1 EXHIBIT 12-1 CKE RESTAURANTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in thousands) Twenty-eight Weeks Ended ----------------------------- August 9, August 10, 1999 1998 ---------- ---------- Earnings before fixed charges: Income before income taxes and extraordinary item.................................... $ 29,428 $ 45,336 Fixed charges................................................ 45,211 36,593 ---------- ---------- $ 74,639 $ 81,929 ========== ========== Fixed charges: Interest expense......................................... $ 29,170 $ 21,842 Interest component of rent expense (1)................... 16,041 14,751 ---------- ---------- $ 45,211 $ 36,593 ========== ========== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges........................... 1.7x 2.2x ========== ========== - ----------- (1) Calculated as one-third of total rent expense