Luby's Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results
Sequential Same-Store Sales Improve & Reports Income from Continuing Operations of $1.3 Million
Luby’s, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter fiscal 2010, a twelve-week period, which ended on May 5, 2010. As a result of the Company’s Cash Flow Improvement and Capital Redeployment Plan (“2010 Business Plan”) announced on October 15, 2009, which included the closure of 25 underperforming stores, the entire fiscal activity of the applicable closed locations has been reclassified in discontinued operations for current and prior periods.
Third Quarter Review
- Restaurant sales were $53.9 million, a decrease of $3.5 million compared to the same quarter last year. Same-store sales, from a total of 96 restaurants, decreased approximately 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Same-store sales improved sequentially in the third quarter compared to last quarter. During the 2010 third fiscal quarter, year-over-year customer traffic trend improved slightly compared to last quarter’s results due to increased guest frequency, improving consumer confidence and positive guest response to Luby’s limited time offers. The increase in year-over-year customer traffic was more than offset by a decline in average customer spending, resulting from lower prices on menu items and increased promotional activity.
- Revenue from Culinary Contract Services rose 9.9% to $3.3 million in the third quarter fiscal 2010 compared to $3.0 million generated in the third quarter fiscal 2009. Culinary Contract Services operated 17 facilities as of May 5, 2010 versus 13 facilities at the end of the third fiscal quarter last year.
- Store level profit, defined as restaurant sales less food costs, payroll and related costs, and other operating expenses, was up 9.5% to $9.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, or 18.0% of restaurant sales, compared to $8.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, or 15.5% of restaurant sales. Although food costs were up as a percentage of restaurant sales, the Company effectively managed its payroll and other expenses, with both declining as a percentage of restaurant sales.
- In the third quarter fiscal 2010, Luby’s reported income from continuing operations of $1.3 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to a loss of $0.4 million in the same quarter last year. Income from continuing operations in the third quarter fiscal 2010 included a pre-tax net gain of $237,000 on the sale of one of the Company’s properties held for sale and a pre-tax gain of $475,000 associated with an insurance recovery of lost profits related to Hurricane Ike. Last year’s results included a pre-tax expense of $664,000 resulting from the decrease in fair value of its investment in auction rate securities and a pre-tax gain of $485,000 from insurance proceeds associated with an insurance settlement related to property and equipment damages related to Hurricane Ike.
Chris Pappas, President and CEO, made the following remarks: “We are cautiously optimistic that our customers are returning more often to our restaurants as customer traffic improves. Our local market promotions are generating encouraging results. Our customers know we are listening to their needs and they are responding positively. Additionally, these promotions have allowed us to reduce our advertising and marketing expenses, relying instead on local initiatives.”
“During the third quarter we generated income from continuing operations. This is an important validation of our Cash Flow Improvement and Capital Redeployment Plan, which was put in place at the beginning of this fiscal year. Although we feel better about the direction of our sales, our customers are still feeling the weakness in the economy and until consumer confidence and the unemployment rate improve, we will remain cautious and refrain from giving sales and earnings guidance.”
In concluding his remarks, Pappas said, “We continue to market our properties held for sale as well as those in discontinued assets. This quarter we sold one of our locations, generating a pre-tax gain of approximately $237,000. A few weeks ago we also announced that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ordered Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to buy back the auction rate securities we purchased through them. We received $7.1 million par value of those securities and accrued interest. We also generated a pre-tax gain of approximately $1.8 million, net of expenses, on the sale of investments which will be reflected in our fourth quarter results. As always, we continue to focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet. We ended the third quarter with no debt on our balance sheet, $7.7 million in cash and $18.4 million in availability under our credit facility.”
Operating Expense Review
Food costs decreased approximately $0.7 million in the third quarter fiscal 2010 compared to the same quarter last year, due primarily to a reduction in sales volume. Food costs as a percentage of restaurant sales rose to 27.4% in the third quarter fiscal 2010 from 26.9% in the comparable quarter last year primarily due to lower menu prices and increased promotional activity.
Payroll and related costs decreased $1.5 million in the third quarter fiscal 2010 compared to the same quarter last year. As a percentage of restaurant sales, payroll and related costs declined to 35.1% in the third quarter fiscal 2010 from 35.6% in the same quarter last year primarily due to a reduction in management costs, lower crew overtime and increased efficiencies in crew scheduling, partially offset by higher average wages paid to crew employees.
Other operating expenses primarily include restaurant-related expenses for utilities, repairs and maintenance, advertising, insurance, supplies, services, and occupancy costs. Other operating expenses decreased by approximately $2.1 million compared to the same quarter last year, due primarily to a $0.7 million reduction in marketing and advertising expense, a $0.5 million decline in utilities expense, a $0.3 million reduction in repairs and maintenance, and $0.5 million impact of business interruption insurance recovery associated with Hurricane Ike. As a percentage of restaurant sales, other operating expenses decreased to 19.4% compared to 22.0% in the same quarter last year.
Depreciation and amortization expense declined approximately $0.2 million in the third quarter fiscal 2010 compared to the same quarter last year, due to a slightly lower depreciable asset base reflecting reduced capital spending and certain assets reaching the end of their depreciable lives.
General and administrative expenses include corporate salaries and benefits-related costs, including restaurant area leaders, share-based compensation, professional fees, travel and recruiting expenses and other office expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $0.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the same quarter last year primarily due to a decrease in corporate salary and benefit expense as a result of reductions in corporate support headcount and bonus accruals.
Fiscal Year-to-Date Review
Same-store sales declined 10.2%.
- Total sales declined 10.9% to $162.9 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2010, compared to $182.8 million in the comparable period of fiscal 2009.
- Luby’s Culinary Contract Services business, included in total sales, generated $9.5 million in sales during the first three quarters of fiscal 2010 compared to $9.0 million in sales during the comparable period of fiscal 2009, a 5.7% increase.
- Loss from continuing operations for the first three quarters of fiscal 2010 was $1.5 million, compared to a loss of $0.6 million in fiscal 2009.
- Store level profit as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased to 14.9% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2010 compared to 15.3% in the comparable period of fiscal 2009.
Outlook
The Company remains cautious regarding the outlook for comprehensive economic recovery. It continues to anticipate that any improvement in restaurant sales will lag behind the broader economic recovery. For Luby’s to see any material improvements in its same store sales, it will take improved employment levels and a substantial uptick in consumer confidence in its areas of operation. Luby’s will continue to offer customers competitive price points to promote customer frequency; however, it does not anticipate that significant profit improvements are probable without significant guest traffic increases in fiscal 2010 at most retail units. Thus a net loss from continuing operations is expected in 2010 at this time.
