Exhibit 99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT:
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R. Gregory Lewis |
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(615) 269-1900 |
J. ALEXANDERS CORPORATION REPORTS INCREASE
IN SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF NET INCOME
NASHVILLE, TN., July 30, 2007 J. Alexanders Corporation (AMEX: JAX) today reported
higher net income on an increase in net sales for the second quarter and first half of 2007.
Highlights for the most recent quarter compared to the second period of 2006 were as follows:
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Net sales increased 4.2% to $34,742,000 from $33,341,000. |
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Weighted average weekly same store sales per restaurant rose 4.3%. |
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Net income climbed 34% to $953,000 from $711,000 in the comparable quarter of 2006, and
diluted earnings per share rose by 40% to $ .14 from $ .10. |
Commenting on the recent quarter, J. Alexanders Corporation chairman, president and chief
executive officer Lonnie J. Stout II said, We are pleased to report another period of solid
earnings improvement. Our results were again driven by same store sales increases and improved
operating efficiencies.
Stout said the growth in same store sales for the most recent period was primarily due to an
increase in the average J. Alexanders guest check. He noted that the Companys average guest
check, including alcoholic beverage sales, increased by approximately 7% in the second quarter of
2007 over the corresponding period a year earlier, while average guest counts declined on a same
store basis by approximately 2.7%.
J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 2
J. Alexanders Corporations weighted average weekly same store sales per restaurant increased
to $95,200 in the most recent quarter from $91,300 in the corresponding period a year earlier. Same
store sales calculations are based on restaurants open for more than 18 months.
The Companys average weekly sales per restaurant for the second period of 2007 also rose 4.3% to
$95,400 from $91,500 recorded in the comparable quarter of 2006.
We were pleased with our sales performance as well as our performance in most expense
categories for the second quarter of 2007, Stout continued. The effects of escalating food,
labor and other operating costs were held in check by our efforts to improve operating efficiencies
and by increasing menu prices. Cost of sales, which were 32.5% of net sales for the recent quarter,
did increase slightly compared to the second period of last year and by .4% vs. the first quarter
of this year because of escalating food prices, and were above our targeted level.
The Companys restaurant operating margins (net sales minus total restaurant operating
expenses divided by net sales) increased to 11.8% of net sales in the second quarter of 2007 from
11.4% in the second period of 2006.
For the first six months of 2007, J. Alexanders Corporation recorded net sales of
$71,267,000, up 3.9% from $68,579,000 reported in the first two quarters of 2006. The Companys
net income for the first half of 2007 was $2,978,000, or $ .43 per diluted share, an increase of
38.6% from $2,148,000, or $.31 per diluted share, posted in the comparable two quarters of 2006.
J. Alexanders Corporation had weighted weekly average same store sales per restaurant of
$97,500 through the first half of 2007, up 4.1% over $93,700 recorded in the corresponding six
months of 2006. The Companys average weekly sales per restaurant for the first two quarters of
2007 were $97,800, up 3.9% from $94,100 reported in the same two quarters a year
J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 3
earlier. The average guest check, including alcoholic beverage sales, rose 7.9% in the first half
of 2007 over the first half of 2006 while average guest counts declined on a same store basis by
approximately 3.8%.
Stout noted that the Company has experienced a slowdown in same store sales growth early in
the third quarter and commented, While we still expect to post solid financial performance in
2007, our outlook for the last half of the year is tempered by our expectations that same store
sales growth may slow compared to the first half of the year, and by continued pressure on
restaurant operating margins due to operating cost increases.
We have raised menu prices by approximately 1% in the first half of 2007. Overall, our menu
prices for 2007 are approximately 3.9% higher than for the first half of 2006. Although we will
continue to monitor restaurant margins and opportunities for selected menu price increases, we are
somewhat hesitant at this point to raise menu prices again in the near term because of the many
pressures which consumers are continuing to face.
