Restaurant Slated to Open in April 2010;

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Two restaurant reports provide a clue to the economy.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) closed yesterday at $85.86. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $36.86 and 52-week high of $98.66. Chipotle Mexican Grill stock has been showing support around 82.02 and resistance in the 87.78 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives CMG a neutr...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Five proven winners that are poised to prove themselves again.

Texas Roadhouse Inc. (TXRH), a casual dining restaurant chain, recently reported third quarter results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate on the heels of lower commodity and pre-opening costs besides a jump in the top-line. Earnings of 15 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents and climbed 27% year on year. On [...]

(TXRH) Texas Roadhouse Earnings Report Beats in Q3

Texas Roadhouse Inc. (TXRH), a casual dining restaurant chain, recently reported third quarter results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate on the heels of lower commodity and pre-opening costs besides a jump in the top-line.
 
Earnings of 15 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents and climbed 27% year on year. On account of better than expected results, Texas Roadhouse raised its full-year guidance and now expects earnings to rise 20% as against the 5%−10% previously anticipated.
 
For the fiscal 2010, management expects EPS growth to be flat to 10%, if comparable restaurant sales lie within the range of (2%) to flat.
 
The growth in the top-line decelerated. After climbing 12% in the second quarter, total revenues showed a sluggish growth of 4% to $226.5 million in the reported quarter. Restaurant sales jumped 4% to $224.4 million, whereas franchise royalties and fees ascended 2.7% to $2.1 million.
 
Like other casual dining restaurant operators – Cosi Inc. (COSI), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB), and California Pizza Kitchen Inc. (CPKI) – Texas Roadhouse too has been experiencing sagging comparable restaurant sales and falling traffic as cash-strapped consumers are trading down to quick service restaurant operators like McDonald’s Corp. (MCD), Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) due to cheaper dining options, or else they prefer to eat at home.
 
Comparable restaurant sales fell 4.6% at company-owned restaurants and 3.6% at franchised restaurants. Comps fell 2.3% in the first four weeks of the fourth quarter.
 
Restaurant operating cash flow climbed 12.8% to $38.5 million, whereas restaurant operating cash flow margin expanded 133 basis points to 17.2%.
 
During the quarter, Texas Roadhouse opened one company-owned and two franchised restaurants, and closed two company-owned restaurants. Management plans to open 17 company-owned and three franchised restaurants in fiscal 2009. In fiscal 2010, it plans to open about 15 company-owned restaurants.
Read the full analyst report on "TXRH"
Read the full analyst report on "COSI"
Read the full analyst report on "RRGB"
Read the full analyst report on "CPKI"
Read the full analyst report on "YUM"
Read the full analyst report on "MCD"
Read the full analyst report on "CMG"
Zacks Investment Research

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (RUTH), one of the leading upscale dining operators, recently reported third-quarter 2009 results. The company reported a loss of 4 cents a share compared to a loss of 1 cent delivered in the prior-year quarter due to a sharp fall registered in the top-line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter [...]

(RUTH) Ruth’s Hospitality Group’s Loss Widens

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (RUTH), one of the leading upscale dining operators, recently reported third-quarter 2009 results. The company reported a loss of 4 cents a share compared to a loss of 1 cent delivered in the prior-year quarter due to a sharp fall registered in the top-line. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter was a loss of 2 cents a share.

Total revenue tumbled 21.4% to $77.8 million. Company-owned restaurant sales fell 20.8% to $75.6 million, whereas franchise income slipped 30.5% to $2.4 million.

The owner of Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Mitchell’s Fish Market restaurant concepts continues to face the brunt of the recession as cash-strapped consumers looking for cheaper dining options continue to trade down to quick service restaurants like McDonald’s Corporation (MCD), Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG). Moreover, the fall in business travelers has also hurt Ruth’s traffic count.

Comparable restaurant sales at Ruth’s Chris Steak House dipped 24% driven by 3.3% decline in average guest check and 21.5% fall in entrées, whereas comparable restaurant sales at Mitchell’s Fish Market slipped 12.3% driven by 2.8% fall in average guest check and 9.7% decline in entrées.

Offsetting the decline in sales, were food and beverage costs (down 29.2%), restaurant operating expense (dropped 14.7%), marketing and advertising (fell 48.5%), general and administrative expenses (dipped 19.2%) and depreciation and amortization (slipped 8.7%).

During the quarter, Ruth’s Hospitality opened one franchised Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurant in Durham , North Carolina , and closed one franchised location in Las Vegas , Nevada . Management expects to open five to six Ruth’s Chris Steak House franchise locations in fiscal year 2009. Capital expenditure for the year is expected in the range of $5 million to $6 million.
Read the full analyst report on "RUTH"
Read the full analyst report on "MCD"
Read the full analyst report on "YUM"
Read the full analyst report on "CMG"
Zacks Investment Research

The sluggish economy and rising unemployment continues to hurt Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) results. The company’s fiscal 2010 first quarter earnings of 34 cents a share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents and fell 11% from 38 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Burger King’s total revenue for the quarter, dipped 5% to [...]

(BKC) Burger King’s Profit Slides Below Estimates

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