Ruby Tuesday reports fiscal Q2 net loss of US$34.4M, compared with year-ago loss of US$15.1M, as revenue falls 8% to US$276.2M

Nevin Barich

MARYVILLE, Tennessee , January 8, 2014 (press release) – Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 3, 2013.

Results for the second quarter include:

Total revenue from continuing operations of $276.2 million compared to $300.1 million in the same quarter of the prior year, a decrease of $23.9 million primarily due to a decrease in same-restaurant sales at Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

Same-restaurant sales decreased 7.8% at Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants and decreased 5.3% at domestic Ruby Tuesday franchise restaurants compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Same-restaurant guest counts were down 6.3% for the quarter, but reflected an improvement over the first quarter decline of 10.8%.

Net loss from continuing operations of $34.7 million compared to net loss of $4.2 million from continuing operations for the same quarter in the prior year. As shown below, excluding special items, net loss from continuing operations was $25.9 million compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $2.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Diluted loss per share from continuing operations of $0.58 compared to a diluted loss per share from continuing operations of $0.07 in the same quarter of the prior year. As shown below, excluding special items, diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.43 compared to a diluted loss per share from continuing operations of $0.05 in the same quarter of the prior year.

Increased our income tax valuation allowance by $14.6 million, primarily related to current and prior year federal tax credits and state net operating loss carryforwards. Due to losses in recent years, we recorded a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the prior year and increased the valuation allowance in the current period for deferred tax assets arising from our tax credit and state net operating loss carryforwards. Our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets will not be reversed until we have sufficient taxable income.

Recorded $12.3 million in pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges and $1.7 million in additional lease reserves related to underperforming or closed Company-owned restaurants.

Recorded in the second quarter $2.5 million in transition-related expenses associated with the Company’s previously announced corporate restructuring. This action is expected to reduce selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses by $5.9 million annually. The impact to the current fiscal year, excluding the transition-related expenses, is expected to be $2.9 million in reduced SG&A expenses.

Closed on a four-year $50 million new revolving credit facility with the option to increase the facility by up to $35 million. The Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash charge of $0.9 million for the write-off of unamortized loan fees related to our prior credit facility which was extinguished.

Store Development

The Company did not open or close any new Ruby Tuesday restaurants during the quarter. Domestic and international franchisees opened two and closed one Ruby Tuesday restaurant.

One Company-owned Lime Fresh restaurant was opened and one was closed during the quarter. Franchisees did not open or close any Lime Fresh restaurants.

Update on Cost Structure Reductions

As announced in the Company’s first quarter earnings release, the Company has undertaken a comprehensive review of its cost structure. In addition to the second quarter corporate restructuring, the following actions have been taken:

In December 2013 the Company initiated additional corporate restructuring efforts which are expected to provide an incremental reduction in SG&A expenses of $1.1 million starting in fiscal 2015. Exclusive of expected transition-related costs of $0.5 million in the third quarter, the impact to the second half fiscal 2014 is expected to be a $0.5 million reduction in SG&A expense.

The Company has conducted a thorough review of its restaurant real estate portfolio and will close 30 locations, 15 of which will be closed upon lease expiration. Of the 30 restaurant closures, 27 are expected to close in third quarter and three are expected to close in fourth quarter. The Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charge of $4.4 million in second quarter related to these restaurants. The Company expects to incur additional charges of $2.0 million in the third quarter related to lease reserves and other closing costs associated with this action. Eight of the restaurants to be closed are Company-owned and will be marketed for sale after the closing date.

The Company identified initiatives that are estimated to result in a $6.0 million annual reduction to cost of merchandise beginning in fiscal 2015. These initiatives are estimated to save $2.0 million in the second half of fiscal 2014.

The Company continues to focus on cost reduction, particularly in cost of merchandise, restaurant operating costs, and SG&A expenses.

CEO Comment

JJ Buettgen, Chairman, President and CEO, commented, “We made solid progress in the second quarter as our strategies to reposition Ruby Tuesday to a more casual, energetic, and broadly-appealing brand began to gain traction. We continue to focus on the four pillars of our brand transformation: menu, service, atmosphere, and communication. The second quarter was the first full quarter that our initial wave of new menu items was available to the entire system. Our new pretzel burgers and flatbreads, which were launched late in the first quarter, were followed with the introduction of fresh, hand-breaded chicken tenders on November 18th. Our new menu items were highlighted during the quarter with brand-building TV advertising designed to showcase our delicious and affordable new foods and capture the casual and approachable personality of Ruby Tuesday. Same-restaurant sales for the second quarter started out soft but showed improvement in the last two months of the quarter. Same-restaurant guest counts also reflected improvement versus the first quarter and improvement through the second quarter.

We are committed to our brand transformation strategy and in building on this early momentum. A critical piece of our brand transformation is lowering our overall cost structure and we will continue to aggressively work toward implementing cost savings in areas that do not negatively impact the guest experience. Our teams’ top priorities are to increase guest counts and grow same-restaurant sales. We believe the path to this success is through a menu that is innovative and affordable; service that delivers a solid guest experience in an atmosphere that is fun and energetic; and communicating with effective advertising and promotions that bring the brand transformation to life and reshapes consumer perceptions of the Ruby Tuesday brand.”

Fiscal 2014 Outlook

As we discussed on our fourth quarter fiscal 2013 earnings call, as a result of a number of strategic initiatives we are implementing to reposition our brand, combined with the challenging casual dining environment, we are not providing earnings guidance for fiscal 2014. There are, however, certain items which we would like to highlight, including the following:

Same-Restaurant Sales – We anticipate same-restaurant sales to be down mid single digits in the third quarter and down low single digits to flat in the fourth quarter.

Tax Credits – We do not anticipate recognizing a benefit from FICA Tip and Work Opportunity Tax Credits generated during fiscal 2014. The historical income tax benefit from these tax credits has been $2.2 - $2.4 million per quarter. As was the case in our second quarter, further taxable losses in fiscal 2014 would result in additional tax credit deferred tax valuation allowances above historical levels as credits previously utilized in prior years would become limited due to carryback of fiscal 2014’s net operating loss to those years.

Capital Expenditures – Estimated to be $29 - $33 million for the year, inclusive of approximately $5 million in capital initiatives to drive expense savings.

Excess Real Estate – We expect to generate $12 - $15 million of cash proceeds from the disposition of excess real estate in fiscal 2014.

Non-GAAP Earnings Reconciliation

The Company believes excluding special items from its financial results provides investors with a clearer understanding of the Company’s ongoing operating performance and comparison to prior-period results.

ABOUT RUBY TUESDAY

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. has 779 Company-owned and/or franchise Ruby Tuesday brand restaurants in 45 states, the District of Columbia, 11 foreign countries, and Guam, in addition to 29 Company-owned and/or franchise Lime Fresh brand restaurants in five states, the District of Columbia, and one foreign country. As of December 3, 2013, we owned and operated 703 Ruby Tuesday restaurants and franchised 76 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, comprised of 33 domestic and 43 international restaurants. We also owned and operated 21 Lime Fresh restaurants and franchised eight Lime Fresh restaurants, comprised of six domestic and two international restaurants. Our Company-owned and operated restaurants are concentrated primarily in the Southeast, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest of the United States, which we consider to be our core markets.

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (RT).

Industry Intelligence editor's note: In an omitted table, the company reported fiscal second-quarter 2014 net loss of US$ 34.4 million and revenue of $276.2 million compared to second-quarter 2013 net loss of $15.1 million and revenue of $300.1 million.

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