Stout said J. Alexanders Corporation expects to incur significant pre-opening expenses in the
final half of 2007 in conjunction with new restaurants under development in Florida and Georgia.
He also said the Company will realize an increase in stock-based compensation expense in the last
two periods of the current year as a result of stock options granted in the most recent quarter.
The Companys new restaurant development program is on target with new
J. Alexanders restaurants under development in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and the Dunwoody area
of Atlanta, Georgia. Both restaurants are scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2007. New
restaurants are planned for Scottsdale, Arizona and Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida in 2008, and
their progress remains on schedule as well. Leases have been executed for
J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 4
the Scottsdale and Orlando locations and a lease for the Jacksonville location is expected to be
finalized soon.
J. Alexanders Corporation presently operates its 28 J. Alexanders restaurants in Alabama,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and
Texas. J. Alexanders is an upscale, contemporary American restaurant known for its wood-fired
cuisine. The Companys menu features a wide selection of American classics, including steaks,
prime rib of beef and fresh seafood, as well as a large assortment of interesting salads,
sandwiches and desserts. J. Alexanders also has a full-service bar that features an outstanding
selection of wines by the glass and bottle.
J. Alexanders Corporation is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results, performance or developments could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements as a result of known or unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties and factors include the Companys
ability to maintain satisfactory guest count levels and increase sales and operating margins in its
restaurants; changes in business or economic conditions, including rising food costs and product
shortages as well as mandated increases in the minimum wage the Company is required to pay; the
effect of higher gasoline prices and other economic factors on consumer demand; availability of
qualified employees; increased cost of utilities, insurance and other restaurant operating
expenses; potential fluctuations of quarterly operating results due to seasonality and other
factors; the effect of hurricanes and other weather disturbances which are beyond the control of
the Company; the number and timing of new restaurant openings and the Companys ability to operate
them profitably; competition within the casual dining industry, which is very intense; competition
by the Companys new restaurants with its existing restaurants in the same vicinity; changes in
consumer spending, consumer tastes, and consumer attitudes toward nutrition and health; expenses
incurred if the Company is the subject of claims or litigation or increased governmental
regulation; changes in accounting standards, which may affect the Companys reported results of
operations; and expenses the Company may incur in order to comply with changing corporate
governance and public disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
American Stock Exchange. These as well as other factors are discussed in detail in the Companys
filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other communications.
J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 5
J. Alexanders Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited in thousands, except per share amounts)
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Quarter Ended |
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Six Months Ended |
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July 1 |
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July 2 |
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July 1 |
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July 2 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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Net sales |
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$ |
34,742 |
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$ |
33,341 |
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$ |
71,267 |
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$ |
68,579 |
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Costs and expenses: |
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Cost of sales |
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11,279 |
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10,816 |
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22,993 |
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22,303 |
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Restaurant labor and related costs |
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11,138 |
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10,810 |
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22,362 |
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21,809 |
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Depreciation and amortization of restaurant
property and equipment |
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1,298 |
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1,307 |
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2,577 |
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2,605 |
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Other operating expenses |
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6,911 |
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6,605 |
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13,835 |
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13,464 |
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Total restaurant operating expenses |
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30,626 |
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29,538 |
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61,767 |
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60,181 |
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General and administrative expenses |
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2,502 |
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2,488 |
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4,810 |
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4,879 |
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Pre-opening expenses |
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56 |
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56 |
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Operating income |
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1,558 |
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1,315 |
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4,634 |
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3,519 |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest expense, net |
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(281 |
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(400 |
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(592 |
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(825 |
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Other, net |
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21 |
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22 |
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38 |
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51 |
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Total other expense |
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(260 |
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(378 |
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(554 |
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(774 |
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Income before income taxes |
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1,298 |
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937 |
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4,080 |
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2,745 |
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Income tax provision |
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(345 |
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(226 |
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(1,102 |
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(597 |
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Net income |
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$ |
953 |
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$ |
711 |
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$ |
2,978 |
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$ |
2,148 |
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Earnings per share: |
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Basic earnings per share |
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$ |
.14 |
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$ |
.11 |
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$ |
.45 |
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$ |
.33 |
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Diluted earnings per share |
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$ |
.14 |
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$ |
.10 |
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$ |
.43 |
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$ |
.31 |
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Weighted average number of shares: |
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Basic earnings per share |
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6,611 |
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6,542 |
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6,591 |
