- Reports Q3 Earnings Per Share of $0.20

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RUTH) today reported unaudited financial results for its third quarter ended September 26, 2021 and provided a business update.

CEO Comments

Cheryl Henry, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc., commented, “Our third quarter results demonstrated our team’s operational excellence in a challenging and dynamic environment. Our performance this quarter also reminded us of how sought after and trusted the Ruth’s Chris brand experience is.”

Henry added, “Although elevated beef costs continue to be a headwind, we are encouraged by our continued sales momentum, profitability and our financial strength. We have confidence that we can continue to create value for shareholders as the virus abates and the economy recovers.”

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights ⁽¹⁾

• Restaurant sales in the third quarter of 2021 were $97.5 million compared to $58.6 million in the third quarter of 2020. By period, third quarter comparable restaurant sales and average weekly sales for Company-owned restaurants were as follows:

• Third quarter comparable restaurant sales compared to 2019 would have increased 14.6% absent the impact of three markets (Boston, Hawaii and Manhattan), which continued to be challenged by local restrictions and market conditions during the third quarter of 2021.
• Franchise income in the third quarter of 2021 was $4.7 million compared to $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2020. Third quarter 2021 comparable restaurant sales at franchisee-owned restaurants increased 35.6% compared to 2020 and 19.5% compared to the third quarter of 2019.
• Food and beverage costs, as a percentage of restaurant sales, increased 710 basis points to 34.2% compared to the third quarter of 2020. Total beef costs increased 65% compared to the third quarter of 2020 and 47% compared to the third quarter of 2019.
• Operating income in the third quarter was $9.0 million compared to an operating loss of $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2020 and operating income of $5.6 million in the third quarter of 2019. As a percentage of total revenues, operating income in the third quarter of 2021 increased to 8.7% compared to 5.4% in the third quarter of 2019.
• Net income in the third quarter of 2021 was $6.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $5.3 million, or ($0.15) per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020.

- Net income in the third quarter of 2021 included a $16 thousand employee retention payroll tax credit, which reduced restaurant operating expenses and a $29 thousand income tax expense related to the impact of discrete income tax items. Net loss in the third quarter of 2020 included $1.2 million in severance costs and accelerated stock compensation expense, $310 thousand in losses related to lease modifications, a $3.3 million impairment loss and a $217 thousand income tax expense related to the impact of discrete income tax items.

- Excluding these items, non-GAAP diluted earnings per common share was $0.20 in the third quarter of 2021, compared to a non-GAAP diluted loss per share of ($0.04) in the third quarter of 2020. The Company believes that non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per common share provides a useful alternative measure of financial performance to improve comparability of diluted earnings per common share between periods. Investors are advised to see the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure table for additional information.

Business and Development Update

• Quarter to date through October 24, 2021, Company-owned comparable restaurant sales increased 3.2% compared to 2019, and average weekly sales were $107.0 thousand.
• We opened two new restaurants in September 2021, including a Company-owned restaurant in Short Hills, NJ and a franchisee-owned restaurant in Manila, Philippines.
• We expect to open a total of six additional new Company-owned or managed restaurants by the end of 2022: one new restaurant in 2021 and five new restaurants in 2022. We expect to open two additional new franchisee-owned restaurants by the end of 2022.
• During the third quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 192 thousand shares of common stock under its share repurchase program for approximately $3.8 million, or an average price of $19.93 per share.
• On October 18, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with a new five-year term that amended and restated its existing credit facility. The amended and restated credit agreement provides a $140.0 million revolving line of credit and, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and lender consent, may be increased up to a maximum of $200.0 million. The new credit facility bears interest between 1.50% to 2.25% over LIBOR, depending upon the Company's consolidated leverage ratio, and also provides additional flexibility on capital expenditures, dividends and share repurchases.
• As of October 27, 2021, the Company’s cash balance was approximately $84.6 million, with $70.0 million of debt outstanding under its amended and restated credit agreement and $4.7 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Financial Outlook

Based on current information and its most recent projections, Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is providing its updated full year 2021 outlook for the following operating measures based on a 52-week year ending December 26, 2021:

• Restaurant labor efficiency of approximately 300 basis points compared to 2019
• Marketing and advertising costs of $13 million to $14 million
• General and administrative expenses of $32 million to $33 million
• Effective income tax rate of 17% to 19%

The foregoing statements are not guarantees of future performance, and therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon them. We refer you to the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section in this earnings press release and to our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for more detailed discussions of the risks that could impact our financial outlook and our future operating results and financial condition.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2021 financial results today at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. Hosting the call will be Cheryl J. Henry, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board, and Kristy Chipman, Chief Financial Officer.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 201-689-8470. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing 412-317-6671; the password is 13723829. The replay will be available until Friday, November 5, 2021. The call will also be webcast live from the Company's website at www.rhgi.com under the Investor Relations section.

About Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc., headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, is the largest fine dining steakhouse company in the U.S. as measured by the total number of Company-owned and franchisee-owned restaurants, with over 140 Ruth’s Chris Steak House locations worldwide specializing in USDA Prime grade steaks served in Ruth’s Chris’ signature fashion – “sizzling.”

For information about our restaurants or to purchase gift cards, please visit www.RuthsChris.com. For more information about Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc., please visit www.rhgi.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect, when made, the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements frequently are identified by the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “targeting,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar words and phrases. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company’s objectives, plans or goals, including with respect to restaurant openings and acquisitions or closures, capital expenditures, strategy, financial outlook, cash flows, our effective tax rate and the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, also are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected, implied or anticipated by the Company’s forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; reductions in the availability of, or increases in the cost of, USDA Prime grade beef, fish and other food items; changes in economic conditions and general trends; the loss of key management personnel; the effect of market volatility on the Company’s stock price; health concerns about beef or other food products; the effect of competition in the restaurant industry; changes in consumer preferences or discretionary spending; labor shortages or increases in labor costs; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to income taxes, unclaimed property, Company employees, the sale or preparation of food, the sale of alcoholic beverages and the opening of new restaurants; political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the markets where the Company’s restaurants are located; harmful actions taken by the Company’s franchisees; the inability to successfully integrate franchisee acquisitions into the Company’s business operations; economic, regulatory and other limitations on the Company’s ability to pursue new restaurant openings and other organic growth opportunities; a material failure, interruption or security breach of the Company’s information technology network; the Company’s indemnification obligations in connection with its sale of the Mitchell’s Restaurants; the Company’s ability to protect its name and logo and other proprietary information; an impairment in the financial statement carrying value of our goodwill, other intangible assets or property; gains or losses on lease modifications; the impact of litigation; the restrictions imposed by the Company’s credit agreement; changes in, or the suspension or discontinuation of, the Company’s quarterly cash dividend payments or share repurchase program; and the inability to secure additional financing on terms acceptable to the Company. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2020, and the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Such filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. You should not assume that material events subsequent to the date of this press release have not occurred.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this report to the “Company,” “Ruth’s,” “we,” “us”, “our” or similar words are to Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation formerly known as Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc., and was founded in 1965.

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