Cracker Barrel Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year Fiscal 2017 Results And Provides Guidance For Fiscal 2018

LEBANON, Tenn., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2017. The Company also provided guidance for its 2018 fiscal year and first quarter:

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights

• Earnings per diluted share were $2.23 compared to diluted EPS of $2.12 in the prior year quarter.
• Operating income as a percent of total revenue increased 80 basis points to 11.2%.
• Comparable store traffic of -1.7% and restaurant sales of -0.8% outperformed the Casual Dining Industry.

Full Year Fiscal 2017 Highlights

• Earnings per diluted share were $8.37 in fiscal 2017 compared to GAAP diluted EPS of $7.86 in the prior fiscal year. When adjusted for the retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit ("WOTC") and a reduction of the provisions for uncertain tax positions, adjusted earnings per diluted share in the prior year were $7.55.
• Operating income for fiscal 2017 was 10.7% of total revenue, compared to prior year operating income of 9.6% of revenue.
• Comparable store traffic of -1.4% and restaurant sales of 0.2% outperformed the Casual Dining Industry.
• During fiscal 2017, the Company declared regular quarterly dividends totaling $4.65 per share. Additionally, the Company declared a special dividend of $3.50 per share, bringing the total dividends declared in fiscal 2017 to $8.15 per share.

Commenting on the full fiscal year results, Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra B. Cochran said, "We ended fiscal 2017 with solid operating income margin and earnings growth. Since fiscal 2014, when we laid out our three-year strategic plan, we have grown earnings per share by nearly fifty percent, well above our target growth. As we enter the new fiscal year, we anticipate the environment to remain challenged, yet are confident in our plans to invest in the long-term growth of the Company."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

Revenue
The Company reported total revenue of $743.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, representing a decrease of 0.3% over the fourth quarter of the prior year. Comparable store restaurant sales decreased 0.8%, including a 1.7% decrease in store traffic partially offset by a 0.9% increase in average check. The average menu price increase for the quarter was approximately 1.4%. Comparable store retail sales decreased 4.4% for the quarter. The Company opened two new Cracker Barrel stores during the quarter bringing the combined Cracker Barrel and Holler & Dash store count to 649 locations at fiscal year-end.

Comparable store restaurant traffic, average check and comparable store restaurant sales and retail sales for the fiscal months of May, June and July and the fourth quarter were as follows:

Operating Income
Operating income in the fourth quarter was $83.2 million, or 11.2% of total revenue. Operating income in the prior year quarter was 10.4% of total revenue. As a percentage of total revenue, favorability in cost of goods sold and labor and related expenses were partially offset by an increase in store operating expenses.

Fiscal 2017 Results
The Company reported total revenue of $2.93 billion for the fiscal year, representing an increase of 0.5% over the prior year. Comparable store restaurant sales increased 0.2%, including a 1.6% increase in average check partially offset by a 1.4% decrease in store traffic. Comparable store retail sales were down 3.7% for the fiscal year.

Operating income for fiscal 2017 was $313.2 million, or 10.7% of total revenue, compared to $280.5 million, or 9.6% of total revenue, in the prior year quarter.

Earnings per diluted share were $8.37, a 6.5% increase over GAAP EPS of $7.86 in the prior year quarter. Adjusted for the impact of the retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit ("WOTC") and a reduction of the provisions for uncertain tax positions, earnings per diluted share increased 10.9% from adjusted EPS of $7.55 in the prior year quarter. (For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables accompanying this release.)

Fiscal 2018 Outlook
For fiscal 2018, the Company expects total revenue of approximately $3.1 billion reflecting the expected opening of eight or nine new Cracker Barrel stores and three or four new Holler & Dash stores, as well as projected increases in comparable store restaurant sales in the range of 2.5% to 3.5%, and comparable store retail sales in the range of 0.0% to 1.0%. The Company projects food commodity inflation of approximately 1.5% for the year. The Company projects operating income margin to be relatively flat to the prior year as a percent of total revenue. The Company expects depreciation expense between $95 million and $100 million; net interest expense in the range of $16 million to $17 million; and capital expenditures of approximately $150 million to $160 million. The Company anticipates an effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 of between 31% and 32%. The Company expects to report earnings per diluted share for fiscal 2018 of between $8.85 and $9.00.

The Company's 2018 fiscal year is a 53-week year. The Company estimates the impact of the 53^rd week, which is included in its guidance, to contribute earnings per diluted share of approximately $0.30.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company expects to report earnings per diluted share of between $1.85 and $1.95.

The fiscal 2018 and first quarter estimates do not include any financial implications of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Given the recency of these events and the ongoing nature of relief efforts, the Company is still determining the extent of the financial impact. The Company reminds investors that its outlook for fiscal 2018 reflects a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company's control.

Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Conference Call
As previously announced, the live broadcast of Cracker Barrel's quarterly conference call will be available to the public on-line at investor.crackerbarrel.com today beginning at 11:00 a.m. (ET). The on-line replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and continue through September 27, 2017.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ^®
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurants serve up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as our signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 645 company-owned Cracker Barrel locations and five company-owned Holler & Dash Biscuit House locations across 44 states. Every Cracker Barrel store is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: crackerbarrel.com.

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Except for specific historical information, certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These, and similar statements are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion. All forward-looking information is subject to completion of our financial procedures for Q4 FY 2017 and FY 2017 and is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals," "objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may," "will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue" (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology and include the expected effects of operational improvement initiatives, such as new menu items and retail offerings. Factors which could materially affect actual results include, but are not limited to: the effects of uncertain consumer confidence, higher costs for energy, general or regional economic weakness, weather on sales and customer travel, discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of our customers; our ability to identify, acquire and sell successful new lines of retail merchandise and new menu items at our restaurants; our ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; the effects of plans intended to promote or protect our brands and products; commodity price increases; the ability of and cost to us to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees in an escalating wage environment; the effects of increased competition at our locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; workers' compensation, group health and utility price changes; consumer behavior based on negative publicity or concerns over nutritional or safety aspects of our food or products or those of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about pandemics, as well as the possible effects of such events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our restaurants; the effects of our indebtedness and associated restrictions on our financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue our operating plans and objectives; changes in interest rates or capital market conditions affecting our financing costs and ability to refinance all or portions of our indebtedness; the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations; our ability to retain key personnel; the availability and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development and our ability to identify those sites; our ability to enter successfully into new geographic markets that may be less familiar to us; changes in land, building materials and construction costs; the actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations and the costs and effects of negative publicity associated with these activities; practical or psychological effects of natural disasters or terrorist acts or war and military or government responses; disruptions to our restaurant or retail supply chain; changes in foreign exchange rates affecting our future retail inventory purchases; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"); and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. We expressly disclaim any intent, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

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SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.