Summary of Portillo's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Portillo's - **Industry**: Restaurant and Food Distribution Key Points and Arguments Same-Store Sales and Traffic - Portillo's has revised its same-store sales outlook due to a challenging restaurant environment, indicating a shift in consumer behavior and a slowdown in traffic [3][4][5] - The management emphasizes the importance of operational excellence and a strong value proposition to drive traffic [4][5] Financial Guidance and Unit Openings - The company lowered its guidance for the full year, reflecting a decline in top-line performance [6][7] - The number of new restaurant openings has been reduced from 12 to 8 for the year, with 6 additional locations under construction [7][21] - For 2026, Portillo's plans to open 8 new restaurants, with a focus on improving unit economics [7][22] Strategic Board Additions - New board members, including Jack Hartung and Gene Lee, are contributing to the company's strategic reset and operational improvements [9] Value Proposition in Chicagoland - Portillo's believes its value proposition in Chicagoland is strong, particularly in quality and quantity, but acknowledges the need to reassess pricing strategies [11][12] Simplifying Operations - The company is discontinuing breakfast offerings to focus on core lunch and dinner traffic, alongside eliminating 18 to 20 other internal projects that do not drive transactions [19][18] Development Strategy - Portillo's is shifting its development strategy to ensure better unit economics, with a focus on reducing build costs for new restaurants [21][22][30] - The company is exploring financing options to lower capital burdens and improve cash-on-cash returns [30][31] Marketing and Brand Awareness - A new Chief Marketing Officer, Denise, has been hired to enhance brand communication and awareness, particularly in Texas [35][39] - Portillo's is actively engaging in grassroots marketing efforts in Texas, including food sampling and community involvement [39][40] Kiosk Deployment - The kiosk initiative has been successful, with ongoing improvements to enhance customer interaction [46] Supply Chain Management - Portillo's is managing commodity inflation effectively, particularly in beef, and is about 90% locked on beef lots for 2025 [47][49] Closing Remarks - The management reiterates a strong focus on driving traffic and achieving best-in-class unit-level economics, while also emphasizing the importance of eliminating non-essential projects [51] Additional Important Content - The company is optimistic about its cash flow generation and views the current phase as a reset rather than a decline [51] - Portillo's is exploring new restaurant formats, including inline locations, to adapt to changing market dynamics [24][25]

Management Updates Guidance and Provides Current Third Quarter SRS PerformanceOAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portillo’s (NASDAQ: PTLO), the fast-casual restaurant concept known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites, today announced a strategic reset of its development and growth plans to sharpen focus on its core markets, enhance unit economics, and position the company for sustained success. Michael Osanloo, Portillo’s President and CEO:“As we advance Portillo’s growth strategy, two ...

OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portillo’s (NASDAQ: PTLO), the fast-casual restaurant concept known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites, today announced a strategic reset of its development and growth plans to sharpen focus on its core markets, enhance unit economics, and position the company for sustained success. Michael Osanloo, Portillo’s President and CEO:“As we advance Portillo’s growth strategy, two priorities stand out. First, driving sustainable traffic through consistent se ...

OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portillo’s, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTLO) announces the following event: What: Portillo’s Management Fireside Chat and Q&A  Michael Osanloo, President and CEO  Michelle Hook, CFO  Brian Mullan, Piper Sandler Restaurant Analyst   When: Wednesday, September 10 at 4:30 p.m. EDT   Where: investors.portillos.com   How: Live webcast (web address above)   Contact: Chris Brandon, Vice President of Investor Relations  312.931.5578  cbrandon@portillos.com     *This webcast ev ...

I have been working in the logistics sector for almost two decades. I have been into stock investing and macroeconomic analysis for almost a decade. Currently, I focus on ASEAN and NYSE/NASDAQ Stocks, particularly in banks, telco, logistics, and hotels. Since 2014, I have been trading on the PH stock market. I focus on banking, telco, and retail sectors. A colleague encouraged me to engage in the stock market as part of my portfolio diversification instead of putting all my savings in banks and properties. ...

Veteran marketing leader brings proven expertise in driving guest engagement, sales, and modern growth strategies Portillo's Appoints Denise Lauer as Chief Marketing Officer Photo Credit: Lori Sapio Photography OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portillo’s (NASDAQ: PTLO), the one-of-a-kind restaurant concept known for its menu of Chicago-style favorites, today announced the appointment of Denise Lauer as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective September 22, 2025. Lauer brings more than ...

