Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Reports Earnings for the Fiscal Second Quarter 2009

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (NASDAQ: RRGB), a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today reported financial results for the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 12, 2009.

Financial and Operational Highlights

Highlights for the 12 weeks ended July 12, 2009, compared to the 12 weeks ended July 13, 2008, are as follows:

    --  Total revenues decreased 2.6% to $201.1 million.
    --  Restaurant revenue decreased 2.4% to $198.0 million.
    --  Company-owned comparable restaurant sales decreased 11.5%.
    --  Restaurant-level operating profit decreased 6.0% to $35.6 million.
    --  GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.41 vs. $0.49 in the same period
        a year ago, which included a $0.03 charge for reacquired franchise costs
        and related acquisition integration expenses in the fiscal second
        quarter of 2008.
    --  A total of seven new Red Robin(R) restaurants, six company-owned
        restaurants and one franchised location, were opened during the second
        quarter 2009.

As of the end of the fiscal second quarter of 2009, there were 304 company-owned and 131 franchised Red Robin(R) restaurants.

"Red Robin's financial performance during the second quarter reflected the continued weak macroeconomic climate that is impacting the casual dining industry as a whole, combined with the lapping of our successful brand-building national advertising last year," said Dennis B. Mullen, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., chairman and chief executive officer. "We are encouraged by our Team Members' abilities to streamline operations and manage controllable costs, while delivering a consistently great dining experience, in addition to their focus on targeted traffic-driving and retention initiatives to improve our top line. For the balance of the year, we will concentrate on making further progress on improving productivity and executing on our targeted marketing strategies."

Fiscal Second Quarter 2009 Results

Comparable restaurant sales decreased 11.5% for company-owned restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to the fiscal second quarter of 2008, driven by a 12.2% decline in guest counts, which was partially offset by a 0.7% increase in the average guest check. Average weekly comparable sales from the 245 company-owned comparable restaurants were $56,335 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $64,842 for the 207 company-owned comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly sales for the 44 non-comparable company-owned restaurants were $56,053 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $56,233 for the 43 non-comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter a year ago. For all company-owned restaurants, average weekly sales were $55,973 from 3,619 operating weeks in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to $63,013 from 3,281 operating weeks, in the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

Early in the second quarter of 2008, the Company acquired 15 existing Red Robin franchised restaurants from three franchisees (the "2008 Acquired Restaurants"). Average weekly sales for these 15 restaurants were $49,842 in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and $54,905 in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. These 15 locations will be included in the company-owned comparable restaurant base in the fiscal third quarter of 2009.

Total Company revenues, which include company-owned restaurant sales and franchise royalties and fees, decreased 2.6% to $201.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, versus $206.4 million last year. Franchise royalties and fees decreased 10.4% to $3.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to $3.4 million in the same period a year ago. Franchise royalties and fees in the fiscal second quarter of 2008 included $276,000 of royalties attributed to the 2008 Acquired Restaurants.

For the fiscal second quarter of 2009, the Company's U.S. franchise restaurant sales of $69.2 million were lower compared to $74.9 million in the prior year period, primarily as a result of franchise restaurants acquired by the company early in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Comparable sales in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 for franchise restaurants in the U.S. decreased 10.3% and for franchise restaurants in Canada decreased 1.6% from the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly comparable sales for the U.S. franchised restaurants were $51,970 from the 100 comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $58,353 for the 87 comparable restaurants in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Average weekly sales in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 for the Company's 18 comparable franchise restaurants in Canada were C$52,977 versus C$53,829 in the same period last year. Canadian results are in Canadian dollars.

Restaurant-level operating profit margins at company-owned restaurants were 18.0% in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 compared to 18.6% in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Fiscal second quarter 2009 restaurant-level operating profit margins were negatively impacted by an approximately 0.5% increase in food and beverage costs, a 0.2% increase in labor costs, along with a 0.8% increase in occupancy costs, partially offset by 0.9% lower operating costs, largely driven by lower year-over-year contributions to the Company's national advertising fund, which were 0.25% of restaurant revenue in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 versus 1.5% of restaurant revenue last year.

