(Adds analyst comments)

By Dhanya Skariachan

BANGALORE, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Restaurant chain operator Texas Roadhouse Inc (TXRH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a 7 percent fall in fourth-quarter profit and forecast disappointing fiscal 2008 results on inflationary and consumer pressures, sending shares down 15 percent.

The fall in quarterly results was due to weak same-store sales, hurt by a difficult macro operating environment especially for casual dining restaurants, Morgan Keegan analyst Destin Tompkins said by phone.

The company, which plans to develop fewer restaurants in fiscal 2008, said it now sees earnings growth of only about 5 percent to 15 percent in the fiscal year, including items.

Analysts were expecting the company to earn 65 cents a share, before items, according to Reuters Estimates, representing growth of about 20 percent.

However, Tompkins has an "outperform" rating on the stock and said his view was based on a longer term outlook.

"In this difficult operating condition, their strong value proposition will help them weather the storm and allow them to take market share from their competitiors," Tompkins added. In the latest fourth quarter, Texas Roadhouse, based in Louisville, Kentucky posted a profit of $7.2 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with $7.8 million, or 10 cents a share, a year earlier.

The latest quarter results included an impairment charge of 1 cent a share related to an under-performing restaurant, the company said in statement.