Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter same-store sales for Jack in the Box decreased by 6.7%, with franchise restaurant same-store sales down 7% and company-owned same-store sales down 4.7% [17] - Jack's restaurant level margin percentage decreased to 16.1%, down from 23.2% [17] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $68.2 million, down from $88.8 million in the prior year [23] - Earnings from continuing operations were $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $31 million for the same quarter a year ago [22] - GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter was $0.75, compared to $1.61 in the same period of the prior year [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchise level margin was $84.1 million or 38.6% of franchise revenues, compared to $97.1 million or 40.9% a year ago [19] - There were 6 restaurant openings and 14 restaurant closures in the quarter [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales were 29.7% for the quarter, increasing 380 basis points from the prior year due to commodity inflation of 7.1% [18] - Labor costs as a percentage of sales were 35.3%, increasing 200 basis points from the prior year [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on simplifying the business and has made progress since the last quarter, including the sale of Del Taco and a significant paydown on debt [6][7] - The Jack OnTrack plan aims to bolster long-term financial performance by strengthening the balance sheet and positioning the company for sustainable growth [24] - The company is modernizing restaurants with cost-effective refreshes that improve curb appeal, generating modest sales lifts [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that Q1 results were choppy but broadly in line with expectations, with improvements starting in January [8] - The company expects steady improvement on the top line as it moves through 2026, focusing on fundamentals essential for sustainable growth [10] - Management remains confident that actions taken will lead to a stronger, more stable platform for growth [10] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for continuing operations for the first quarter of 2026 was 32.4%, compared to 30% for the same quarter a year ago [22] - The company generated $10.9 million of proceeds from real estate sales in the first quarter, with associated gains of approximately $6.3 million [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends observed in January and impact of weather - Management noted that January showed meaningful improvements, with same-store sales performing better than in Q1, even factoring in weather impacts [31] Question: Chicago performance and labor inefficiencies - Management acknowledged ongoing challenges in Chicago, citing a tough labor market and the need to dial in operations after opening multiple restaurants [34] Question: Support for franchisees amid margin pressures - Management indicated that while franchisees are facing pressure on margins, they are not providing blanket assistance but are evaluating individual cases [40] Question: Price-value equation in the current environment - Management has been able to take more price on the company side while ensuring value for customers, including lowering prices on certain bundles [44] Question: Breakfast performance relative to competitors - Breakfast has remained consistent for the company, with all-day breakfast being a core offering [65] Question: Regional performance and California market challenges - Management noted that California has been challenging, impacting both sales and profitability due to labor pressures [84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter same-store sales for Jack in the Box decreased by 6.7%, with franchise restaurant same-store sales down 7% and company-owned same-store sales down 4.7% [16] - Jack's restaurant level margin percentage decreased to 16.1%, down from 23.2% in the prior year [16] - Earnings from continuing operations were $14.4 million for Q1 2026, compared to $31 million in the same quarter of the prior year [20] - GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.75, down from $1.61 in the same period of the prior year [21] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $68.2 million, down from $88.8 million in the prior year [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchise level margin was $84.1 million or 38.6% of franchise revenues, compared to $97.1 million or 40.9% a year ago [18] - There were 6 restaurant openings and 14 closures in the quarter, indicating a net decrease in restaurant count [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales were 29.7%, increasing 380 basis points from the prior year due to commodity inflation of 7.1% [17] - Labor costs as a percentage of sales were 35.3%, increasing 200 basis points from the prior year, primarily due to a change in the mix of restaurants [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on simplifying the business and reducing debt, having made a significant paydown of $105 million on its debt during the quarter [5][24] - The Jack on Track plan aims to bolster long-term financial performance by strengthening the balance sheet and positioning the company for sustainable growth [22] - The company is modernizing its restaurants with cost-effective refreshes that improve curb appeal, generating modest sales lifts [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that Q1 results were choppy but broadly in line with expectations, with improvements expected as the year progresses [7] - The company anticipates steady improvement on the top line as it moves through 2026, focusing on fundamentals essential for sustainable growth [9] - Management expressed confidence in the actions being taken to strengthen the business and improve profitability [15] Other Important Information - The company completed the sale of Del Taco on December 22, 2025, and the results of Del Taco are excluded from continuing operations [16] - The effective tax rate for continuing operations for Q1 2026 was 32.4%, compared to 30% for the same quarter a year ago [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends observed in January and impact of weather - Management noted that January saw meaningful improvements, with same-store sales performing better than in Q1, despite weather impacts [29][30] Question: Chicago performance and labor inefficiencies - Management acknowledged ongoing challenges in Chicago, attributing them to a tough labor market and operational issues, but expressed optimism for future improvements [31][32] Question: Support for franchisees amid commodity pressures - Management indicated that while franchisees are facing margin pressures, they are not providing blanket assistance but are evaluating individual cases [37] Question: Price-value equation in the current environment - Management stated they have been able to take more price on the company side while ensuring value for customers, including lowering prices on certain bundles [42][43] Question: Breakfast performance relative to competitors - Management reported that breakfast remains consistent for Jack in the Box, with no significant changes compared to other day parts [63][65] Question: Regional performance and California market challenges - Management acknowledged that California presents challenges due to labor pressures and noted that over 40% of their restaurants are based there, impacting overall performance [82][83]

The Cheesecake Factory (NasdaqGS:CAKE) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 18, 2026 05:00 PM ET Speaker12Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Krista, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome you to The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a qu ...

