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Cracker Barrel (CBRL) Stock Down as Q4 Earnings Lag Estimates
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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2021 results (ended Jul 30, 2021), with earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the top and the bottom line increased on a year-over-year basis.
Following the results, the company’s shares fell 2.7% during trading hours on Sep 21. Negative investor sentiments were witnessed as management stated issues related to staffing, commodity and wage inflation as well as the resurgence of coronavirus cases.
However, the company cited relief on account of solid performances by its off-premise model, retail business and the Maple Street Biscuit Company concept. Going forward, the company anticipates the momentum in recovery to continue on the back of its cost-saving initiatives, introduction of a new dinner menu along with the continued roll-out of beer and wine to its stores.
Earnings & Revenues
During the fiscal fourth quarter, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.25 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.42. In the prior year quarter, the company reported an adjusted loss per share of 85 cents.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
During the quarter, revenues of $784.4 million missed the consensus mark of $791 million by 0.9%. The figure increased 58.4% on a year-over-year basis. The company benefited from average weekly sales volumes improvement courtesy of increase in dine-in traffic, retained off-premise volumes and robust retail performance. The company’s average weekly Dine-in sales volumes increased to nearly $59,000 per week in July from approximately $54,000 per week in April.
Comps Details
Comparable store restaurant sales declined 6.8% in the reported quarter from the levels recorded in the same period in fiscal 2019. Comparable store restaurant sales surged 53.5% year over year. Moreover, comparable retail sales increased 18.2% and 74.8% from the levels reported in the same period in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, comparable store off-premise sales soared 108.6% from 2019 levels.
Operating Highlights
During the fiscal fourth quarter, cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and rent) declined 40 basis points (bps) year over year to 30.1%. General and administrative expenses contracted 360 bps year over year to 4.7%.
Adjusted operating income in the fiscal fourth quarter totaled $65.9 million, up from ($20) million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin came in at 8.4%. Margin benefited from better-than-expected sales performance, particularly in the company’s retail business.
Balance Sheet
As of Jul 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $144.6 million, down from $437 million as on Jul 31, 2020.
Inventory at the end of the fiscal fourth quarter amounted to $138.3 million, down from $139.1 million at the end of fourth-quarter fiscal 2020.
Long-term debt amounted to $327.3 million at the end of the quarter, down from $910 million at the end of the prior-year quarter.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $301.9 million in the fiscal 2021 compared with $161 million recorded a year ago.
The company announced a hike in its quarterly dividend payout. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 30%, which indicates its intention to utilize free cash for boosting shareholders’ returns. The company raised quarterly dividend to $1.30 per share (or $5.20 annually) from the previous payout of $1.00 (or $4.00 annually). The hiked dividend will be payable on Nov 9, 2021, to shareholders of record as of Oct 22, 2021. Further, the management approved share repurchases of up to $100 million.
Fiscal 2021 Highlights
Fiscal 2021 adjusted EPS came in at $5.14 compared with $2.04 reported in the previous year.
Total revenues in fiscal 2021 came in at $2,821.4 million compared with $ 2,522.8 million in fiscal 2020.
GAAP operating income in fiscal 2021 totaled $366.7 million (or 13% of total revenues) compared with $103.6 million (or 4.1%) in the prior fiscal year.
Store Updates
As of Jul 30, 2021, the company had 664 Cracker Barrel units and 37 Maple units, making it a total of 701 company-owned units under operation.
Fiscal 2022 Outlook
Owing to the uncertainty revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the current operating and staffing environment, the company is not providing any customary annual guidance. The company stated concerns regarding the nationwide increase in infections as it could negatively impact the guest visitation patterns as well as the availability of its employees. The company expects first-quarter fiscal 2022 sales to be negatively impacted by the same.
For fiscal 2022, the company anticipates capital expenditures of approximately $120 million. Also, it expects commodity and wage inflation in the mid-to-high single digits. Meanwhile, effective tax rate for 2022 is anticipated at approximately 18%.
Coming to store openings, the company expects to open three new Cracker Barrel locations and 15 new Maple Street Biscuit locations in fiscal 2022.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company’s adjusted EPS of 26 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported an adjusted loss of 99 cents per share. Quarterly revenues of $290.3 million surpassed the consensus estimate of $285 million. The top line also rallied 126.7% year over year. The upside can be primarily attributed to the lifting of capacity and social-distancing restrictions, thereby resulting in enhanced dining room capacity.
McDonald's Corporation (MCD - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $2.37, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.12. The bottom line surged 259.1% year over year. Quarterly revenues of $5,887.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,629 million. The figure rose 56.5% year over year. The top line benefited from increase in global comparable sales.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) reported solid third-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $1.01, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 77 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported an adjusted loss per share of 46 cents. Quarterly revenues of $7,496.5 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7,243 million. The top line increased 77.6% from the year-ago quarter’s levels. The uptick was driven by growth in comparable store sales.
