Bob Evans Farms Inc.
(
BOBE
) has announced third quarter 2012 earnings of 69 cents per share,
breezing past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents per share
and the year-ago quarter earnings of 51 cents per share.
The better-than-expected results were driven by cost-control
initiatives of the company and improving sales trend.
The company posted net sales of $428.3 million, which remained
flat year over year as combined same store-sales in the restaurant
segment inched up 0.1%, resulting from a 1.6% hike in same
store-sales at Bob Evans restaurants, partially offset by a 1.6%
plunge in comps at Mimi's Cafe.
Segment wise, restaurant net sales were also flat year over year
at $337.3 million and the company continues to witness improved
performance at both the brands, driven by efficient sales
initiatives and effective marketing and promotional programs.
However, food products net sales crept up 0.1% to $91.0 million,
driven by innovative menu offerings and higher demand for both its
sausage and side dish categories.
Cost of sales escalated 60 basis points (bps) from the year-ago
quarter to 32.1% due to commodity cost pressure in the foods
segment, while other operating expenses spiked 20 bps to 16.3%.
However, selling general and administrative expense dipped 10 bps
to 8.6% and operating wages fell 180 bps to 31.2%. Interest expense
also plunged $0.2 million year over year to $1.9 million due to
lower average borrowings.
Consequently, consolidated adjusted operating income of Bob
Evans Farms expanded 19.0% year over year to $30.3 million.
Operating margin expanded 120 bps to 7.1% in the reported
quarter.
Store Update
During the reported quarter, the company did not open any new
Bob Evans restaurants. Thus, at the end of the quarter, the company
operated 709 restaurants, out of which 564 were Bob Evans
restaurants and 145 Mimi's Cafe restaurants.
In 2012, the company plans to open six new Bob Evans restaurants
and remodel 90 restaurants. Bob Evans, however, has no plans of
opening any Mimi's Cafe restaurants in 2012.
Financial Position
At the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents were
$47.9 million, long-term debt was $97.1 million and stockholders'
equity was $658.3 million. During the quarter, the company
repurchased 567,303 shares for $18.8 million. The company currently
has 3 million shares remaining under $50 million share repurchase
authorization.
Outlook
For fiscal 2012, Bob Evans Farms tightened its earnings per
share outlook, by raising the lower end from $2.36 to $2.38 and
reaffirming the higher end of $2.44. The company also reaffirmed
its revenue guidance of $1.7 billion and long-term earnings per
share growth of 7% to 10%.
However, the company foresees lower consumer spending, adverse
weather condition and rising commodity costs as headwinds in
2012.
The company expects same-store sales at Bob Evans restaurants to
remain positive for the fourth quarter. Same-store sales at Mimi's
Cafe restaurants are estimated in the range of negative 3% to 1% in
the fourth quarter. Net sales of the Food Product segment are
projected in the range of $320 million to $330 million in 2012.
Our Take
We expect estimates to go up in the coming days as the company
reported better-than-expected results, raised the lower end of EPS
guidance and continues to make efforts to uplift the performance of
both the brands Bob Evans and Mimi's.
Bob Evans currently retains a Zacks #2 Rank (short-term Buy
rating). We are maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on
the stock.
One of Bob Evans' primary competitors,
Brinker International Inc.
(
EAT
) reported adjusted earnings per share of 47 cents in the second
quarter of 2012, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a couple
of cents.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Bob Evans Farms is a full-service
restaurant company that owns and operates under the brands - Bob
Evans and Mimi's Cafes.
BOB EVANS FARMS (
BOBE
): Free Stock Analysis Report
BRINKER INTL (
EAT
): Free Stock Analysis Report
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