Paul Price

Burger King: Have It Your Way

Burger King fiscal 4th-quarter profit rises despite sales drop amid better cost management

MIAMI (AP) -- Burger King said Tuesday its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose despite a drop in sales as it opened more outlets and better managed costs in the U.S.

The nation's No. 2 hamburger chain earned $58.9 million, or 43 cents per share, in the three months that ended June 30. That compares with $50.6 million, or 37 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Results beat Wall Street's estimate of 33 cents per share.

Revenue fell 2.4 percent to $629.9 million. Analysts had expected revenue of $632 million.

Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, slid 2.4 percent in the quarter.

Miami-based Burger King said it added 115 net new restaurants during the period.

The company also said margins at its restaurants in the U.S. and Canada improved to 13.5 percent from 12.2 percent a year before.

For the year, Burger King's profit rose 6 percent to $200.1 million, or $1.46 per share, from $189.6 million, or $1.38 per share, in 2008. Adjusted 2009 profit of $1.48 per share beat analysts' forecast of $1.38 per share.

Annual revenue rose 3 percent to $2.54 billion from $2.45 billion, matching analyst estimates.

Shares are up in pre-market trading.