Chuy's Holdings reports Q4 net earnings of US$2.5M, down 3.8% from year-ago period; revenue rises 8.8% to US$50.8M

Nevin Barich

AUSTIN, Texas , February 27, 2014 (press release) – Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. (CHUY) today announced financial results for the 13-week and 52-week periods ended December 29, 2013.

Highlights for the fourth quarter ended December 29, 2013 were as follows:

Revenue was $50.8 million in the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013 and $46.7 million in the 14-week fourth quarter of 2012. Fourth quarter 2013 results were negatively impacted by an ice storm in early December, which reduced revenue by approximately $500,000. Fourth quarter 2012 results included approximately $3.3 million in revenue attributed to the extra operating week.

Comparable restaurant sales increased 3.0% on a comparable 13-week basis.

Net income was $2.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013 and $2.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the 14-week period in 2012.

Pro forma net income(1) was $2.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013 and $2.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the 14-week fourth quarter of 2012. Fourth quarter 2012 results included a $0.04 to $0.05 per share positive impact due to an extra week in the quarter.

Restaurant-level EBITDA(1) was $8.9 million in the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013 and $9.2 million in the 14-week fourth quarter of 2012.

Two new restaurants opened during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Highlights for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2013 were as follows:

Revenue was $204.4 million in the 52-week 2013 fiscal year and $172.6 million in the 53-week 2012 fiscal year. 2013 results were negatively impacted by an ice storm in early December, which reduced revenue by approximately $500,000. Fiscal year 2012 results included approximately $3.3 million in revenue attributed to the extra week.

Comparable restaurant sales increased 2.3% on a comparable 52-week basis.

Net income increased to $11.1 million in the 2013 fiscal year from $5.5 million during the 53-week fiscal year in 2012. Net income for 2012 included a $1.6 million pre-tax write-off of deferred loan origination costs associated with a pay down of debt using the Company’s IPO proceeds. Net income available to common stockholders increased to $11.1 million from $3.3 million. Diluted income per share was $0.66 in 2013 compared to $0.37 in the prior year.

Pro forma net income(1) increased to $11.5 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, in the 52-week 2013 fiscal year from $10.1 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the 53-week 2012 fiscal year. Fiscal year 2012 results included a $0.04 to $0.05 per share positive impact due to an extra week in the fourth quarter.

Restaurant-level EBITDA(1) was $39.1 million in the 52-week 2013 fiscal year and $34.8 million in the 53-week prior year.

A total of nine new restaurants opened during 2013.

(1) Pro forma net income and restaurant-level EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of restaurant-level EBITDA and pro forma net income to GAAP net income and discussions of why we consider them useful, see the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” accompanying this release.

“It’s fitting that we ended a strong fiscal 2013 with a healthy fourth quarter of sales and earnings,” said Steve Hislop, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. “The ongoing momentum of our results is a testament to the distinctiveness of our brand and the hard work of our entire team.”

Added Hislop, “As we look ahead, we are well positioned to continue to grow Chuy’s unique blend of made-from-scratch Tex Mex inspired menu, commitment to value and upbeat and irreverent atmosphere that has resonated with our guests for over 30 years. Our new unit development is already off to a solid start with two openings year-to-date and our overall plan of ten to eleven new restaurants for 2014 equates to another year of at least 20 percent unit growth. Our development this year will be largely focused on our newer markets with existing Chuy’s restaurants, which we believe will continue to drive awareness for the Chuy’s brand.”

Fourth Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Revenue increased to $50.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $46.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company’s fourth quarter of 2013 included 13 weeks compared to 14 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 attributed to the extra week totaled approximately $3.3 million. The increase was primarily driven by $7.3 million in incremental revenue from an additional 114 operating weeks provided by 10 new restaurants opened during and subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2012. The increase in revenues was partially offset by an ice storm in early December, which had an approximate $500,000 negative impact on revenue.

Comparable restaurant sales increased 3.0% for the 13-week period ended December 29, 2013 compared to the 13-week period ended December 31, 2012. The increase in comparable sales was driven by a 1.9% increase in average check and a 1.1% increase in average weekly customers. The comparable restaurant base consisted of 32 restaurants during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Total restaurant operating costs as a percentage of revenue increased to 82.4% in the fourth quarter of 2013 from 80.3% in the fourth quarter of 2012, driven primarily by higher labor costs as a percentage of revenue driven by increased training and staffing levels at our new restaurants and due to there being less leverage in the current quarter because of the extra week in the fourth quarter of 2012. In addition, rent and utility costs as a percentage of revenue were also higher as a result of the extra week in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net income was $2.5 million for the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013, or $0.15 per diluted share, and $2.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the 14-week period in 2012. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2012 included approximately $228,000 in offering costs associated with the secondary offering that was completed in the first quarter of 2013. Pro forma net income was $2.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $2.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2012. Fourth quarter 2012 results also included a $0.04 to $0.05 per share positive impact due to an extra week in the quarter. A reconciliation between GAAP net income and pro forma net income is included in the accompanying financial data.

Development Update

During the fourth quarter, two new Chuy’s restaurants were opened in Kansas City, Missouri and Raleigh, North Carolina. Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter, two additional Chuy’s restaurants were opened in Rogers, Arkansas and Orlando, Florida.

2014 Outlook

The Company expects 2014 diluted net income per share ranging from $0.81 to $0.84. This compares to pro forma diluted net income per share of $0.69 in 2013. The net income guidance for fiscal year 2014 is based, in part, on the following annual assumptions:

Comparable restaurant sales growth of approximately 1.5% to 2.0%;

Restaurant pre-opening expenses of approximately $3.8 million to $4.3 million;

General and administrative expense of approximately $12.5 million to $13.0 million;

An effective tax rate of approximately 29% to 31%;

The opening of 10 to 11 new restaurants;

Net capital expenditures (net of tenant improvement allowances) of approximately $27.5 million to $30.0 million; and

Annual weighted average diluted shares outstanding of 16.7 million to 16.8 million shares.

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release:

Comparable restaurant sales reflect changes in sales for the comparable group of restaurants over a specified period of time. We consider a restaurant to be comparable in the first full quarter following the 18th month of operations. Changes in comparable sales reflect changes in customer count trends as well as changes in average check.

Average check is calculated by dividing revenue by total entrées sold for a given time period. Average check reflects menu price influences as well as changes in menu mix.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013 today at 5:00 Eastern Standard Time. Steve Hislop, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jon Howie, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host the call.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 800-839-7875 or for international callers by dialing 913-312-0636. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing 877-870-5176 or 858-384-5517 for international callers; the passcode is 9728631. The replay will be available until March 6, 2014. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company’s website at www.chuys.com under the investor relations section. An archive of the webcast will also be available through the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

About Chuy’s

Founded in Austin, Texas in 1982, Chuy’s owns and operates 50 full-service restaurants across fourteen states serving a distinct menu of authentic, made from scratch Tex Mex inspired dishes. Chuy’s highly flavorful and freshly prepared fare is served in a fun, eclectic and irreverent atmosphere, while each location offers a unique, “unchained” look and feel, as expressed by the concept’s motto “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s!”. For further information about Chuy’s, including the nearest location, visit the Chuy’s website at www.chuys.com.

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