DineEquity Inc., operating under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands, reported first quarter adjusted earnings of $1.42 per share, handily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16 and the prior-year quarter earnings of $1.08. The better-than-expected results were driven by higher sales at Applebee’s.
Revenues for the quarter under review plunged 16.0% year over year to $300.2 million. However, it surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $298.0 million. The company experienced negative comparable sales in the chain of restaurants under the IHOP brand.