Brinker International Reports Year-Over-Year Increases In Fourth Quarter And Full Fiscal Year EPS

DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) today announced results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 29, 2016.

Highlights include the following:

• In 2016, the fourth quarter and fiscal year included an additional operating week (53^rd week) compared to fiscal 2015
• On a GAAP basis, earnings per diluted share increased 20.7 percent to $1.11 compared to $0.92 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. On a GAAP basis, earnings per diluted share increased 12.1 percent to $3.42 compared to $3.05 for the full year fiscal 2015
• Earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, increased 31.9 percent to $1.24 compared to $0.94 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, increased 14.9 percent to $3.55 compared to $3.09 for the full year fiscal 2015.  (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)
• Brinker International total fourth quarter revenues increased 15.4 percent to $881.7 million compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 and company sales increased 15.8 percent to $855.4 million compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, primarily attributable to the 103 restaurants acquired with the Pepper Dining transaction in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 as well as the additional operating week in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016
• Chili's fourth quarter company-owned comparable restaurant sales¹ decreased 1.8 percent
• Maggiano's fourth quarter comparable restaurant sales¹ decreased 1.7 percent
• Chili's franchise fourth quarter comparable restaurant sales¹ decreased 3.4 percent, which includes a 2.1 percent and 5.5 percent decrease for U.S. and international franchise restaurants, respectively
• Restaurant operating margin,² as a percent of company sales, declined approximately 20 basis points to 18.3 percent compared to 18.5 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015
• For fiscal 2016, cash flows provided by operating activities were $394.7 million and capital expenditures totaled $112.8 million. Free cash flow³ was approximately $281.9 million (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)
• The company repurchased approximately 0.4 million shares of its common stock for $18.7 million in the fourth quarter and a total of approximately 5.8 million shares for $284.9 million year-to-date
• The company declared a dividend of 32 cents per share which was paid on June 30, 2016, representing a 14.3 percent increase over the prior year
• The company plans to increase leverage in the range of $250 to $300 million in the near term subject to market conditions and use the proceeds to return capital to shareholders in the form of share repurchases
• The company's Board of Directors authorized an additional $150 million in share repurchases which brings the total available authority to $455 million

"We ended the fiscal year with improving trends and have returned to gaining share in the industry," said Wyman Roberts, chief executive officer and president. "We are also encouraged by the early results of our fiscal year 2017 initiatives. The strong cash flow generation of our business model gives us confidence to increase our leverage and return additional capital to shareholders."

Quarterly Operating Performance
CHILI'S fourth quarter company sales increased 17.1 percent to $747.3 million from $638.2 million in the prior year primarily due to an increase in restaurant capacity resulting from the acquisition of 103 Chili's restaurants on June 25, 2015 as well as the additional operating week, partially offset by a decline in comparable restaurant sales. As compared to the prior year, Chili's restaurant operating margin¹ declined primarily due to the impact of the acquired restaurants. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, increased compared to the prior year due to higher wage rates. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, increased due to unfavorable menu item mix and commodity pricing primarily related to steak, partially offset by increased menu pricing and favorable commodity pricing related to burger meat. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, decreased due to leverage related to the additional operating week, lower workers' compensation insurance expenses and decreased advertising.

MAGGIANO'S fourth quarter company sales increased 7.9 percent to $108.1 million from $100.2 million in the prior year primarily due to an increase in restaurant capacity as well as the additional operating week, partially offset by a decline in comparable restaurant sales. As compared to the prior year, Maggiano's restaurant operating margin¹ improved. Restaurant expenses, as a percent of company sales, decreased compared to prior year due to leverage related to the additional operating week as well as lower advertising and workers' compensation insurance expenses. Cost of sales, as a percent of company sales, was positively impacted by increased menu pricing and favorable commodity pricing, partially offset by menu item changes. Restaurant labor, as a percent of company sales, increased compared to prior year due to higher wage rates, partially offset by lower incentive bonus.

¹ Restaurant operating margin is defined as Company sales less Cost of sales, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses and excludes depreciation and amortization expenses. Restaurant operating margin is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance. Restaurant operating margin is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to operating income or other similarly titled measures of other companies.

FRANCHISE AND OTHER revenues increased 2.1 percent to $26.3 million for the fourth quarter compared to $25.8 million in the prior year driven primarily by higher royalty revenues related to Chili's retail food products and revenues associated with tabletop devices, partially offset by a decrease in royalty revenues resulting from the acquisition of 103 Chili's restaurants from a former franchisee. Brinker franchisees generated approximately $341 million in sales² for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

² Royalty revenues are recognized based on the sales generated and reported to the company by franchisees.

