Core Insights - Wingstop reported revenue of $174.33 million for the quarter ended June 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 12% and an EPS of $1.00 compared to $0.93 a year ago, with a slight revenue surprise of -0.05% against the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] - The EPS surprise was +13.64% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.88 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Total system-wide restaurants reached 2,818, exceeding the eight-analyst average estimate of 2,766 [4] - Domestic same-store sales growth was -1.9%, better than the -2.4% average estimate [4] - Company-owned domestic same-store sales growth was 3.6%, significantly higher than the -1.8% average estimate [4] - Total domestic restaurants numbered 2,411, surpassing the 2,369 average estimate [4] - Domestic franchised activity restaurants totaled 2,357, exceeding the four-analyst average estimate of 2,317 [4] - International franchised activity restaurants reached 407, slightly above the 399 average estimate [4] - New domestic franchised restaurant openings were 110, significantly higher than the 67 estimated by analysts [4] - New international franchised restaurant openings were 21, compared to the 13 estimated [4] - Royalty revenue, franchise fees, and other totaled $79.89 million, slightly below the average estimate of $80.65 million, but representing a year-over-year change of +12.3% [4] - Company-owned restaurant sales revenue was $32.48 million, exceeding the $29.77 million estimate, reflecting an +8.7% year-over-year change [4] - Advertising fees revenue was $61.96 million, below the $64.01 million average estimate, but showing a +13.4% year-over-year change [4] Stock Performance - Wingstop shares have returned -13.5% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Wingstop shares jumped 29% after saying it plans to step up the rate at which it opens new restaurants after posting its most profitable quarter on record https://t.co/dRvFjQFjK9 ...

Record 129 Net New Openings in Second Quarter, 19.8% Net New Unit Growth Dallas, July 30, 2025 - (PR NEWSWIRE) - Wingstop Inc. ("Wingstop" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: WING) today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 28, 2025. Highlights for the fiscal second quarter 2025 compared to the fiscal second quarter 2024: Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of each of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income ...

Record 129 Net New Openings in Second Quarter, 19.8% Net New Unit GrowthDALLAS, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop Inc. ("Wingstop" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: WING) today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 28, 2025.Highlights for the fiscal second quarter 2025 compared to the fiscal second quarter 2024: System-wide sales increased 13.9% to $1.3 billion 129 net new openings in the fiscal second quarter 2025 Domestic restaurant AUV increased to $2.1 million Domestic same ...

DALLAS, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Flavor Experts at Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) filed an application to register National Chicken Tender Day. The move sets out to make official what fans already know: Wingstop's crispy tenders don't just compete – they dominate.But what really hits different about Wingstop's crispy tenders in a crowd of bland fingers and strips? Wingstop filed an application to register National Chicken Tender Day. Tenderloin – one of the most premium and craveable parts of the c ...

Industry Overview - U.S. fast food chain sales increased by only 3.1% last year, lagging behind the 4.01% menu-price inflation rate and the 1.2% growth in food-at-home sales [3] - The fast food industry is facing challenges as chain sales have not kept pace with economic growth, indicating potential issues for the sector [2] Company Performance - Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, reported a 3% sales decline in Q1 2025 [4] - Chipotle experienced its worst quarterly numbers since the pandemic in the first three months of 2025 [4] - Krispy Kreme shares have dropped over 68% year-to-date due to losing its McDonald's distribution deal [10] - Cava Group shares were down 37% earlier in the year but have recovered to a negative 21% year-to-date [10] - Chipotle shares are down over 9% year-to-date, primarily due to weaker sales and profit growth [10] - Wendy's shares have slipped over 33% year-to-date, reflecting ongoing same-store sales weakness [10] Investment Opportunities - McDonald's is trading around $300 per share, with a target price of $345, supported by new value deals [11] - Shake Shack has gained 69.3% over the past three months, reporting $320.9 million for its most recent quarter, up 10.5% year-over-year [15][16] - Wingstop has seen its share price rise by 10% year-to-date and nearly 40% over the past three months, with 21 consecutive years of same-store sales growth [18][19] Consumer Sentiment - 78% of U.S. consumers view fast food as a "luxury," and about 50% consider it a budget buster due to lower household savings [5]

