Morgan continued, “On the development front, as of today, we have opened 10 company restaurants in 2024 with another 18 currently under construction. We remain confident that our commitment to growth, along with a disciplined capital allocation strategy, will continue to generate long-term shareholder value.”
2024 Outlook
Comparable restaurant sales at company restaurants for the first five weeks of our second quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 9.3% compared to 2023. In addition, the Company implemented a menu price increase of approximately 2.2% in late March.
Management updated the following expectations for 2024:
| ● | Commodity cost inflation of approximately 3%. |
Management reiterated the following expectations for 2024:
| ● | Positive comparable restaurant sales growth including the benefit of menu pricing actions; |
| ● | Store week growth of approximately 8%, including a benefit of 2% from the 53rd week; |
| ● | Wage and other labor inflation of 4% to 5%; |
| ● | An effective income tax rate of approximately 14%; and |
| ● | Total capital expenditures of $340 million to $350 million. |
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company prepares the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Within the press release, the Company makes reference to restaurant margin (in dollars, as a percentage of restaurant and other sales, and per store week). Restaurant margin represents restaurant and other sales less restaurant-level operating costs, including food and beverage costs, labor, rent, and other operating costs. Restaurant margin should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative, to income from operations. This non-GAAP measure is not indicative of overall company performance and profitability in that this measure does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders due to the nature of the costs excluded. Restaurant margin is widely regarded as a useful metric by which to evaluate core restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis. In calculating restaurant margin, the Company excludes certain non-restaurant-level costs that support operations, including general and administrative expenses, but do not have a direct impact on restaurant-level operational efficiency and performance. The Company excludes pre-opening expenses as they occur at irregular intervals and would impact comparability to prior period results. The Company excludes depreciation and amortization expenses, substantially all of which relate to restaurant-level assets, as they represent a non-cash charge for the investment in restaurants. The Company excludes impairment and closure expenses as it believes this provides a clearer perspective of ongoing operating performance and a more useful comparison to prior period results. Restaurant margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in the industry. A reconciliation of income from operations to restaurant margin is included in the accompanying financial tables.
Conference Call
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. is hosting a conference call today, May 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The call will be webcast live from the investor relations portion of the Company’s website at www.texasroadhouse.com. Listeners may also access the call by dialing (888) 440-5667 or (646) 960-0476 for international calls and referencing the Texas Roadhouse, Inc. First Quarter 2024 Earnings. A replay of the call will be available until May 9, 2024, by dialing (800) 770-2030 or (609) 800-9909 for international calls and using conference ID 7714420.
About the Company
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. is a growing restaurant company operating predominantly in the casual dining segment that first opened in 1993 and today has grown to over 750 restaurants system-wide in 49 states and ten foreign countries. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.texasroadhouse.com.