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6,537 |
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Diluted earnings per share |
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7,009 |
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6,835 |
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6,954 |
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6,828 |
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J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 6
J. Alexanders Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
Percentages of Net Sales (Unaudited)
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Quarter Ended |
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Six Months Ended |
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July 1 |
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July 2 |
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July 1 |
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July 2 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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Net sales |
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100.0 |
% |
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100.0 |
% |
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100.0 |
% |
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100.0 |
% |
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Costs and expenses: |
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Cost of sales |
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32.5 |
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32.4 |
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32.3 |
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32.5 |
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Restaurant labor and related costs |
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32.1 |
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32.4 |
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31.4 |
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31.8 |
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Depreciation and amortization of restaurant
property and equipment |
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3.7 |
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3.9 |
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3.6 |
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3.8 |
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Other operating expenses |
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19.9 |
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19.8 |
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19.4 |
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19.6 |
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Total restaurant operating expenses |
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88.2 |
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88.6 |
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86.7 |
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87.8 |
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General and administrative expenses |
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7.2 |
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7.5 |
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6.7 |
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7.1 |
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Pre-opening expenses |
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0.2 |
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0.1 |
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Operating income |
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4.5 |
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3.9 |
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6.5 |
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5.1 |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest expense, net |
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(0.8 |
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(1.2 |
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(0.8 |
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(1.2 |
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Other, net |
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0.1 |
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0.1 |
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0.1 |
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0.1 |
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Total other expense |
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(0.7 |
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(1.1 |
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(0.8 |
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(1.1 |
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Income before income taxes |
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3.7 |
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2.8 |
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5.7 |
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4.0 |
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Income tax provision |
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(1.0 |
) |
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(0.7 |
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(1.5 |
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(0.9 |
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Net income |
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2.7 |
% |
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2.1 |
% |
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4.2 |
% |
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3.1 |
% |
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| Note: |
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Certain percentage totals do not sum due to rounding. |
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Average Weekly Sales Information: |
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Average weekly sales per restaurant |
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$ |
95,400 |
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$ |
91,500 |
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$ |
97,800 |
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$ |
94,100 |
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Percent increase |
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+4.3 |
% |
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+3.9 |
% |
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Same store weekly sales per restaurant (1) |
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$ |
95,200 |
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$ |
91,300 |
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$ |
97,500 |
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$ |
93,700 |
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Percent increase |
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+4.3 |
% |
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+4.1 |
% |
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| (1) |
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Includes the twenty-eight restaurants open for more than eighteen months. |
J. Alexanders Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results for 2007 Page 7
J. Alexanders Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
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July 1 |
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December 31 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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ASSETS |
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Current Assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
14,732 |
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$ |
14,688 |
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Deferred income taxes |
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|
1,079 |
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|
1,079 |
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Other current assets |
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|
4,695 |
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|
4,763 |
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Total current assets |
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|
20,506 |
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|
20,530 |
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Other assets |
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|
1,298 |
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|
1,249 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
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|
72,864 |
|
|
|
71,815 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
5,055 |
|
|
|
5,055 |
|
Deferred charges, net |
|
|
719 |
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|
701 |
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|
$ |
100,442 |
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|
$ |
99,350 |
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
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Current liabilities |
|
$ |
11,409 |
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|
$ |
13,663 |
|
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations |
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|
21,836 |
|
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|
22,304 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
5,811 |
|
|
|
5,553 |
|
Stockholders equity |
|
|
61,386 |
|
|
|
57,830 |
|
|
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|
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|
$ |
100,442 |
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|
$ |
99,350 |
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