Exhibit 99.1

 

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter

Ended October 3, 2004, Provides Guidance for the Fourth Quarter and

Updates Full Year 2004

 

Greenwood Village, CO — (BUSINESS WIRE) – November 4, 2004 – Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Nasdaq: RRGB), a casual dining restaurant chain that serves an imaginative selection of high quality gourmet burgers to America’s families, particularly women, teens and tweens, today reported revenues and earnings for the twelve weeks ended October 3, 2004 and provided updated projections for fiscal 2004.

 

Financial and Operational Highlights

 

Highlights for the third quarter of 2004 compared to the same quarter last year were as follows:

 

  Total revenues increased 25.6% to $99.7 million

 

  Company-owned comparable restaurant sales increased 8.8%

 

  Restaurant-level operating profit increased 49.3% to $22.0 million

 

  Income from operations increased 74.0% to $11.9 million

 

  Diluted earnings per share increased 77.3% to $0.46

 

“Once again, Red Robin delivered an exceptional quarter, with both strong comparable restaurant sales and outstanding flow-through to the bottom line. The solid effort from both the restaurant and corporate levels is a credit to the efforts of all our team members. As we continue to execute our growth plans we firmly believe that our concept is well-positioned in the casual dining industry for service, value and wholesome, “feel-good” fun, and that our customers greatly appreciate the consistent quality we deliver every time they dine with us,” said Mike Snyder, Chief Executive Officer.

 

During the third quarter, the Company opened five new company-owned restaurants. Three new franchise restaurants opened in the third quarter. Three new company-owned restaurants have opened so far in the fourth quarter and the Company expects to open an additional four restaurants during the fourth quarter for a total of 22 new company-owned restaurants in 2004. Our franchisees are expected to open two to three additional restaurants during the fourth quarter for a total of 17 to 18 new franchise restaurants for the year.

 

Comparable restaurant sales increased 8.8% for company-owned restaurants in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the third quarter of 2003, driven by 3.8% increase in guest counts and a 5.0% increase in the average guest check. This marks the 31st consecutive quarter that Red Robin has posted positive comparable sales for company-owned restaurants. Comparable sales for franchise restaurants in the U.S. and Canada increased 6.7% and 7.5%, respectively.

 

Total Company revenues, which include company-owned restaurant sales and franchise royalties and fees, increased by 25.6%, to $99.7 million in the third quarter of 2004, compared to $79.3 million in last year’s third quarter. Average weekly comparable sales for company-owned restaurants were $63,736 for the third quarter of 2004, compared to $58,602 for the same quarter last year.

 


The Company’s franchise royalties and fees increased $597,100, or 27.0%, in the third quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This increase was primarily attributable to royalties generated from the 15 franchise restaurants opened in 2004. For the third quarter, Red Robin’s franchise system reported an increase in total U.S. franchise restaurant sales of 31.2%, to $67.3 million, compared to $51.3 million in the prior year period. Average weekly sales for Red Robin’s comparable franchise restaurants were $57,206 in the U.S. versus $53,619 for the same period last year, and $42,931 in Canada versus $39,950 for the same period last year. Canadian results are in Canadian dollars.

 

Net income for the third quarter of 2004 was $7.5 million or $0.46 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $4.0 million or $0.26 per diluted share in the prior year period.

 

The Company’s restaurant-level operating profit metric does not represent operating income or net income calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Schedule 1 to this earnings release reconciles restaurant-level operating profit to income from operations and net income.

 

Outlook

 

For the fourth quarter and twelve weeks ending on December 26, 2004, the Company expects total revenues of approximately $97 to $98 million and net income of approximately $0.35 to $0.36 per diluted share. These projected results are based upon certain assumptions, including an expected comparable restaurant sales increase of 3.5% to 4.5%, the opening of seven new company-owned restaurants during the quarter and the expensing of the associated pre-opening costs.

 

For full fiscal year 2004, the Company expects revenues of approximately $406 to $408 million and net income of $1.49 to $1.50 per diluted share. This estimate assumes a comparable restaurant sales increase of 5.5% to 6.5%, the addition of 22 new corporate restaurants and 17 to 18 new franchise restaurants during fiscal 2004. The Company previously reported that it expected revenues for the full fiscal year of approximately $402 to $405 million and net income of $1.34 to $1.36 per diluted share.

