Core Insights - The article highlights the expertise of a seasoned equity analyst specializing in the U.S. restaurant industry, covering various segments from quick-service to fine dining [1] - The analyst employs advanced financial modeling and sector-specific KPIs to identify hidden value in public equities, particularly focusing on micro and small-cap companies often overlooked by mainstream analysts [1] Industry Focus - The research firm, Goulart's Restaurant Stocks, is dedicated to thematic research and valuation efforts within the restaurant sector, indicating a strong emphasis on understanding market dynamics and consumer trends [1] - The analyst also covers related sectors such as consumer discretionary, food & beverage, and casinos & gaming, showcasing a broad understanding of interconnected industries [1] Academic and Professional Background - The analyst possesses an MBA in Controllership and Accounting Forensics, along with a Bachelor's in Business Administration, which provides a solid academic foundation for investment analysis [1] - Specialized training in valuation, financial modeling, and restaurant operations enhances the analyst's ability to conduct thorough research and provide valuable insights [1]

Core Insights - Block, led by Jack Dorsey, announced a significant workforce reduction of over 4,000 employees, nearly halving its workforce, in anticipation of increased efficiency from AI tools [2][3] - The company's shares surged 19.3% in premarket trading, marking the largest intraday gain since February 2022, following the announcement [1][2] Financial Performance - Block reported a 24% year-over-year growth in gross profits, reaching $2.87 billion, driven by a 33% increase in Cash App's gross profit to $1.83 billion [2] Industry Trends - Dorsey highlighted that "intelligence tools" are transforming company operations, allowing smaller teams to achieve more efficiency [3] - A study from MIT indicated that AI could potentially replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, equating to approximately $1.2 trillion in wages across various sectors [4] - Concerns about AI replacing jobs have been prevalent, with some companies already reducing their workforce due to AI advancements, such as Klarna, which cut its workforce by 40% [6]

Management is shifting from rapid expansion to a 'measured pace' of growth, focusing on healthy unit economics and separating new openings by more time and distance to avoid cannibalization. The Texas market remains a significant headwind, impacting consolidated restaurant-level margins by 180 basis points in Q4, though targeted labor management actions led to slightly positive results late in the quarter. The new 'Restaurant of the Future 1.0' format in Atlanta demonstrated strong initial performance ...

Chief Financial Officer Michelle Hook reported fourth-quarter revenue of $185.7 million, up $1.1 million, or 0.6%, from the prior year. Growth was driven by restaurants outside the comparable base, which contributed $7.8 million of the year-over-year increase. Same-restaurant sales declined 3.3%, which Hook said reduced revenue by roughly $5.4 million in the quarter, driven entirely by a 3.3% decrease in transactions.Miles also said the company recently hired Brett Patterson as Chief Executive Officer, desc ...

Portillo's Inc. (PTLO) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.08 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.05 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.17 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +60.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.04 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.02, delivering a surprise of -50%.Over the last four quarters, the company h ...

Portillo's (NasdaqGS:PTLO) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 24, 2026 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsChris Brandon - VP of Investor RelationsMichael Miles - Chairman of the Board and Interim CEOMichelle Hook - CFOSharon Zackfia - Partner and Group Head of the Consumer SectorConference Call ParticipantsAndy Barish - AnalystBrian Harbour - Research AnalystBrian Mullan - Restaurant and Food Distribution AnalystDavid Tarantino - Restaurants AnalystDennis Geiger - Restaurants AnalystGregory Francfort - Senior Anal ...

Portillo's (NasdaqGS:PTLO) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 24, 2026 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsChris Brandon - VP of Investor RelationsMichael Miles - Chairman of the Board and Interim CEOMichelle Hook - CFOSharon Zackfia - Partner and Group Head of the Consumer SectorConference Call ParticipantsAndy Barish - AnalystBrian Harbour - Research AnalystBrian Mullan - Restaurant and Food Distribution AnalystDavid Tarantino - Restaurants AnalystDennis Geiger - Restaurants AnalystGregory Francfort - Senior Anal ...

Portillo's (NasdaqGS:PTLO) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 24, 2026 10:00 AM ET Speaker9Hello. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Portillo's fourth quarter 2025 conference call and webcast. I would now like to turn the call over to Chris Brandon, Vice President of Investor Relations at Portillo's, to begin.Speaker3Thanks, operator. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Portillo's fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings call. With me today are Mike Miles, Chairman of the Board and Principal Executi ...

Fourth Quarter Earnings Supplemental February 24, 2026 CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS & NON-GAAP MEASURES • risks related to or arising from our organizational structure; • risks of food-borne illness and food safety and other health concerns about our food; • risks relating to the economy and financial markets, including in relation to trade and tax policy changes and other macroeconomic uncertainty, including inflation, fluctuating interest rates, stock market volatility, recession concerns ...

By Daniella Parra Chicago-style chain Portillo’s Inc. (Nasdaq: PTLO) said fourth quarter total revenue increased 0.6% to $185.7 million, and fiscal 2025 total revenue rose 3%. Same-restaurant sales decreased by 3.3% and operating income to $10.3 million, a decrease of $3.5 million, while Adjusted EBITDA was $24.7 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, the company said. Portillo’s saw growth fueled by new restaurant openings, but an increase of 4% in higher commodity costs and increased labor and benefits ...