Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., Darden Restaurants Inc., Brinker International Inc., Cosi Inc. and Tower Group Inc. – Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 9, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB), Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), Brinker International Inc. (EAT), Cosi Inc. (COSI) and Tower Group Inc. (TWGP).

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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Red Robin Fails to Lure Diners

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB), the casual dining restaurant operator, recently reported dismal third-quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and fell 17.8% from 45 cents posted in the prior-year quarter.

Total revenue tumbled 10.4% year-over-year to $187 million, as cash-strapped consumers are either trading down to quick-service restaurants or preferring to eat at home, leading to fall in traffic and same-store sales.

Same-store sales fell 14.9% for company-operated restaurants, driven by a 13.8% decline in guest counts and a 1.1% fall in the average guest check. Management expects guest count to decline in fiscal year 2009. Same-store sales for franchised restaurants in the U.S. dropped 14.4% and franchised restaurants in Canada fell 0.2%.

Other operators in the casual dining segment are Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), Brinker International Inc. (EAT) and Cosi Inc. (COSI).

Tower Group Falls in Line

Tower Group Inc.’s (TWGP) third-quarter earnings of 74 cents were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results were affected favorably by an increase in premiums written due to the acquisitions of CastlePoint and Hermitage. Last year, the company had reported earnings of 79 cents per share.

Gross premiums written and produced increased 39.4% year-over-year to $283 million. Total revenues increased 96.1% year-over-year to $256.3 million. Net premiums earned of $223.9 million represented 87.3% of total revenues in the reported quarter, compared to 67.5% for the same period in 2008.

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