 

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

 

Red Robin will host an investor conference call to discuss its third quarter results on Thursday, November 4, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call number is (877) 691-0878 and the Company will broadcast its conference call over the Internet. To access the broadcast, please visit http://irpage.com/rrgb/, or the Company’s website at www.redrobin.com and select the “Investor” link from the menu. The quarterly financial information that we intend to discuss during the conference call is included in this press release and will be available on the Company’s website at http://irpage.com/rrgb/ for 12 months following the conference call. To listen to a webcast replay of the conference call and to access any additional financial information that may be discussed on the call, please visit http://irpage.com/rrgb/. The webcast replay will be available for 12 months following the conference call.


About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

 

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (www.redrobin.com) is a casual dining restaurant chain that serves an imaginative selection of high quality gourmet burgers to America’s families, particularly women, teens and tweens. Red Robin serves gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with bottomless fries, as well as many other items including salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and its signature Mad Mixology® specialty beverages. There are more than 245 Red Robin locations across the United States and Canada, including both company-owned locations and those operated under franchise or license agreements.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain information contained in this press release includes forward-looking statements. 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 “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “should” or comparable terms or the negative thereof. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update such forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. These statements involve 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: our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion; our ability to raise capital in the future; the ability of our franchisees to open and manage new restaurants; our franchisees’ adherence to our practices, policies and procedures; changes in the availability and cost of food; potential fluctuation in our quarterly operating results due to seasonality and other factors; the continued service of key management personnel; the concentration of our restaurants in the Western United States; our ability to protect our name and logo and other proprietary information; changes in consumer preferences, general economic conditions or consumer discretionary spending; health concerns about our food products and food preparation; our ability to attract, motivate and retain qualified team members; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our team members or the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; the impact of litigation; the effect of competition in the restaurant industry; cost and availability of capital; our ability to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; additional costs associated with compliance and corporate governance, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related regulations and requirements; and other risk factors described from time to time in SEC reports filed by Red Robin.

 

For further information contact:

Don Duffy

Integrated Corporate Relations

203-682-8200


RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     October 3,
2004


    December 28,
2003


 

Assets

                

Current Assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,476     $ 4,871  

Accounts receivable, net

     1,139       1,146  

Inventories

     4,751       4,357  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,679       3,977  

Income tax refund receivable

     —         1,172  

Deferred tax asset

     1,075       1,075  

Restricted current assets-marketing funds

     1,776       959  
    


 


Total current assets

     15,896       17,557  
    


 


Property and equipment, at cost, net

     189,843       151,061  

Deferred tax asset

     4,663       4,710  

Goodwill, net

     25,720       25,720  

Other intangible assets, net

     7,690       8,118  

Other assets, net

     2,819       3,047  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 246,631     $ 210,213  
    


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                

Current Liabilities:

                

Trade accounts payable

   $ 11,717     $ 9,139  

Accrued payroll and payroll-related liabilities

     16,877       12,931  

Unredeemed gift certificates

     2,604       3,997  

Accrued liabilities

     11,661       6,622  

Accrued liabilities-marketing funds

     1,776       959  

Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     1,503       1,422  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     46,138       35,070  
    


 


Deferred rent payable

     5,802       5,296  

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     40,564       36,206  

Commitments and contingencies

     —         —    

Stockholders’ Equity:

                

Common stock; $.001 par value: 30,000,000 shares authorized;
16,078,379 and 15,969,723shares issued and outstanding as of
October 3, 2004 and December 28, 2003, respectively

     16       16  

Preferred stock; $.001 par value: 3,000,000 shares authorized; no
shares issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     124,041       122,184  

Deferred compensation

     (70 )     (130 )

Receivables from stockholders/officers

     (6,531 )     (6,432 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit

     (34 )     (108 )

Retained earnings

     36,705       18,111  
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     154,127       133,641  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 246,631     $ 210,213  
    


 



RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Twelve Weeks Ended

    Forty Weeks Ended

 
     October 3,
2004


    October 5,
2003


    October 3,
2004


    October 5,
2003


 

Revenues:

                                

Restaurant

   $ 96,777     $ 76,922     $ 300,956     $ 240,468  

Franchise royalties and fees

     2,812       2,215       8,933       6,967  

Rent revenue

     61       183       258       369  
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

