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Tim's looks for lift from store renos, new chief executive

By: David Friend

Posted: 02/22/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Tim Hortons wants to revive sales in stores open more than a year. (CP)

TORONTO -- Tim Hortons hopes a refreshed look for many of its stores and a new leader atop its executive team this summer will boost the brand as it endures an underwhelming economy and heavy competition from other coffee restaurants.

On Thursday, the Oakville, Ont.-based company delivered a cautious outlook for the year and fourth-quarter results that showed notably weaker transaction growth at stores that have been open more than a year.

"A challenging economic climate and the resulting intensified environment continues to pose challenges for everyone in our industry," said Paul House, interim chief executive in a conference call with analysts.

"In uncertain times, consumers can become more hesitant to spend money, and in the restaurant sector, we continue to see competitors relying more heavily than usual on promotions and discounts, and we, too, have been somewhat more promotional in a low-growth environment."

The coffee, doughnut and fast-food company plans to renovate about 300 of its franchised stores this year, about double the number in most other years. Each store is refreshed about once a decade, the company said. Some stores will also have their drive-through lines revamped to process more vehicle traffic in less time.

For 2013, the company is targeting diluted earnings per share in a range of $2.87 to $2.97. Same-store sales growth, a key industry metric of locations open at least a year, is targeted at two to four per cent in Canada and three to five per cent in the United States.

Tim Hortons also announced it would increase its quarterly dividend 23.8 per cent. Starting with the March payout, the quarterly dividend will rise to 26 cents per share.

The company plans to buy back up to $250 million of its shares, which tends to push up per-share earnings over time.

"We expect to continue to grow the chain in a healthy manner despite the current headwinds," said chief financial officer Cynthia Devine.

"We have strategies in place designed to expand and enhance our system, strengthen our relationship with our guests and deliver high-quality, solidvalue menu items."

In its outlook, Tim Hortons (TSX:THI) did not account for a $9-million charge it expects to take in the first quarter and other expenses it will face when ushering in a new CEO this year, it said.

"The board has made significant progress in its external CEO search," the company said in a release. "Although the process is not yet complete, the board currently anticipates appointing a new CEO by early summer."

House has held the top position at Tim Hortons since May 2011, when Don Schroeder made a surprise exit from the job.

In the fourth quarter, net income dropped 2.5 per cent to $100.3 million, or 65 cents per share. That compared with $103 million, or 65 cents per share, a year earlier. Average analyst expectations had been for earnings of 72 cents per share, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 was up 4.1 per cent at $811.6 million, with much of the increase tied to higher-priced products such as the introduction of its panini sandwiches and single-serve Tassimo coffee line.

House said both products contributed "significantly" to the sales results in the period.

Same-store sales growth was halved from a year earlier, growing at 2.6 per cent from 5.5 per cent at the same time last year.

For the full year, Tim Hortons' net income was up 5.2 per cent to $402.9 million or $2.59 per share -- below the company's 2012 guidance.

Shares of Tim Hortons fell 2.95 per cent, or $1.50, to close at $49.30 Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 22, 2013 B7

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