Retail

Burger King Beats, Initiates Dividend

Burger King Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: BKW) reported third-quarter 2012 results before markets opened this morning. The fast-food restaurateur posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.17 on revenues of $451 million. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $0.16 on revenues of $607.7 million. Third-quarter results compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.15 and $439.85 million in revenues.

The year-over-year decline in revenues was attributed to refranchising transactions and to an unfavorable currency exchange rate. Same-store sales rose 1.6% in North America and 1.8% in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Latin American same-store sales rose 2.7% in the quarter, and only the company’s Asia-Pacific region noted a decline in same-store sales, down 2.2%.

Burger King did not offer any guidance, but the consensus estimates call for fourth-quarter EPS of $0.14 on revenue of $378.43 million. The current full-year estimate calls for EPS of $0.56 on revenue of $1.93 billion.

The third quarter was Burger King’s first full quarter as a publicly traded company. Burger also announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 to be paid on November 29 to shareholders of record as of November 9.

The company’s shares closed at $14.95 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $12.91 to $16.31. Equity markets are closed in the U.S. today due to Hurricane Sandy. The consensus target price for the shares was around $16.90 before today’s report.

Paul Ausick

Credit Card Companies Are Doing Something Nuts

Credit card companies are at war. The biggest issuers are handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers.

It’s possible to find cards paying unlimited 1.5%, 2%, and even more today. That’s free money for qualified borrowers, and the type of thing that would be crazy to pass up. Those rewards can add up to thousands of dollars every year in free money, and include other benefits as well.

We’ve assembled some of the best credit cards for users today.  Don’t miss these offers because they won’t be this good forever.

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.