Core Insights - Wingstop has partnered with 2025's 1 basketball draft pick, Paige Bueckers, to launch the Rookie Draft Class campaign, allowing fans to order her exclusive meal lineup [1][2][4] - The collaboration highlights Wingstop's commitment to engaging with rising sports stars and enhancing brand visibility through celebrity endorsements [1][4] Company Overview - Wingstop, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, operates over 2,650 restaurants globally, with 98% owned by brand partners [6] - The company reported approximately $5 billion in system-wide sales for fiscal 2024 and has achieved 21 consecutive years of same-store sales growth [6] - Wingstop aims to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand and has been named the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA [6] Product Offering - The Paige Bueckers' Flavor Lineup includes her favorite items, such as classic wings, boneless wings, crispy tenders, seasoned fries, and ranch dips [8] - The exclusive meal can be ordered through Wingstop's website or app for a limited time [4][5]

Group 1 - Wingstop Inc. is expanding its support for communities affected by natural disasters in Texas, matching contributions up to $1 million for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund [1][2] - The company will launch Family Flavor Day on July 15, donating 15% of sales from all Texas locations to the American Red Cross, and will match donations made through the Round-Up campaign and Family Flavor Day, up to $500,000 [2] - Wingstop's President & CEO, Michael Skipworth, expressed the company's commitment to supporting Texas communities and first responders during these challenging times [3] Group 2 - In fiscal year 2024, Wingstop's system-wide sales increased by 36.8% to approximately $4.8 billion, marking the 21st consecutive year of same-store sales growth [5] - The company aims to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand and operates over 2,650 locations worldwide, with independent franchisees accounting for approximately 98% of its total restaurant count [5] - Wingstop has received multiple accolades, including a spot on Ad Age's 'Hottest Brands' list and recognition as one of QSR Magazine's "Best Brands to Work For" [6]

Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms is focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive revenue growth and internal efficiency, establishing a "superintelligence" division and recruiting talent from companies like Apple and OpenAI [1][2] - The stock has seen a significant price target increase, with a rise of over 40% in the first half of the year, and recent revisions suggest a potential price near $900, indicating a 25% gain from early July levels [3] - Technical signals indicate a strong uptrend, with the potential for the stock to reach near $950, supported by cash flow from AI investments, allowing for dividends and share buybacks [4] Dollar General - Dollar General's turnaround efforts and rationalization strategy are positively impacting its performance, leading to increased analyst coverage and a shift in sentiment to Moderate Buy [6][7] - The company is expected to report Q2 earnings soon, with analysts forecasting mid-single-digit revenue growth, although they may be underestimating the company's potential [7][8] - The focus on digitization and improved store experiences is anticipated to enhance store traffic and revenue, leading to substantial guidance improvements [8] Wingstop - Wingstop is experiencing challenges in comparable store sales for 2025 but is maintaining growth through unit expansion and international market penetration [10] - Analysts have increased coverage by 25% and upgraded the stock to Moderate Buy, with a consensus forecast suggesting a 10% upside, potentially reaching a new all-time high [11] - The company's capital return program, including aggressive share buybacks, supports the stock price rebound, despite a low dividend yield [12]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Wingstop (WING), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Brokerage Recommendations - Wingstop has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.59, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 23 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 23 recommendations, 15 are classified as Strong Buy and 2 as Buy, which represent 65.2% and 8.7% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the highest price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of Strong Buy recommendations compared to Strong Sell [6][10]. Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary tool that classifies stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently and reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, while ABR may not always be current [12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Wingstop - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Wingstop's earnings for the current year remains unchanged at $3.9, suggesting stable analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Wingstop holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].