The Company's restaurant-level operating profit metric does not represent income from operations or net income calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Schedule I of this earnings release reconciles restaurant-level operating profit to income from operations and net income for all periods presented.

General and administrative expense was $15.1 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and $14.5 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2008, which were 7.5% and 7.0% of total revenue, respectively. Reacquired franchise and other acquisition costs in the fiscal second quarter last year represented one-time pre-tax charges of $0.5 million.

Interest expense was $1.6 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2009, compared to $1.8 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

In the fiscal second quarter of 2009, the Company realized a reduction in the effective tax rate to 23.2% compared to 27.8% for the fiscal second quarter of 2008.

Net income for the fiscal second quarter of 2009 was $6.4 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $7.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2008. Net income for the fiscal second quarter of 2008 included a $0.03 per diluted share charge for reacquired franchise costs and acquisition-related integration expenses.

Schedule II of this earnings release reconciles the impact on the net income and diluted earnings per share as reported on a GAAP basis in the fiscal second quarter of 2009 and 2008 to adjusted amounts excluding certain acquisition costs.

Outlook

The Company expects to open two new company-owned restaurants in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009. Both of these restaurants currently are under construction. A new franchised restaurant that opened early in the fiscal third quarter of 2009 is expected to be the last new franchised opening of the fiscal year. For the full 52-week period, the Company expects to open a total of 15 new company-owned restaurants, while franchisees have opened a total of four new restaurants.

The Company continues to expect that guest counts will remain negative in fiscal year 2009. In addition to the general macroeconomic pressures, the extent of the traffic declines may also be influenced by prior-year marketing activities, which create more difficult comparisons during certain periods. The Company also expects certain costs, such as minimum wage increases and select commodity cost increases, to continue to put pressure on restaurant-level profitability. Based on these factors, the Company anticipates that without any menu price increases, restaurant-level operating margins could decline by 50 to 80 basis points during fiscal year 2009, even after considering the benefit from reduced national advertising contributions and other cost reduction activities. For every 10 basis point change in restaurant level operating profit during fiscal year 2009, diluted earnings per share are estimated to be impacted by approximately $0.04.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

Red Robin will host an investor conference call to discuss its second quarter 2009 results today at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call number is (888) 211-7360. To access the webcast, please visit www.redrobin.com and select the "Investors" link from the menu. The quarterly financial information that the Company intends to discuss during the conference call is included in this press release and will be available on the "Investors" link of the Company's website at www.redrobin.com prior to the conference call.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a kid- and family-friendly environment. Red Robin(R) restaurants are famous for serving more than two dozen insanely delicious, high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries(R), as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology(R) Beverages. There are more than 430 Red Robin(R) restaurants located across the United States and Canada, including company-owned locations and those operating under franchise agreements.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information and statements contained in this press release, including those under the heading "Outlook," 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. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. These statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects," "anticipates," "will" or comparable terms or the negative thereof. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update any such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof. These statements are based on assumptions believed by us to be reasonable, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the downturn in general economic conditions including severe volatility in financial markets and decreasing consumer confidence, resulting in changes in consumer preferences, or consumer discretionary spending; potential fluctuation in our quarterly operating results due to economic conditions, seasonality and other factors; changes in availability of capital or credit facility borrowings to us and to our franchisees; the adequacy of cash flows generated by our business to fund operations and growth opportunities; our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion, including both in new markets and existing markets; changes in the cost and availability of building materials and restaurant supplies; the concentration of our restaurants in the Western United States and the associated disproportionate impact of macroeconomic factors; changes in the availability and costs of food; changes in labor and energy costs and changes in the ability of our vendors to meet our supply requirements; labor shortages, particularly in new markets; the effectiveness of our initiative to normalize new restaurant operations; lack of awareness of our brand in new markets; the effectiveness of our advertising strategy; higher percentage of operating weeks from non-comparable restaurants; concentration of less mature restaurants in the comparable restaurant base which impacts profitability; the ability of our franchisees to open and manage new restaurants; the effect of increased competition in the casual dining market and discounting by competitors; health concerns about our food products and food preparation; our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our team members or the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; our franchisees' adherence to our practices, policies and procedures; and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's 10-Q and 10-K filings with the SEC.

