DineEquity Inc. shares jumped 14 percent early Tuesday after the casual restaurant operator reported better results at its Applebee’s restaurants.

The Glendale owner of the Applebee’s and IHOP chains reported third-quarter net income of $7.8 million (44 cents per share), compared with $7.9 million (46 cents) a year earlier. DineEquity had a higher number of shares outstanding in this year’s quarter.

Revenue rose 6 percent to more than $335 million. Same-store sales at all U.S. restaurants open at least 18 months rose 3.3 percent at Applebee’s and 0.1 percent at IHOP. DineEquity has been working to improve results at Applebee’s since it bought the chain in 2007 in a $2 billion leveraged buyout. Applebee’s had not posted a gain in quarterly same-restaurant sales since the first quarter of 2008.

Excluding one-time items, the company reported a per-share profit of 95 cents. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters on average expected 68 cents per share on revenue of less than $332 million.

“Given the continued challenging macro-economic and consumer environment in many of the markets served by Applebee’s and IHOP, we were particularly pleased with our … results,” Chief Executive Julia A. Stewart said in a statement.

DineEquity raised its outlook for Applebee’s 2010 domestic system-wide same-store sales to a range of a 1 percent decline to a 1 percent gain compared to its earlier range of flat to down 3 percent. DineEquity maintained its 2010 outlook for domestic IHOP same-store sales, with a range of up 1 percent to down 1 percent.

Stewart said refinancing of all the company’s outstanding securitized debt at more attractive terms, as well as Applebee’s performance, were responsible for the better outlook.

Shares were up $5.87, or 14 percent, to $48.21 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.