Wingstop Q4 adjusted EPS beats analyst expectations

Wingstop, Inc. +3.57% Pre

Wingstop, Inc.

WING

186.31

187.78

+3.57%

+0.79% Pre


Overview

  • Chicken restaurant chain's Q4 adjusted EPS beat analyst expectations

  • Total revenue for Q4 increased 8.6% yr/yr

  • Company repurchased 248,278 shares at $241.65 per share


Outlook

  • Wingstop expects flat to low-single digit domestic same store sales growth in 2026

  • Company anticipates global unit growth rate of 15% to 16% in 2026

  • Wingstop forecasts SG&A expenses between $151 mln and $154 mln for 2026


Result Drivers

  • NEW OPENINGS - Wingstop opened 124 new restaurants in Q4, contributing to system-wide sales growth

  • COST EFFICIENCIES - Decrease in cost of company-owned restaurant sales percentage driven by lower food costs, particularly for bone-in chicken wings

  • SMART KITCHEN IMPLEMENTATION - Wingstop implemented the Smart Kitchen in all domestic restaurants, potentially improving operational efficiencies


Key Details

Metric

Beat/Miss

Actual

Consensus Estimate

Q4 System-Wide Sales

$1.35 bln

Q4 Adjusted EPS

Beat

$1

$0.84 (26 Analysts)

Q4 EPS

$0.96

Q4 Adjusted Net Income

$27.83 mln

Q4 Net Income

$26.76 mln

Q4 Adjusted EBITDA

$61.88 mln


Analyst Coverage

  • The current average analyst rating on the shares is "buy" and the breakdown of recommendations is 22 "strong buy" or "buy", 7 "hold" and no "sell" or "strong sell"

  • The average consensus recommendation for the restaurants & bars peer group is "buy"

  • Wall Street's median 12-month price target for Wingstop Inc is $320.00, about 27.1% above its February 17 closing price of $251.78

  • The stock recently traded at 53 times the next 12-month earnings vs. a P/E of 45 three months ago

Press Release: ID:nPn5XXx2ja

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