Habit Restaurants, Inc. (HABT) has reported 33.45 percent jump in profit for the quarter ended Mar. 28, 2017. The company has earned $1.84 million, or $0.09 a share in the quarter, compared with $1.38 million, or $0.10 a share for the same period last year.

Revenue during the quarter grew 17.44 percent to $78.64 million from $66.96 million in the previous year period. Gross margin for the quarter expanded 2 basis points over the previous year period to 54.33 percent. Total expenses were 94.65 percent of quarterly revenues, up from 93.24 percent for the same period last year. That has resulted in a contraction of 141 basis points in operating margin to 5.35 percent.

Operating income for the quarter was $4.21 million, compared with $4.53 million in the previous year period.

However, the adjusted EBITDA for the quarter stood at $9.48 million compared with $8.69 million in the prior year period. At the same time, adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 93 basis points in the quarter to 12.05 percent from 12.98 percent in the last year period.

“We are pleased with our results for the first quarter, particularly in light of a challenging operating environment and record rainfall in our core California market,” said Russ Bendel, president and chief executive officer of The Habit Restaurants, Inc. “Our results included total revenue growth of over 17% as well as our 53rd consecutive quarter of positive comparable restaurant sales. Our comparable restaurant sales growth in the quarter was driven by new product innovation ��" such as our Golden Chicken Salad ��" as well as a focus on digital marketing campaigns around new and existing products. We opened three new company-operated Habit Burger Grills during the first quarter, all in the California market. In addition, our franchise partners opened three franchise locations, two in Washington and one in Las Vegas.”

Habit Restaurants, Inc. forecasts revenue to be in the range of $338 million to $342 million for fiscal year 2017.