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Cracker Barrel (CBRL) Stock Down as Q4 Earnings Lag Estimates
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2021 results (ended Jul 30, 2021), with earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the top and the bottom line increased on a year-over-year basis.
Following the results, the company’s shares fell 2.7% during trading hours on Sep 21. Negative investor sentiments were witnessed as management stated issues related to staffing, commodity and wage inflation as well as the resurgence of coronavirus cases.
However, the company cited relief on account of solid performances by its off-premise model, retail business and the Maple Street Biscuit Company concept. Going forward, the company anticipates the momentum in recovery to continue on the back of its cost-saving initiatives, introduction of a new dinner menu along with the continued roll-out of beer and wine to its stores.
Earnings & Revenues
During the fiscal fourth quarter, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.25 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.42. In the prior year quarter, the company reported an adjusted loss per share of 85 cents.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Quote
During the quarter, revenues of $784.4 million missed the consensus mark of $791 million by 0.9%. The figure increased 58.4% on a year-over-year basis. The company benefited from average weekly sales volumes improvement courtesy of increase in dine-in traffic, retained off-premise volumes and robust retail performance. The company’s average weekly Dine-in sales volumes increased to nearly $59,000 per week in July from approximately $54,000 per week in April.
Comps Details
Comparable store restaurant sales declined 6.8% in the reported quarter from the levels recorded in the same period in fiscal 2019. Comparable store restaurant sales surged 53.5% year over year. Moreover, comparable retail sales increased 18.2% and 74.8% from the levels reported in the same period in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, comparable store off-premise sales soared 108.6% from 2019 levels.
Operating Highlights
During the fiscal fourth quarter, cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and rent) declined 40 basis points (bps) year over year to 30.1%. General and administrative expenses contracted 360 bps year over year to 4.7%.
Adjusted operating income in the fiscal fourth quarter totaled $65.9 million, up from ($20) million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin came in at 8.4%. Margin benefited from better-than-expected sales performance, particularly in the company’s retail business.
Balance Sheet
As of Jul 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $144.6 million, down from $437 million as on Jul 31, 2020.
Inventory at the end of the fiscal fourth quarter amounted to $138.3 million, down from $139.1 million at the end of fourth-quarter fiscal 2020.
Long-term debt amounted to $327.3 million at the end of the quarter, down from $910 million at the end of the prior-year quarter.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $301.9 million in the fiscal 2021 compared with $161 million recorded a year ago.
The company announced a hike in its quarterly dividend payout. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 30%, which indicates its intention to utilize free cash for boosting shareholders’ returns. The company raised quarterly dividend to $1.30 per share (or $5.20 annually) from the previous payout of $1.00 (or $4.00 annually). The hiked dividend will be payable on Nov 9, 2021, to shareholders of record as of Oct 22, 2021. Further, the management approved share repurchases of up to $100 million.
Fiscal 2021 Highlights
Fiscal 2021 adjusted EPS came in at $5.14 compared with $2.04 reported in the previous year.
Total revenues in fiscal 2021 came in at $2,821.4 million compared with $ 2,522.8 million in fiscal 2020.
GAAP operating income in fiscal 2021 totaled $366.7 million (or 13% of total revenues) compared with $103.6 million (or 4.1%) in the prior fiscal year.
Store Updates
As of Jul 30, 2021, the company had 664 Cracker Barrel units and 37 Maple units, making it a total of 701 company-owned units under operation.
Fiscal 2022 Outlook
Owing to the uncertainty revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the current operating and staffing environment, the company is not providing any customary annual guidance. The company stated concerns regarding the nationwide increase in infections as it could negatively impact the guest visitation patterns as well as the availability of its employees. The company expects first-quarter fiscal 2022 sales to be negatively impacted by the same.
For fiscal 2022, the company anticipates capital expenditures of approximately $120 million. Also, it expects commodity and wage inflation in the mid-to-high single digits. Meanwhile, effective tax rate for 2022 is anticipated at approximately 18%.
Coming to store openings, the company expects to open three new Cracker Barrel locations and 15 new Maple Street Biscuit locations in fiscal 2022.
Zacks Rank
Cracker Barrel currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Peer Releases
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company’s adjusted EPS of 26 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported an adjusted loss of 99 cents per share. Quarterly revenues of $290.3 million surpassed the consensus estimate of $285 million. The top line also rallied 126.7% year over year. The upside can be primarily attributed to the lifting of capacity and social-distancing restrictions, thereby resulting in enhanced dining room capacity.
McDonald's Corporation (MCD - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $2.37, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.12. The bottom line surged 259.1% year over year. Quarterly revenues of $5,887.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,629 million. The figure rose 56.5% year over year. The top line benefited from increase in global comparable sales.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) reported solid third-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Both the metrics increased year over year. The company reported an adjusted EPS of $1.01, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 77 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company had reported an adjusted loss per share of 46 cents. Quarterly revenues of $7,496.5 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7,243 million. The top line increased 77.6% from the year-ago quarter’s levels. The uptick was driven by growth in comparable store sales.