DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE : EAT ) today announced results for the fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 28, 2011.

Highlights for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 include the following:

• Earnings per diluted share, before special items, increased to $0.30 compared to $0.21 for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)
• On a GAAP basis, earnings per diluted share increased to $0.28 from $0.21 in the first quarter of the prior year
• Total revenues increased 2.1 percent to $668.4 million
• Restaurant operating margin(1) improved 80 basis points to 15.8 percent compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011
• Chili's customer traffic increased by 1.9 percent and comparable restaurant sales increased 1.7 percent
• Chili's customer traffic and comparable restaurant sales have increased for eight consecutive periods
• Maggiano's customer traffic increased by 2.1 percent, representing the eighth consecutive quarterly increase, and comparable restaurant sales increased 3.5 percent, representing the seventh consecutive quarterly increase
• Cash flows provided by operating activities were $30.9 million and capital expenditures totaled $27.7 million
• The company repurchased approximately 3.2 million shares of its common stock for $75.0 million in the first quarter
• The company paid a dividend of 14 cents per share

"As evidenced in Brinker's first quarter results, guests are responding positively to our core value strategies, as we achieved our third consecutive quarter of positive sales and traffic growth. This upward trend, coupled with our continued margin improvements, resulted in profitable growth for Brinker and is keeping us on track to double EPS by 2015," said Doug Brooks, President and Chief Executive Officer.  

Quarterly Operating Performance

CHILI'S first quarter revenues of $566.9 million represent a 1.6 percent increase from $557.8 million in the prior year period driven by increased guest traffic. Chili's operating margin improved compared to the prior year primarily due to successful labor savings initiatives related to food preparation procedures. Restaurant expenses were also positively impacted by sales leverage on fixed costs related to higher revenue.  Cost of sales was negatively impacted by unfavorable pricing on oils, beef and produce, partially offset by favorable pricing on poultry.

MAGGIANO'S first quarter revenues of $85.3 million increased 4.4 percent primarily driven by improved traffic. Restaurant operating margin improved compared to prior year primarily due to favorable restaurant labor and restaurant expenses.

ROYALTY AND FRANCHISE revenues totaled $16.2 million for the quarter, an increase of 5.2 percent over the prior year driven primarily by 25 international net openings since the first quarter of fiscal 2011. International comparable restaurant sales increased 7.5 percent while domestic franchise comparable restaurant sales increased 0.2 percent. Brinker franchisees generated approximately $389 million in sales(2) for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of 4.5 percent over the prior year.

"Our balanced approach of driving top line growth while improving operating margins continued to generate strong returns for our shareholders," said Guy Constant, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Brinker's margin improvement efforts accelerated during the first quarter as we continued to make progress towards our 400 bps target."

Other

General and administrative expense increased $2.8 million for the quarter primarily due to a decrease in income resulting from the expiration of the transition services agreements with Macaroni Grill and On The Border.

Interest expense remained flat for the quarter primarily due to lower interest rates. Interest expense included a charge of $0.4 million related to deferred financing fees associated with the revision of the company's unsecured senior credit facility executed in August 2011. This charge was lower than originally expected.

Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate increased to 30.2 percent in the current quarter from 27.9 percent in the same quarter last year driven by increased earnings for the quarter. The effective income tax rate increased to 29.8 percent in the current quarter as compared to 20.4 percent in the same quarter last year primarily due to increased earnings for the quarter, a decrease in special charges and the positive impact of resolved tax positions in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

The company 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.  

Guidance Policy

Brinker provides annual guidance as it relates to comparable restaurant sales, earnings per diluted share, and other key line items in the income statement 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 be broadcast live on the Brinker website (www.brinker.com) at 9 a.m. CDT today (Oct. 26). 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 Nov. 23, 2011.  

Additional financial information, including statements of income which detail operations excluding  special items, franchise development and royalty fees, 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-Q for first quarter fiscal 2012 filing on or before Nov. 7, 2011; and
• Second quarter earnings release, before market opens, Jan. 24, 2012.

About Brinker

Brinker International Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker currently owns, operates, or franchises 1,578 restaurants under the names Chili's® Grill & Bar (1,533 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy® (45 restaurants). Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill®.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. 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, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, product availability, fuel and utility costs and availability, terrorists 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 and inflation.

(1) Restaurant operating margin is defined as Revenues less Cost of sales, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses.

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

SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.