Core Insights - Portillo's has introduced two new secret menu items exclusively for Portillo's Perks members, enhancing customer loyalty and engagement [1][9] - The new offerings include Chili Cheese Fries and a Triple Cheeseburger, designed to appeal to both long-time fans and new customers [2][3] Company Overview - Portillo's operates over 95 restaurants across 10 states, evolving from a small hot dog trailer in Chicago to a beloved brand known for its diverse menu [5] - The company focuses on creating experience-oriented dining destinations that include dine-in, drive-thru, takeout, and delivery options [5] Loyalty Program - The Portillo's Perks loyalty program allows members to earn and redeem rewards, with exclusive access to the secret menu items [6] - Membership can be obtained through the Portillo's website, encouraging customer participation and enhancing brand loyalty [3][6]

Company Overview - Portillo's stock has experienced a decline, currently trading near all-time lows after an initial surge post-IPO in October 2021 [1][4] - The company has a loyal customer base in Chicago and is attempting to expand nationwide [2] Growth Potential - At a current price of approximately $7.60 per share, an investment of $1,000 would purchase 131 shares, with a target price of $38 per share representing a fivefold increase [4] - The company's P/E ratio is around 18, significantly lower than Chipotle's 39, suggesting potential for multiple expansion [5] Financial Projections - Portillo's has revised its 2025 revenue growth projection down to 5% to 7%, from a previous estimate of 10% to 12% [6] - The slowdown in financial growth may reduce the likelihood of achieving a higher P/E ratio, impacting investor sentiment [6] Expansion Plans - Despite the slowdown, Portillo's plans to add 12 new locations in the second half of the year, increasing from the current 95 restaurants [7] - The addition of only one location in the first half raises concerns about the feasibility of the expansion plan and the potential for a more significant slowdown than anticipated [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues for the second quarter were $188.5 million, reflecting a 3.6% increase year-over-year [20] - Same restaurant sales increased by 0.7%, driven by a 2.1% increase in average check, partially offset by a 1.4% decrease in transactions [21] - Restaurant level adjusted EBITDA was $44.5 million with a margin of 23.6%, a decrease of 90 basis points from the prior year [25] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $30.1 million, an increase of 0.7% from the previous year [26] - Cash from operations decreased by 31.1% year-over-year to $28.7 million year-to-date [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-comp restaurants contributed $6.1 million in revenue during the quarter, while same restaurant sales growth was flat on a two-year stack basis [20][21] - The company is on track to open 12 restaurants in 2025, with build costs reduced to an average of $5.2 million to $5.5 million per restaurant [12][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Transactions were down 1.4% for the quarter, but there was a sequential improvement of 170 basis points over Q1 [9] - The company is focusing on multichannel marketing in key markets like Phoenix and Dallas, which have shown sales lifts [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building awareness and driving transactions while maintaining high-quality food and guest experience [6] - Key initiatives include multichannel marketing, operational improvements, kiosk adoption, and evolving the Portillo's Perks loyalty program [10][12] - The company is refining its new market playbook, with a focus on sustained marketing investment in Texas [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in Texas but remains confident in mid-teens revenue growth by 2026 [36] - The company is actively managing inflationary pressures through price increases and operational efficiencies [22][23] - Management expects total revenue growth for 2025 to be in the range of 5% to 7% [28] Other Important Information - Berkshire Partners redeemed $7.3 million in LLC units for Class A common stock, reducing their ownership to approximately 5.2% [18][19] - The company is nearly 90% hedged on beef prices, which is expected to mitigate inflationary impacts [62] Q&A Session Summary Question: Mix in the quarter and path to mid-teens revenue growth - Management explained that while kiosk usage increased items per transaction, there was a trade-down effect impacting the mix [38] - They remain confident in achieving mid-teens revenue growth by 2026 through foundational work in Texas [36] Question: Performance of new stores and marketing efforts - Management noted that some restaurants are entering their second year, and marketing efforts are ongoing to improve performance [43][45] Question: Labor and commodity inflation outlook - Management expects labor inflation to remain at 3% to 4% for the year, while commodity inflation is forecasted at 3% to 5%, primarily driven by beef [62][67] Question: Breakfast testing and limited menu impact - Breakfast testing is going well, appearing to be incremental without negatively affecting lunch or dinner sales [85] - The limited menu in Houston had some learnings, and management is adding back popular items [91] Question: Portillo's Perks loyalty program - The loyalty program has nearly 2 million members, and management sees potential for it to drive repeat frequency in expansion markets [99][103]

Financial Performance - Portillo's Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $0.12 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and an increase from $0.10 per share a year ago [1] - The company posted revenues of $188.46 million for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.5%, but up from $181.86 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Portillo's has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times, while it has topped consensus revenue estimates only once [2][3] Market Performance - Portillo's shares have increased by approximately 1% since the beginning of the year, compared to a 7.6% gain in the S&P 500 [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating it is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.09 on revenues of $196.28 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.36 on revenues of $779.09 million [7] - The outlook for the Retail - Restaurants industry, where Portillo's operates, is currently in the top 41% of Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable environment for stock performance [8]