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

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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(This story was created using Reuters automation and AI based on LSEG and company data. It was checked and edited by a Reuters journalist prior to publication.)