What happened
Shares of Habit Restaurants (HABT) plummeted 21% last month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, after the fast-casual burger chain delivered disappointing second-quarter results.
So what
Revenue jumped 17.2% to $83.3 million, driven by the 37 restaurants Habit opened during the past year. However, comparable sales at company-operated restaurants inched up only 0.1%, down sharply from the 4% comps Habit enjoyed in the second quarter of 2016.
Despite its delicious-looking "Charburgers," Habit Restaurants' comps were essentially flat in the second quarter. Image source: Habit Restaurants.
The company's margins also came under pressure. Food and paper costs rose 180 basis points year over year to 31.6% of revenue, while labor costs increased 30 basis points to 32.6%. In turn, adjusted net income fell to $1.7 million from $2.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
Now what
These results prompted Habit Restaurants to cut its 2017 full-year outlook, including:
- Revenue of $335 million to $338 million, down from a previous forecast of $338 million to $342 million
- Comparable sales growth of flat to 1%, down from approximately 2%
- Restaurant contribution margin of 19% to 19.5%, versus approximately 20%
With the overall restaurant industry struggling with slower traffic trends -- and minimum wage hikes likely to continue to dent restaurant margins -- Habit may be in store for more downtrodden results in the quarters ahead. Thus, its August swoon may be a prelude to a further move to the downside in the coming months.
