Wingstop (WING) Fiscal Q3 2026 Earnings Call: Same-Store Sales Fall, Outlook Updated
Source Tradingkey
Key Takeaways
- Wingstop’s domestic same-store sales declined 5.4% in fiscal Q3 2026, below management’s expectations, as consumer pressure intensified and sales improvement took longer than anticipated.
- System-wide sales increased 6% to approximately $1.4 billion, supported by restaurant expansion. The company opened 76 net new restaurants and ended the quarter with 3,331 locations, nearly 14% more than a year earlier.
- Net income rose to $29.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, from $28.5 million, or $1.02 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA increased 0.5% to $64 million.
- Management revised its full-year domestic same-store sales outlook to a decline of approximately 6.5% to 7% and lowered expected 2026 net openings to 440–450 restaurants.
- Club Wingstop members who completed 90 days in the program increased purchase frequency by almost 20%. New members returned within 30 days at a rate 13 percentage points higher than nonmembers.
- Wingstop is increasing marketing investment in Q4, which management said will result in adjusted EBITDA below its previous expectations.
Key Financial Data
| Metric | Fiscal Q3 2026 result | Change or context |
|---|---|---|
| System-wide sales | Approximately $1.4 billion | Up 6% |
| Domestic same-store sales | -5.4% | Below management’s expectations |
| Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other | $86.3 million | Up 6.3% |
| Company-owned restaurant sales | $34.8 million | Up 6.9% |
| Company-owned same-store sales | -2.7% | Partly offset sales from additional locations |
| Company-owned cost of sales | 78.2% of restaurant sales | Up 340 basis points |
| Net income | $29.1 million | Versus $28.5 million a year earlier |
| Diluted EPS | $1.07 | Versus $1.02 a year earlier |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $64 million | Up 0.5% |
| Net new restaurants | 76 | Total system reached 3,331 restaurants |
| Share repurchases | $25 million | Approximately 191,000 shares |
Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Recommended Articles
This Thursday (October 29), the US will release the September Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index. However, since the PCE report will be released after the Federal Reserve
Brent's $115 front month sits $4.6 above January — the $14 spread to WTI is the supply-risk premiumDecember Brent trades at $115.29 while January is $110.71, a $4.58 backwardation. The December Brent-WTI spread is $14.2, versus a $3-5 normal. That gap, not the headline, is where the Middle East supply risk is priced. Here is what the curve says, why the December contract's expiry on October 30 will mechanically cut the headline by $4.6, and the 108.81 neckline that decides the next move.
December Brent trades at $115.29 while January is $110.71, a $4.58 backwardation. The December Brent-WTI spread is $14.2, versus a $3-5 normal. That gap, not the headline, is where the Middle East supply risk is priced. Here is what the curve says, why the December contract's expiry on October 30 will mechanically cut the headline by $4.6, and the 108.81 neckline that decides the next move.
Bitcoin is back above $80,000 — but 75% of the bounce was shorts, not buyersBitcoin trades at $80,669, back above the $80,000 line after touching $79,145 on October 24. But 75.4% of the last 24 hours of futures liquidations were shorts, CME open interest fell 36,545 BTC in October, and spot ETFs lost $773.5 million on October 22-23. Price is up; positioning is down. Here is why the bounce is a squeeze, and the four things that would make it real.
Bitcoin trades at $80,669, back above the $80,000 line after touching $79,145 on October 24. But 75.4% of the last 24 hours of futures liquidations were shorts, CME open interest fell 36,545 BTC in October, and spot ETFs lost $773.5 million on October 22-23. Price is up; positioning is down. Here is why the bounce is a squeeze, and the four things that would make it real.
Gold price (XAU/USD) jumps to around $4,065 during the early Asian session on Wednesday, bolstered by lower oil prices. Traders await the Federal Reserve's (Fed) policy meeting later on Wednesday for signals on the future path of US interest rates.
Fed October Rate Decision Preview: Rate Hike Pause Has Become Consensus, How Will US Stocks, Dollar, and Gold React?The Federal Reserve will announce its October interest rate decision at 14:00 Eastern Time on October 28, and Fed Chair Warsh will hold a press conference at 14:30. Markets currently wide
The Federal Reserve will announce its October interest rate decision at 14:00 Eastern Time on October 28, and Fed Chair Warsh will hold a press conference at 14:30. Markets currently wide
