You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Portillo’s Inc. reported a 3.3% decline in same-store sales for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 28, 2025, as the company continues to navigate challenges from developing too quickly, particularly in the Texas region.  As previously reported, Portillo’s has changed course to slow down its growth strategy to avoid cannibalization. During the call, interim CEO and chairman Mike Miles said that the company has paused dev ...

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 ...

Core Insights - Portillo's has appointed Brett Patterson as President and CEO, effective February 23, 2026, who will also join the Board of Directors [1] - Patterson has extensive leadership experience in the restaurant industry, focusing on operations, team development, and sustainable growth [2] - The Board believes Patterson possesses the necessary qualities to lead Portillo's into its next growth phase while maintaining the brand's unique identity [3] Company Overview - Portillo's is a fast-casual restaurant chain based in Chicago, known for its Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, and other menu items, with over 100 locations across 11 states [5] - The company operates a model that combines dine-in, drive-thru, takeout, and delivery, aiming to provide an experience-focused dining environment [5] - Portillo's is committed to expanding its brand and bringing its iconic food to a wider audience across the country [5] Leadership Vision - Patterson aims to enhance the company's overall strategy, focusing on market positioning, new restaurant growth, and operational excellence [3] - He emphasizes the importance of investing in team members and improving the guest experience as part of the company's growth strategy [3][4] - Patterson expresses excitement about joining Portillo's, highlighting the brand's strong culture and passionate fan base [4]

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]

Company Overview - Portillo's Inc. is a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its American classics with a Chicago twist, operating over 90 restaurants across 10 states [1] - The company was founded in 1963 by Dick Portillo, who started with a $1,100 investment in a hot dog stand called "The Dog House" [1] Investor Engagement - CFO Michelle Hook will present at William Blair's 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference on June 3, 2025, at 12:20 p.m. Eastern Time, with a presentation available at investors.portillos.com [3] - On June 4, 2025, CFO Michelle Hook will host a fireside chat at Baird's 2025 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference at 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time, along with in-person investor meetings [3] - CEO Michael Osanloo and CFO Michelle Hook will conduct in-person investor meetings at the Jefferies Consumer Conference on June 17 and 18, 2025 [3] Customer Engagement - Portillo's offers a loyalty program called Portillo's Perks, allowing fans to earn and redeem rewards [2] - Customers can order ahead for pickup or delivery through the Portillo's App or website, with food shipping available to all 50 states [2]

Core Insights - Portillo's Inc. reported a 6.4% increase in total revenue for Q1 2025, amounting to $176.4 million, compared to $165.8 million in Q1 2024, driven by new restaurant openings and an increase in same-restaurant sales [4][8][9] - Same-restaurant sales rose by 1.8% in Q1 2025, a recovery from a 1.2% decline in the same period last year, attributed to a 4.9% increase in average check despite a 3.1% decrease in transactions [4][8][9] - The company experienced commodity inflation of 3.4% in Q1 2025, down from 4.8% in Q1 2024, while labor costs as a percentage of revenue increased by 0.5% due to lower transactions and higher benefit expenses [5][10] Financial Performance - Operating income increased by $0.3 million to $10.4 million, reflecting a 2.8% rise compared to the previous year [12] - Net income decreased by $1.4 million to $4.0 million, a decline of 25.3%, primarily due to a $2.5 million increase in income tax expense [13] - Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA rose by $0.3 million to $36.7 million, while Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $0.6 million to $21.2 million [14] Operational Developments - The company opened ten new restaurants in 2024, contributing $7.9 million to the revenue increase [8] - Portillo's is focusing on traffic-driving strategies, including the launch of the "Portillo's Perks" loyalty program and testing breakfast offerings at five locations [7][17] - The company plans to open 12 new restaurants in fiscal 2025, with a focus on markets outside Chicagoland, particularly in Texas and Atlanta [17] Financial Targets - Updated financial targets for fiscal 2025 include same-restaurant sales growth of 1% to 3% and revenue growth of 10% to 12% [18] - Long-term financial targets project annual unit growth of 12% to 15% and mid-teens revenue growth [20] Key Metrics - Total restaurants increased to 94 as of March 30, 2025, from 85 a year earlier [41] - Average Unit Volume (AUV) decreased to $8.7 million from $9.0 million [41] - Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 20.8%, down from 21.9% in the previous year [41]

Core Insights - Portillo's Inc. has launched an app-less loyalty program called Portillo's Perks, aiming for 1.5 to 1.7 million signups by mid-summer 2025 [1][2] - The stock experienced a slight decline of 0.07% during trading hours but increased by 0.3% in after-hours trading [1] Loyalty Program Features - Portillo's Perks offers a fully digital experience that adapts to customer behaviors, providing personalized rewards based on visit frequency and ordering habits [2] - Customers must check in with their digital Perks card to access rewards, which include free large French fries and other retail items, and the program is applicable across all ordering channels [3] Traffic Driving Strategies - In addition to the loyalty program, Portillo's is implementing various strategies to drive traffic growth, including expanding kiosk usage, advertising beyond the Chicagoland area, and improving operational efficiency [4] - The company plans to increase its restaurant count, opening 10 new locations in 2024 and 12 in 2025, primarily in Texas [5] Stock Performance - PTLO shares have increased by 16.3% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, which grew by 10.8% [7] - The company aims to enhance traffic, improve margins, and deliver shareholder value through its new strategies [7]