United States-Burger King.

UNITED STATES-BURGER KING.

Burger King Holdings Inc.’s (BKC) fiscal third-quarter net income climbed

15%, as the hamburger chain added restaurants despite the economic downturn.

But Burger King lowered its fiscal 2009 forecast for earnings, and gave a

cautious fourth-quarter view, citing the market challenges and the Swine Flu

threat.

For the fiscal year, it now expects earnings, excluding items, to $1.39 to

$1.42 a share, down from a February view of $1.44 to $1.49 a share. For the

fiscal fourth quarter, it expects earnings, excluding items, of 34 to 37 cents

a share. Wall Street’s view was 37 cents.

Fast-food outlets have been holding up better than most restaurants, as

consumers are drawn by lower prices, an advantage that Burger King and others

are pressing with promotions and value menus. Recent easing in food and energy

costs have helped that effort. However, the company spooked investors a couple

of weeks ago when it warned of weaker-than-expected fiscal third-quarter sales,

and there are also signs that the segment’s players are fighting over a

shrinking pool of customers.

For the quarter ended March 31, the world’s second-largest hamburger chain

reported net income of $47 million, or 34 cents a share, up from $41 million,

or 30 cents, a year earlier. The prior year included an extra day, owing to

leap year.

Revenue edged up 1% to $600 million. Same-store sales rose 1% worldwide,

including 1.6% in the U.S. and Canada . Latin America had a same-store sales

drop of 5.1%.

Earlier in April, the company said it still expected earnings of 33 cents to

35 cents a share, despite unexpectedly slow traffic. At the time, Burger King

also estimated that revenue of $600 million, with same-store sales rising 1%.

Restaurant margins fell to 11.6% from 13.3%.

Burger King opened 53 restaurants during the quarter. The company is on

target to meet its fiscal-year plan to increase its restaurant count by 350 to

400.

Last week, rival McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) topped Wall Street expectations with

a modest rise in its earnings, as an increase in same-store sales offset a big

hit from currency translation.

Burger King’s shares closed Tuesday at $17.11 and weren’t trading before the

bell. The stock has fallen almost 30% since September.