RESTAURANT UNIT DATA

The following table details restaurant unit data for company-owned and franchise locations for the periods indicated.


                           Twelve Weeks Ended    Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

                           July 12,   July 13,   July 12, 2009   July 13, 2008
                           2009       2008

       Company-owned:

       Beginning of        298        258        294             249
       period

       Opened during       6          8          13              17
       period

       Acquired            -          15         1               15
       during period

       Closed during       -          -          (4  )           -
       period

       End of period       304        281        304             281

       Franchised:

       Beginning of        130        135        129             135
       period

       Opened during       1          3          3               4
       period

       Sold or closed      -          (15 )      (1  )           (16 )
       during period

       End of period       131        123        131             123

       Total number
       of Red Robin        435        404        435             404
       (R)
       restaurants



On December 31, 2008, the Company acquired a restaurant that was managed by the Company under a management agreement with a franchisee since May 2008.


RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

                                                      July 12,      December 28,
                                                      2009          2008

Assets:

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents                             $ 9,937       $ 11,158

Accounts receivable, net                                8,029         5,611

Inventories                                             14,002        13,123

Prepaid expenses and other current assets               5,928         9,032

Income tax receivable                                   2,159         6,208

Deferred tax asset                                      4,143         3,366

Restricted current assets--marketing funds              1,358         1,590

Total current assets                                  $ 45,556      $ 50,088

Property and equipment, net                             440,663       442,012

Goodwill                                                61,769        60,982

Intangible assets, net                                  50,505        51,990

Other assets, net                                       3,544         4,665

Total assets                                          $ 602,037     $ 609,737

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:

Current Liabilities:

Trade accounts payable                                $ 9,868       $ 11,966

Construction related payables                           4,054         9,747

Accrued payroll and payroll related liabilities         27,078        25,489

Unredeemed gift certificates                            8,587         11,997

Accrued liabilities                                     23,574        20,385

Accrued liabilities--marketing funds                    1,358         1,590

Current portion of term loan notes payable              18,739        10,313

Current portion of long-term debt and capital           636           696
lease obligations

Total current liabilities                             $ 93,894      $ 92,183

Deferred rent                                           29,556        26,790

Long-term portion of term loan notes payable            108,639       122,687

Other long-term debt and capital lease                  80,410        88,876
obligations

Other non-current liabilities                           8,017         10,293

Total liabilities                                     $ 320,516     $ 340,829

Stockholders' Equity:

Common stock                                            17            17

Treasury stock, 1,492,280 shares, at cost               (50,125 )     (50,125 )

Paid-in capital                                         168,453       165,932

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax        (1,796  )     (1,622  )

Retained earnings                                       164,972       154,706

Total stockholders' equity                              281,521       268,908

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity            $ 602,037     $ 609,737




RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

                              Twelve Weeks Ended        Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

                              July 12,    July 13,      July 12,    July 13,
                              2009        2008          2009        2008

Revenues:

Restaurant revenue            $ 197,963   $ 202,898     $ 464,558   $ 453,800

Franchise royalties and         3,078       3,434         7,230       8,068
fees

Rent revenue                    47          56            113         113

Total revenues                  201,088     206,388       471,901     461,981

Costs and expenses:

Restaurant operating
costs:

Cost of sales                   48,228      48,505        113,511     107,853

Labor (includes $137,
$308, $1,123 and $663 of

stock-based
compensation,                   67,679      68,956        159,950     154,095
respectively)

Operating                       32,008      34,397        75,026      76,903

Occupancy                       14,494      13,216        33,402      29,218

Depreciation and                13,066      11,680        30,703      26,529
amortization

General and
administrative (includes
$615,

$1,041, $4,342, and
$2,514 of stock-based

compensation,                   15,099      14,454        38,971      36,929
respectively)

