** Shares of restaurant operator Collins Foods CKF.AX fall as much as 7.8% to A$7.950, their lowest since Sept. 12

** Stock posts its biggest intraday pct fall since Aug. 22, top loser on ASX 200 benchmark index .AXJO

** Co says HY NPAT from cont ops down 23.8%

** Says HY underlying EBITDA from cont ops also down 6.6% with margins impacted by flat same-store sales, inflationary pressures

** Adds sales in first 7 weeks of H2 reflect continuation of weaker consumer environment in Australia and Europe

** Sees FY25 group underlying EBITDA margins in the range of 14.2%-14.7% vs 15.4% posted last year

** As of last close, stock down 27.2% YTD

($1 = 1.5456 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru)

((Himanshi.Akhand@thomsonreuters.com))