The Wendy's Company Comments on Amended 13D Filing from Trian Partners [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationDUBLIN, Ohio, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) today issued the following statement regarding the Schedule 13D/A filed by Trian Fund Management, L.P. and certain of its affiliates with the Securities and Exchange Commission:"The Wendy's Company's Board of Directors and management team regularly review the Company's strategic priorities and opportunities with the goal ...

INVESTOR PRESENTATION February 18, 2026 SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT / NON-GAAP INFORMATION Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This includes, without limitation, financial guidance and projections, including underlying assumptions, and statements with respect to expectations of the Company's futu ...

Wendy’s CEO Calls ‘26 a ‘Rebuilding Year’ as Nelson Peltz Weighs a Stake - Moby BREAKING NEWS Wendy’s tagline may be always fresh, never frozen, but it appears its sales are not fresh and extremely frozen as the burger chain shutters hundreds of stores across the U.S. as consumers shift, to, well, other options. CEO Ken Cook took a page out of the general manager of the Charlotte Hornets’ playbook telling shareholders on Friday that 2026 will be a “rebuilding year,” as the fast-food chain embarks on its ...

Core Insights - The company experienced its first same-store sales decline in 22 years, attributed to ongoing macro pressures affecting lower-income consumers, despite achieving a 12% growth in system-wide sales [1] - The national rollout of Wingstop Smart Kitchen was completed across all domestic restaurants in under 10 months, shifting focus from installation to operational execution [1] - A significant 'demand space' gap was identified, with the company currently capturing only 2% of a potential 20% share of off-premise occasions for high-quality, made-to-order meals [1] Operational Performance - Corporate-owned restaurants served as a proof of concept, achieving average unit volumes (AUVs) of $2.5 million and mid-20% margins by consistently delivering service times of 10 minutes [1] - The leadership team was restructured, reinstating the COO role and creating a Commercial Team to streamline decision-making for the next phase of global scaling [1] Market Expansion - The company reported a record-breaking Super Bowl performance, acquiring 100,000 new guests in one day, indicating brand health despite a challenging consumer environment [1] - Plans for international expansion include entering six new markets in 2025, utilizing a proven entry playbook that yields AUVs higher than the U.S. average [1]

Red Lobster closed about 130 locations during its 2024 bankruptcy, but may need to close more to continue its successful post-bankruptcy emergence. CEO Damola Adamolekun told The Wall Street Journal that the chain is assessing its current roster of restaurants and the locations' leases with a potential for additional closures. “There’s a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there’s still work to do to repair all of that,” Adamolekun, who became the chain's chief executive in Aug ...

Core Insights - Wingstop's stock experienced a significant increase of over 12% amid heavy trading, driven by elevated short interest of over 17% of the tradable float, which likely intensified buying pressure [1][6][7] Quarterly Metrics - Wingstop reported system-wide sales of $1.3 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a 9.3% increase from 2024 - The company opened 124 net new restaurants, achieving a domestic restaurant average unit volume (AUV) of $2.0 million - Domestic same-store sales decreased by 5.8% compared to the previous year, while digital orders constituted 73.2% of system-wide sales - Operating income rose to $46.835 million from $41.840 million a year ago - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 9.8% to $61.878 million from $56.348 million year-over-year [2] Restaurant Network - As of December 27, Wingstop operated 3,056 restaurants globally, with 2,586 located in the U.S. and 470 in international markets and U.S. territories - Among U.S. locations, 2,529 were franchised and 57 were company-owned, while all international units were franchised - The company ended the quarter with cash and equivalents totaling $196.572 million [3] Dividend Declaration - On February 17, Wingstop declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share, amounting to approximately $8.3 million, scheduled for payment on March 27, 2026 [4] Outlook - The company anticipates flat to low-single-digit growth in domestic same-store sales for fiscal 2026 - Global unit growth is projected at 15% to 16% - Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) are expected to be between $151 million and $154 million, including $3 million in restructuring charges - Stock-based compensation expense is estimated at about $32 million, with net interest expense around $43 million and depreciation and amortization expected to be approximately $30 million [5] Elevated Short Interest - Wingstop has a short float of approximately 3.66 million shares, representing 17.33% of its publicly traded float, indicating a high level of short interest among investors - Trading volume reached about 1.90 million shares, significantly exceeding the 100-day average volume of roughly 724,785 shares, indicating heightened trading activity [6]

Core Insights - Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) is enhancing its digital platform by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to improve customer engagement and re-engage lapsed users [1][10] - The company is utilizing data analytics and machine learning to personalize communication and tailor offers based on customer behavior [2][10] - Digital sales are a significant part of total revenues, and increasing engagement among loyalty members is a key focus [3] Digital Strategy - The AI initiative operates within Chipotle's existing digital ecosystem, including its loyalty program and mobile ordering channels [2] - Targeted offers and personalized outreach are designed to encourage more frequent visits from customers [3][4] - Chipotle is continuously refining its engagement strategies based on performance data [3] Competitive Landscape - Chipotle's AI-driven personalization strategy distinguishes it from competitors like McDonald's and Yum! Brands, which have broader digital strategies [5][8] - McDonald's focuses on digital scale and operational efficiency, while Yum! Brands emphasizes AI-driven personalized marketing [6][7] - Chipotle's approach is more specific, targeting lapsed users and designing re-engagement journeys based on customer behavior [8] Financial Performance - Chipotle's stock has decreased by 29.6% over the past year, compared to a 6.5% decline in the industry [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 3.76, slightly below the industry average of 3.68 [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chipotle's fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year decline of 2.6%, with recent estimates having decreased [14]