Here’s our Pick of the Month

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TEXAS ROADHOUSE $62.07 (Nasdaq symbol TXRH; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (502-426-9984; www.texasroadhouse.com; Shares outstanding: 71.6 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%) is a full-service, casual-dining restaurant chain with 570 locations spread across 49 U.S. states and eight foreign countries. Its restaurants operate under two banners—Texas Roadhouse (545 locations) and Bubba’s 33 (25). Most outlets are company-owned restaurants. In the three months ended September 30, 2018, overall revenue for Texas Roadhouse rose 10.0%, to $594.6 million from $540.5 million a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 5.5% for company-owned restaurants and 4.2% for franchised locations. The company’s earnings fell 6.1%, to $29.1 million, or $0.40 per share, from $31.0 million, or $0.43, a year earlier. The decline was mostly due to higher labour costs, as well as other expenses. That was partially offset by the higher revenue and lower income tax expenses. To boost profitability, Texas Roadhouse increased menu prices by about 1.7% in mid-November. It may further raise prices in the first half of…