Pre-opening costs               588         2,041         3,138       4,604

Reacquired franchise and        -           451           -           451
other acquisition costs

Total costs and expenses        191,162     193,700       454,701     436,582

Income from operations          9,926       12,688        17,200      25,399

Other expense (income):

Interest expense, net           1,559       1,763         3,673       4,059

Other                           9           (38     )     19          (25     )

Total other expenses            1,568       1,725         3,692       4,034

Income before income            8,358       10,963        13,508      21,365
taxes

Provision for income            1,937       3,047         3,242       6,196
taxes

Net income                    $ 6,421     $ 7,916       $ 10,266    $ 15,169

Earnings per share:

Basic                         $ 0.42      $ 0.49        $ 0.67      $ 0.92

Diluted                       $ 0.41      $ 0.49        $ 0.66      $ 0.91

Weighted average shares
outstanding:

Basic                           15,380      16,093        15,366      16,460

Diluted                         15,486      16,221        15,467      16,586




RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

                                                      Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

                                                      July 12,       July 13,
                                                      2009           2008

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

Net income                                            $ 10,266       $ 15,169

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization                           30,703         26,529

Stock-based compensation expense                        5,465          3,177

Restaurant closure costs                                598            -

Other, net                                              (1,224   )     152

Changes in operating assets and liabilities             3,479          7,349

Cash provided by operating activities                   49,287         52,376

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

Changes in marketing fund restricted cash               -              45

Acquisition of franchise restaurants, net of            (1,248   )     (30,257 )
cash acquired of $0 and $55, respectively

Purchases of property and equipment                     (32,905  )     (41,765 )

Cash used in investing activities                       (34,153  )     (71,977 )

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

Borrowings of long-term debt                            97,500         125,900

Payments of long-term debt                              (110,730 )     (58,025 )

Purchase of treasury stock                              -              (50,042 )

Payment for tender offer for stock options              (3,498   )     -

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and             607            1,295
employee stock purchase plan

Excess tax benefit related to exercise of stock         76             232
options

Payments of other debt and capital lease                (310     )     (264    )
obligations

Cash provided (used) by financing activities            (16,355  )     19,096

Net change in cash and cash equivalents                 (1,221   )     (505    )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period          11,158         12,914

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period              $ 9,937        $ 12,409

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow
Information:

Income taxes paid                                     $ 936          $ 1,364

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized               3,469          3,925

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Items:

Capital lease obligations incurred for equipment        -              156
purchases

Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge, net          (174     )     1,203
of tax



Schedule I

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Restaurant-Level Operating Profit to Income
from Operations and Net Income

The Company defines restaurant-level operating profit to be restaurant revenues minus restaurant-level operating costs, excluding restaurant closures and impairment costs in the event closure or impairment charges are incurred. It does not include general and administrative costs, depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs and costs associated with the tender offer of stock options attributed to non-restaurant employees. The Company believes that restaurant-level operating profit is an important measure of financial performance because it is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. The Company excludes restaurant closure costs as they do not represent a component of the efficiency of continuing operations. Restaurant impairment costs are excluded, because, similar to depreciation and amortization, they represent a non-cash charge for the Company's investment in its restaurants and not a component of the efficiency of restaurant operations. Restaurant-level operating profit is not a measurement determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to income from operations or net income as indicators of financial performance. Restaurant-level operating profit as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The table below sets forth certain unaudited information for the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 12, 2009 and July 13, 2008, expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except for the components of restaurant operating costs, which are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenues.



