one week of the end of the quarter. DATASOURCE:
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. CONTACT: Price Cooper of Ruby Tuesday, Inc.,
+1-865-379-5700 Web site: http://www.rubytuesday.com/
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