Other
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.0 million for the quarter primarily due to depreciation on acquired restaurants, asset replacements and new restaurant openings, partially offset by an increase in fully depreciated assets.

General and administrative expense decreased approximately $0.6 million primarily due to lower performance-based compensation, partially offset by payroll expenses related to the additional operating week.

On a GAAP basis, the effective income tax rate increased to 31.7 percent in the current quarter from 29.7 percent in the prior year quarter primarily due to higher profits, partially offset by the impact of tax benefits primarily related to restaurant impairment and restaurant closure charges in the current quarter. Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate increased to 32.2 percent in the current quarter compared to 31.2 percent in the prior year quarter primarily due to higher profits.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Brinker believes excluding special items from its financial results provides investors with a clearer perspective of the company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results. Special items in the fourth quarter of fiscal

2016 consist primarily of the impairment of restaurants, restaurant closures and severance charges.

Fiscal 2017 Outlook
Fiscal 2017 contains 52 weeks versus 53 weeks in fiscal 2016. The company anticipates earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, in the range of $3.40 to $3.50.  We are unable to reliably forecast special items such as restaurant impairments, restaurant closures, reorganization charges and legal settlements without unreasonable effort.  As such we do not present a reconciliation of forecasted adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, to US GAAP earnings per diluted share or forecasted adjusted free cash flow to US GAAP cash flows provided by operating activities.

Earnings are based on the following expectations:

• Revenues are expected to be down approximately one half percent to up one percent (an increase of 1.0 to 2.5 percent excluding the 53^rd week in fiscal 2016)
• Comparable restaurant sales are expected to increase one half to two percent
• Company-owned new restaurant development is expected to add year-over-year capacity growth of about one half percent (excluding the 53^rd week in fiscal 2016)
• Restaurant operating margin is expected to be down approximately 50 basis points year-over-year
• Depreciation expense is expected to increase $3 to $5 million, assuming capital expenditures of $110 to $120 million
• General and administrative expense is expected to be $16 to $18 million higher on a dollar basis due to planning incentive compensation at target as well as information technology expenses related to sales driving initiatives, partially offset by the lack of the 53^rd week
• Interest expense is expected to increase $15 million to $22 million due to a higher debt balance and a higher anticipated average interest rate in fiscal 2017
• Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate is projected to be approximately 29 to 31 percent
• Free cash flow is expected to be $230 to $240 million
• Diluted weighted average shares outstanding is expected to be 50 to 53 million

The company believes providing fiscal 2017 earnings per diluted share guidance provides investors the appropriate insight into the company's ongoing operating performance.

Guidance Policy
Brinker provides annual guidance as it relates to comparable restaurant sales, earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, and other key line items in the statement of comprehensive income and will only provide updates if there is a material change versus the original guidance. Consistent with prior practice, management will not discuss intra-period sales or other key operating results not yet reported as the limited data may not accurately reflect the final results of the period or quarter referenced.

Webcast Information
Investors and interested parties are invited to listen to today's conference call, as management will provide further details of the quarter. The call will broadcast live on the Brinker website (www.brinker.com) at 9 a.m. CDT today (Aug. 11). For those who are unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the call will be available shortly thereafter and will remain on the Brinker website until the end of the day Sept. 8, 2016.

Additional financial information, including statements of income which detail operations excluding special items, franchise and other revenues, and comparable restaurant sales trends by brand, is also available on the Brinker website under the Financial Information section of the Investor tab.

Forward Calendar
-  SEC Form 10-K for fiscal 2016 filing on or before Aug. 29, 2016; and
-  First quarter earnings release, before market opens, Oct. 25, 2016.

About Brinker
Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, as of June 29, 2016, Brinker owned, operated, or franchised 1,660 restaurants under the names Chili's^® Grill & Bar (1,609 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy^® (51 restaurants).

Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including the Fiscal 2017 outlook. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and, consequently, could be affected by general business and economic conditions, financial and credit market conditions, credit availability, reduced disposable income, the impact of competition, the impact of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions, franchisee success, the seasonality of the company's business, increased minimum wages, increased health care costs, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, product availability, fuel and utility costs and availability, terrorist acts, consumer perception of food safety, changes in consumer taste, health epidemics or pandemics, changes in demographic trends, availability of employees, unfavorable publicity, the company's ability to meet its business strategy plan, acts of God, governmental regulations, inflation, technology failures, and failure to protect the security of data of our guests and teammates, as well as the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.