The Steak n Shake Company (NYSE: SNS – News) today announced its results for its second fiscal quarter 2009, which ended April 8, 2009.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2009 Results

Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 were $2.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, contrasted to a net loss of ($2.8 million), or ($0.10) per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal year 2008. Quarterly same-store sales increased 2.4 percent due to an increase in guest traffic of 7.8 percent, offset by a 5.4 percent contraction in the average guest check. Net sales decreased 0.7 percent from $189.3 million to $188.0 million in the current quarter because Steak n Shake operated 21 fewer company-owned restaurants following the closure and refranchising of certain units after the same period in the previous year.

At the end of the second quarter, cash and cash equivalents stood at $35.0 million. The revolving line of credit and senior note balances totaled $29.0 million at the end of the quarter. Steak n Shake owns the land and buildings for 145 operating Steak n Shake restaurants and has an additional 31 properties for sale. In the current quarter, Steak n Shake operated 415 company-owned restaurants and a franchisee closed one restaurant, bringing the total number of franchised units to 74.

Management’s long-term goal is to sustain increases in customer traffic along with maximizing free cash flow — to attain its ultimate objective, maximizing the per-share intrinsic value of the company.

Fiscal Year 2009 Results (Year-to-date)

Year-to-date net loss through the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was ($1.2 million), or $(0.04) per diluted share, contrasted to a net loss of ($4.0 million), or ($0.14) per diluted share for the same period a year ago. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 0.9 percent. Net sales decreased 1.9 percent from $324.8 million to $318.7 million in the current year because Steak n Shake operated fewer company-owned restaurants following the closure and refranchising of certain units after the same period in the previous year.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The company plans to communicate the aforementioned information with shareholders today at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 1:30 p.m. E.S.T. The meeting will take place in the Vienna Ballroom at the Conrad Hotel, 50 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Finance, News, Steak 'n Shake