                      Twelve Weeks Ended                        Twenty-eight Weeks Ended

                      July 12, 2009        July 13, 2008        July 12, 2009        July 13, 2008

Restaurant            $ 197,963   98.5 %   $ 202,898   98.3 %   $ 464,558   98.5 %   $ 453,800   98.2 %
revenues

Restaurant
operating costs:

Cost of sales           48,228    24.4       48,505    23.9       113,511   24.4       107,853   23.8

Labor                   67,679    34.2       68,956    34.0       159,064   34.2       154,095   34.0

Operating               32,008    16.1       34,397    17.0       75,026    16.1       76,903    16.9

Occupancy               14,494    7.3        13,216    6.5        33,402    7.2        29,218    6.4

Tender offer
stock-based
compensation
expense

                        -         -          -         -          886       0.2        -         -

Restaurant-level        35,554    18.0       37,824    18.6       82,669    17.8       85,731    18.9
operating profit

Add - other             3,125     1.5        3,490     1.7        7,343     1.5        8,181     1.8
revenues

Deduct - other
operating:

Depreciation and        13,066    6.5        11,680    5.7        30,703    6.5        26,529    5.7
amortization

General and             15,087    7.5        14,454    7.0        35,257    7.5        36,929    8.0
administrative

Pre-opening             588       0.3        2,041     1.0        3,138     0.7        4,604     1.0
costs

Tender offer
stock-based
compensation
expense

                        -         -          -         -          3,116     0.7        -         -

Restaurant              12        -          -         -          598       0.1        -         -
closure costs

Reacquired
franchise and
other
acquisition
costs

                        -         -          451       0.2        -         -          451       0.1

Total other             28,753    14.3       28,626    13.9       72,812    15.5       68,513    14.8
operating

Income from             9,926     4.9        12,688    6.1        17,200    3.6        25,399    5.5
operations

Total other             1,568     0.8        1,725     0.8        3,692     0.8        4,034     0.9
expenses, net

Provision for           1,937     1.0        3,047     1.5        3,242     0.7        6,196     1.3
income taxes

Total other             3,505     1.8        4,772     2.3        6,934     1.5        10,230    2.2

Net income              6,421     3.1  %     7,916     3.8  %     10,266    2.1  %     15,169    3.3  %



Certain percentage amounts in the table above do not sum due to rounding as well as the fact that restaurant operating costs are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenues, as opposed to total revenues.

Schedule II

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Results to GAAP Results

In addition to the results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") throughout this press release, the Company has provided non-GAAP measurements which present the twelve and twenty-eight week periods ended July 12, 2009 year-over-year change in net income and diluted net income per share, for the tender offer for certain stock options and costs associated with the closure of four restaurants during 2009, and the reacquired franchise costs and other acquisition costs, and acquisition related integration-related costs incurred during the twelve and twenty-eight week periods ended July 13, 2008. The non-GAAP measurements are intended to supplement the presentation of the Company's financial results in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that the presentation of these items provides additional information to facilitate the comparison of past and present financial results.



                         Twelve Weeks Ended                         Year Over Year

                         July 12, 2009        July 13, 2008         Percentage Change

                         Net        Diluted   Net        Diluted    Net       Diluted

                         Income     EPS       Income     EPS        Income    EPS

Reported                 $ 6,421    $ 0.41    $ 7,916    $ 0.49     -18.9 %   -16.3 %

After-tax impact of
:

Restaurant closure         9          -         -          -
costs

Reacquired
franchise rights           -          -         326        0.02
and other
acquisition costs

Acquisition-related        -          -         174        0.01
integration costs

                           9          -         500        0.03

Adjusted                 $ 6,430    $ 0.41    $ 8,416    $ 0.52     -23.6 %   -21.2 %

                         Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended                   Year Over Year

                         July 12, 2009        July 13, 2008         Percentage Change

                         Net        Diluted   Net        Diluted    Net       Diluted

                         Income     EPS       Income     EPS        Income    EPS

Reported                 $ 10,266   $ 0.66    $ 15,169   $ 0.91     -32.3 %   -27.5 %

After-tax impact of
:

Cash Tender Offer          3,042      0.20      -          -

Restaurant closure         454        0.03      -          -
costs

Reacquired
franchise rights           -          -         320        0.02
and other
acquisition costs

Acquisition-related        -          -         180        0.01
integration costs

                           3,496      0.23      500        0.03

Adjusted                 $ 13,762   $ 0.89    $ 15,669   $ 0.94     -12.2 %   -5.3  %




    Source: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.