Business snapshot
Ark Restaurants Corp. (NASDAQ:ARKR) Restaurants, formed in 1983, is the owner and operator for 21 restaurants and bars, 22 fast food concepts and catering operations in New York, Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Washington D.C. Each of Ark’s restaurants is managed by its own manager and it has its own chef while its food products supply operation is controlled by the company’s headquarters. It is quite a seasonal business. The company reported that the second quarter of its fiscal year was the least performing quarter with the cold weather in New York and Washington while warm weather normally delivered the best operating results.
In 2009, Ark began to experience growth in its top line. Revenue has increased from $115 million in 2009 to $138 million 2012 while operating income jumped from $3 million to $10 million in the same period. In 2012, net income reached $5 million, or $1.65 per share. Income investors might like Ark as it has paid consistent dividends since 2005. The 2012 dividend was $1 per share. Thus, the 2012 payout ratio, 57.8%, is quite reasonable.
An improving business that consistently generates cash flow
There are two factors that make me interested in Ark Restaurants Corp. (NASDAQ:ARKR). First is the improvement in its operating margin and second is the consistent positive cash flow over time. The operating margin has jumped from 1.4% in 2011 to 7.2% in 2012, thanks to the decrease in food & beverage cost of sales and lower payroll and occupancy expenses. Since 2003, its operating cash flow has fluctuated in the range of $6 million – $12 million while the free cash flow has stayed in the range of $3 million – $9 million in the same period. Furthermore, Ark has quite a conservative capital structure. As of Dec. 2012, it had $30.2 million in total stockholders’ equity, $5.4 million in cash and only nearly $2 million in debt.
Peer comparison
With a current offer of $22 per share, Ark is valued at around 4.8 times EV/EBITDA. Compared to its peers including Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAGL) and Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), Ark is the smallest company and has the cheapest valuation. Einstein Noah, at around $15 per share, is worth about $256 million on the market. The market values the company at 7.74 times EV/EBITDA. Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) is the biggest company, with $6.1 billion in total market cap. At around $47 per share, Darden is the most expensively valued, at 8.15 times EV/EBITDA.
Among the three, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAGL) generated the lowest operating margin at 6.7% while Darden is the most profitable company with a nearly 9% operating margin. Ark pays the highest dividend yield, at 4.7% while the dividend yields of Einstein Noah and Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) are 3.3% and 4.1%, respectively. Among the three, Einstein Noah utilizes a lot of leverage in its operation, with a debt/equity ratio of 4.8. Ark leverages quite minimal, while Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI)’ debt/equity ratio is quite reasonable at 1.4.
Foolish bottom line
A $22 offer seems to undervalue Ark Restaurants Corp. (NASDAQ:ARKR). I personally think Ark should have a higher valuation than Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAGL) due to the higher operating margin and lower leverage. If it is valued similarly to Einstein Noah at 7.7 times EV/EBITDA, Ark should be worth around $35 per share, 60% higher than Landry’s operating price.
The article How Much Is Ark Restaurants Worth? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Anh HOANG
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