California Pizza Kitchen Inc. (CPKI) recently reported third-quarter 2009 results with a mid-single digit fall in the top-line but a surprise double-digit rise in the bottom-line. Effective cost management and a lower tax rate have driven earnings growth.  The quarterly earnings of 24 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny, jumping 20% from 20 cents posted in the prior-year quarter. The casual dining operator now expects fourth-quarter 2009 earnings in the range of 16 cents to 18 cents a share.  California Pizza Kitchen continues to experience fall in the top-line. After declining 2.2% and 3.2% year-on-year in the first and second quarters, respectively, total revenue dipped 5.3% to $164.8 million in the quarter under review.  Restaurant sales slipped 5.7% to $161.2 million, royalties from the Kraft licensing agreement soared 35.2% to $2.5 million, domestic franchise revenue fell marginally by 1% to ...

Texas Roadhouse Inc. (TXRH), a casual dining restaurant chain, recently reported third quarter results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate on the heels of lower commodity and pre-opening costs besides a jump in the top-line.   Earnings of 15 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents and climbed 27% year on year. On account of better than expected results, Texas Roadhouse raised its full-year guidance and now expects earnings to rise 20% as against the 5%−10% previously anticipated.   For the fiscal 2010, management expects EPS growth to be flat to 10%, if comparable restaurant sales lie within the range of (2%) to flat.   The growth in the top-line decelerated. After climbing 12% in the second quarter, total revenues showed a sluggish growth of 4% to $226.5 million in the reported quarter. Restaurant sales jumped 4% to $224.4 million, whereas franchise royalties and ...

A recent survey by the National Restaurant Association revealed a marginal improvement in the Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) for the month of July 2009. The index rose 0.3% to 98.1 from June. The index has remained below 100 for 21 consecutive months. An index of more than 100 would indicate that the restaurant industry is in an expansion phase, whereas below 100 would indicate that the industry is scaling back its development plans and is in contraction. The Restaurant Performance Index, which measures the health and outlook for the U.S. Restaurant Industry, comprises the Current Situations Index and the Expectation Index. The Current Situation Index, which measures comparable store sales, traffic count, labor costs and capital expenditures for the month being surveyed compared to the same month in the prior year increased 0.2% in July to 96.8. The Expectations Index, which measures restaurant operators’ outlook ...

IDT® (Integrated Device Technology, Inc.) (NASDAQ:IDTI), a leading provider of essential mixed signal semiconductor solutions that enrich the digital media experience and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TWSE:2330) (NYSE:TSM), today announced they have entered into an agreement to transfer product fabrication processes and related activities currently running in the IDT Hillsboro, Oregon facility to TSMC foundries.

About IDT

With the goal of continuously improving the digital media experience, IDT integrates its fundamental semiconductor heritage with essential innovation, developing and delivering low-power, mixed signal solutions that solve customer problems.

About TSMC

TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing the industry’s leading process technology and the foundry’s largest portfolio of process-proven libraries, IP, design tools and reference flows.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (Nasdaq:CPKI) announced an agreement with new franchise partners JSM Corporation Pvt. Ltd. (JSM) and Daud Arabian Trading to expand into India.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain

...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Advanced Energy Industries Inc (AEIS) American Medical Systems Holdings Inc (AMMD) BCE Inc (BCE) Bemis Company Inc (BMS) BG Group Plc (BRGYY) California Pizza Kitchen Inc (CPKI) CarMax Inc (KMX) Carter's Inc (CRI) Casual Male Retail Group Inc (CMRG) Encore Capital Group Inc (ECPG) Huaneng Power International Inc (HNP) Ingram Micro Inc (IM) Isle of Capri Casinos (ISLE) Jefferies Group Inc (JEF) LTC Properties Inc (LTC) Luxottica Group SpA (LUX) ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 2, 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: BJ's Restaurant and Brewery (BJRI), Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc (RRGB), California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPKI) and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. (MSSR).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

The Consumer & Casual Dining

We think the restaurant growth stock sector has limited upside and that achieving the high-teens 2010 EPS growth implied by consensus estimates will be challenging. Kitchen and labor scheduling

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 2, 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: BJ's Restaurant and Brewery (BJRI), Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc (RRGB), California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPKI) and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. (MSSR).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

The Consumer & Casual Dining

We think the restaurant growth stock sector has limited upside and that achieving the high-teens 2010 EPS growth implied by consensus estimates will be challenging. Kitchen and labor scheduling

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 2, 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: BJ's Restaurant and Brewery (BJRI), Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc (RRGB), California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPKI) and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. (MSSR).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

The Consumer & Casual Dining

We think the restaurant growth stock sector has limited upside and that achieving the high-teens 2010 EPS growth implied by consensus estimates will be challenging. Kitchen and labor scheduling

...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 2, 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: BJ's Restaurant and Brewery (BJRI), Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc (RRGB), California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPKI) and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc. (MSSR).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

The Consumer & Casual Dining

We think the restaurant growth stock sector has limited upside and that achieving the high-teens 2010 EPS growth implied by consensus estimates will be challenging. Kitchen and labor scheduling

...

Consumer Confidence Down; Casual Dining Up?Today's plunging consumer confidence numbers, released by the Conference Board, suggest more pain ahead for the casual and upscale dining restaurant operators. Consumer Confidence tumbled to 49.3 in June from a revised level of 54.8, falling far short of expectations in the latest Thomson Reuters survey.Clearly consumers are worried and don't see things getting better. Consumer expectations for the next six months slid to 65.5 in June from 71.5 last month.To be sure, waning confidence comes as no surprise amid rising unemployment, which economists don't expect to peak until mid-2010. What is surprising is the stock market's reaction. The Zacks Growth Stock Index rose 1.3% today, 1.8% if we exclude Famous Dave's (DAVE), versus a 0.85% decline in the S&P 500. The index now trades at more than 19x 2010 consensus ...