BJ's Restaurants Gains On Stronger-than-expected Results

Shares of BJ's Restaurants Inc. rallied in Wednesday's extended trading after the casual restaurant operator turned in better-than-expected quarterly results. BJ's reported its fourth-quarter earnings rose to $8.3 million, or 31 cents a share, from $504,000, or 2 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue also grew to $213.9 million from $199.8 million. Analysts had projected BJ's to earn 21 cents a share on revenue of $214 million. Comparable restaurant sales climbed 1.2% in the quarter, improving from a decline of 2.7% a year ago. BJ's shares climbed 4.4% in after hours.