     99,650       79,320       310,147       247,804  
    


 


 


 


Costs and Expenses:

                                

Restaurant operating costs:

                                

Cost of sales

     22,357       18,087       70,538       56,452  

Labor

     32,872       27,410       104,579       85,117  

Operating

     13,439       11,542       43,068       36,362  

Occupancy

     6,099       5,142       19,128       16,376  

Depreciation and amortization

     4,796       3,984       15,004       12,110  

General and administrative

     6,771       4,816       21,430       17,150  

Franchise development

     446       459       3,400       2,180  

Pre-opening costs

     1,002       1,058       3,098       2,414  
    


 


 


 


Total costs and expenses

     87,782       72,498       280,245       228,161  
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

     11,868       6,822       29,902       19,643  

Other (Income) Expense:

                                

Interest expense

     612       742       2,023       2,331  

Interest income

     (74 )     (89 )     (247 )     (256 )

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         150       —         257  

Gain on sale of property

     —         —         (257 )     —    

Other

     (28 )     54       60       19  
    


 


 


 


Total other expenses

     510       857       1,579       2,351  
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     11,358       5,965       28,323       17,292  

Provision for income taxes

     (3,868 )     (1,990 )     (9,729 )     (5,751 )
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 7,490     $ 3,975     $ 18,594     $ 11,541  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.47     $ 0.26     $ 1.16     $ 0.76  
    


 


 


 


Diluted

   $ 0.46     $ 0.26     $ 1.14     $ 0.75  
    


 


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding:

                                

Basic

     16,043       15,161       16,002       15,092  
    


 


 


 


Diluted

     16,443       15,469       16,344       15,343  
    


 


 


 



RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Forty Weeks Ended

 
     October 3,
2004


    October 5,
2003


 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                

Net income

   $ 18,594     $ 11,541  

Non-cash adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities

                

Depreciation and amortization

     15,004       12,110  

Other, net

     749       731  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     12,496       7,184  
    


 


Net cash flows provided by operating activities

     46,843       31,566  
    


 


Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

                

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     1,101       115  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (54,064 )     (43,052 )
    


 


Net cash flows used in investing activities

     (52,963 )     (42,937 )
    


 


Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

                

Borrowings of long-term debt

     12,948       33,186  

Payments of long-term debt and capital leases

     (8,509 )     (23,329 )

Debt issuance costs

     —         (756 )

Proceeds from repayment of promissory notes

     114       79  

Proceeds from sales of common stock

     1,172       616  
    


 


Net cash flows provided by financing activities

     5,725       9,796  
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (395 )     (1,575 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     4,871       4,797  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 4,476     $ 3,222  
    


 



Schedule 1

 

Reconciliation of 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. It does not include general and administrative costs, depreciation and amortization, franchise development costs and pre-opening costs. 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 a company’s 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 that follows sets forth the Company’s calculation of restaurant-level operating profit and a reconciliation to income from operations and net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

 

     Twelve Weeks Ended

   Forty Weeks Ended

     October 3,
2004


   October 5,
2003


   October 3,
2004


   October 5,
2003


Restaurant sales

   $ 96,777    $ 76,922    $ 300,956    $ 240,468

Restaurant operating costs:

                           

Cost of sales

     22,357      18,087      70,538      56,452

Labor

     32,872      27,410      104,579      85,117

Operating

     13,439      11,542      43,068      36,362

Occupancy

     6,099      5,142      19,128      16,376
    

  

  

  

Restaurant-level operating profit

     22,010      14,741      63,643      46,161

Add – Other Revenues

     2,873      2,398      9,191      7,336
    

  

  

  

Deduct – Other Operating Expenses:

                           

Depreciation and amortization

     4,796      3,984      15,004      12,110

General and administrative

     6,771      4,816      21,430      17,150

Franchise development

     446      459      3,400      2,180

Pre-opening costs

     1,002      1,058      3,098      2,414
    

  

  

  

Total Other Operating Expenses

     13,015      10,317      42,932      33,854
    

  

  

  

Income from operations

     11,868      6,822      29,902      19,643

Total other expenses

     510      857      1,579      2,351

Provision for income taxes

     3,868      1,990      9,729      5,751
    

  

  

  

Total Other

     4,378      2,847      11,308      8,102

Net income

   $ 7,490    $ 3,975    $ 18,594    $ 11,541