Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 fiscal year 2026, total revenues reached $1.35 billion, an increase of 18.5% year-over-year, with consolidated comp sales up 18.8% [16] - Adjusted diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.93, up from $0.95 last year [16] - Restaurant operating margin improved to 16.2%, a 270 basis points increase year-over-year, primarily driven by sales leverage [17] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was approximately $172.4 million, a 54.4% increase from the prior year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chili's reported same-store sales growth of 21.4%, driven by a 13.1% increase in traffic, a 4.3% positive mix, and a 4% price increase [16] - Maggiano's experienced a decline in comp sales of -6.4% for the quarter [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chili's outperformed the casual dining industry by 1,650 basis points in same-store sales growth [5] - The customer base for Chili's is growing across all income levels, with the fastest growth seen in households earning under $60,000 [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on stabilizing and improving Maggiano's through the "Back to Maggiano's" strategy, which emphasizes classic recipes, improved service, and guest-facing repairs [12][14] - Chili's is ramping up its reimage program and expects to complete four remodel pilot restaurants by the end of the quarter [20] - The company aims to return to positive net new unit growth for Chili's and stabilize Maggiano's performance [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to maintain strong sales growth despite economic uncertainties and anticipated higher commodity inflation [22] - The first quarter is expected to be the strongest year-over-year, with more moderate gains anticipated in subsequent quarters [23] - Management remains focused on long-term growth and strategic investments, despite challenges in the macroeconomic environment [24] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $92 million of common stock under its share repurchase program [20] - The adjusted tax rate for the quarter increased to 18.5%, driven by higher sales [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does Chili's plan to leverage tokenized consumer data to enhance engagement? - Management plans to track monthly cohorts of new guests to understand their repeat visitation and the impact of menu initiatives on guest frequency [26][28] Question: How is the value platform performing against expectations? - The value platform is performing well, with significant lifts observed from recent advertising campaigns, particularly the $10.99 burger deal [30][31] Question: What insights can be shared regarding younger consumers? - Younger consumers are returning as frequently as other guests, and marketing efforts are focused on maintaining relevance with this demographic [39][40] Question: What is the status of the food renovation journey? - The company is progressing with food renovations, including a chicken sandwich platform and plans to bring back the old skillet queso due to customer demand [42][43] Question: How is the North of Six initiative progressing? - The initiative is yielding positive results, with improvements in scheduling and operational efficiency being implemented across the system [71][74] Question: What are the expectations for Maggiano's turnaround compared to Chili's? - The turnaround for Maggiano's is expected to be slower due to its smaller size and less national marketing presence, but management is optimistic about stabilizing and growing the brand [80][83]