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Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new stake in Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 7,840 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock, valued at approximately $1,360,000.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vident Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Wingstop by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 959 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $229,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in Wingstop by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,628 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $627,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in Wingstop by 1.1% during the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 5,672 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $879,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Wingstop by 76.9% in the fourth quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 138 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al grew its position in shares of Wingstop by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al now owns 4,784 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $1,141,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period.

Wingstop Price Performance WING stock opened at $109.21 on Tuesday. Wingstop Inc. has a 1 year low of $105.43 and a 1 year high of $313.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 25.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.79. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $132.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $160.34.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The restaurant operator reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $185.56 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $190.25 million. Wingstop had a negative return on equity of 16.31% and a net margin of 16.15%.The firm’s revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.00 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Wingstop Inc. will post 4.5 EPS for the current year. Wingstop Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, August 15th were issued a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. This is a boost from Wingstop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wingstop’s payout ratio is presently 31.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently commented on WING shares. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Wingstop from $237.00 to $208.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Piper Sandler set a $173.00 price objective on Wingstop in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Wingstop from $170.00 to $165.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Wingstop from $225.00 to $200.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, BTIG Research decreased their target price on Wingstop from $305.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $241.81.

View Our Latest Analysis on WING

About Wingstop (Free Report)

Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ: WING) is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings and related menu items. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, the company has built its brand around bold, chef-inspired wing flavors and a streamlined service model that caters to dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering orders.

The company’s core offerings include both bone-in and boneless chicken wings tossed in a variety of proprietary rubs and sauces, such as Original Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Mango Habanero.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Wingstop 3 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks With Record Backlogs This Korea ETF Has Soared, But the Rally May Not Be Over Why Guidewire’s Post-Earnings Plunge May Not Last Ride-Share Reckoning: Tesla Drives Into Uber’s Lane Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WING? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING – Free Report).

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BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 2,775,585 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock, valued at approximately $481,314,000. BlackRock Inc. owned about 10.19% of Wingstop at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Wingstop by 76.9% during the 4th quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 138 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 75.7% in the 4th quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 188 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 121.4% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 217 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wingstop during the 4th quarter worth about $63,000. Finally, Harbor Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wingstop during the 2nd quarter worth about $46,000.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently weighed in on WING. Mizuho decreased their target price on Wingstop from $280.00 to $240.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 24th. BTIG Research dropped their price target on shares of Wingstop from $305.00 to $265.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Wingstop from $170.00 to $165.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Wingstop from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $290.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Wingstop in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $241.81.

Get Our Latest Research Report on WING Wingstop Trading Up 1.2% Shares of WING stock opened at $116.84 on Tuesday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $141.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $170.24. Wingstop Inc. has a twelve month low of $110.44 and a twelve month high of $342.10. The company has a market capitalization of $3.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.81.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The restaurant operator reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.16. Wingstop had a negative return on equity of 16.31% and a net margin of 16.15%.The business had revenue of $185.56 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $190.25 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.00 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Wingstop Inc. will post 4.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wingstop Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be paid a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. This is an increase from Wingstop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wingstop’s dividend payout ratio is presently 31.35%.

Wingstop Profile (Free Report)

Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ: WING) is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings and related menu items. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, the company has built its brand around bold, chef-inspired wing flavors and a streamlined service model that caters to dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering orders.

The company’s core offerings include both bone-in and boneless chicken wings tossed in a variety of proprietary rubs and sauces, such as Original Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Mango Habanero.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Wingstop Visa Just Put Hims & Hers in the Penalty Box—Here’s Why It Matters Treasury Yields Are Surging Again: 3 Stocks That Could Feel the Pain Snowflake Could Be Headed for New Highs Despite Insider Selling MongoDB Is Surging—And the Next Catalyst Is Almost Here Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WING? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING – Free Report).

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Bamco Inc. NY bought a new stake in shares of Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 430,165 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock, valued at approximately $74,595,000. Bamco Inc. NY owned approximately 1.58% of Wingstop at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Baird Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Wingstop in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $256,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in Wingstop by 2,770.6% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,952 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $440,000 after buying an additional 1,884 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 92,439 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $20,852,000 after buying an additional 4,937 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 121.4% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 217 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Wingstop by 45.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,387 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $467,000 after buying an additional 434 shares during the period.

Wingstop Trading Down 1.4% NASDAQ:WING opened at $112.24 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $3.06 billion, a PE ratio of 26.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $140.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $167.97. Wingstop Inc. has a 12 month low of $110.44 and a 12 month high of $342.10.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The restaurant operator reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.16. Wingstop had a net margin of 16.15% and a negative return on equity of 16.31%. The business had revenue of $185.56 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $190.25 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Wingstop Inc. will post 4.5 earnings per share for the current year. Wingstop Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, August 15th will be paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Wingstop’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wingstop’s dividend payout ratio is currently 31.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WING has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Wingstop from $264.00 to $234.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Wingstop from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Monday, August 17th. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Wingstop in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on Wingstop from $255.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on Wingstop from $330.00 to $235.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $241.81.

View Our Latest Analysis on Wingstop

Wingstop Profile (Free Report)

Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ: WING) is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings and related menu items. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, the company has built its brand around bold, chef-inspired wing flavors and a streamlined service model that caters to dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering orders.

The company’s core offerings include both bone-in and boneless chicken wings tossed in a variety of proprietary rubs and sauces, such as Original Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Mango Habanero.

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There is no sugarcoating it: The timing on my Wingstop (WING +11.05%) purchases hasn't been great. I've been buying shares of the Buffalo wing franchisor over the last year while the stock's price has ranged from $150 to $210, but Wingstop has only continued to slide downward. The company now trades 74% below its 2024 high.

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While I typically try to avoid doubling down on my losing investments (watering my weeds instead of my flowers, as Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner would put it), I think Wingstop is a unique case that deserves a second look. Here's what makes the once-unstoppable growth stock an interesting buy-the-dip candidate, as it trades at what appears to be a once-in-a-decade valuation.

Image source: Getty Images.

Wingstop's valuation finally makes sense Wingstop grew its revenue by roughly 25% annually over the last decade, with same-store sales frequently in the double digits as well. Thanks to these blistering growth rates, WING stock typically traded at a lofty valuation, peaking at more than 150 times earnings and nearly 100 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).

WING P/E Ratio and EV/EBITDA data by YCharts

However, following five consecutive quarters of negative same-store sales (SSS), Wingstop's valuation is now quite palatable, trading at a decade-long low of 27 times earnings and 18 times EBITDA.

Plugging this 27 times earnings figure into a reverse discount cash flow calculator (Wingstop typically generates similar net income and free cash flow (FCF) figures, if not stronger FCF), Wingstop needs to grow sales by roughly 12% annually over the next decade to live up to this valuation.

That may sound overly optimistic, but management intends to grow its store count by 15%-16% in 2026 and by 10% annually over the long haul, so 12% sales growth isn't outrageous. Currently home to 3,255 stores, Wingstop hopes to reach 10,000 globally, a target that supports this growth algorithm.

That said, Wingstop needs SSS to return to growth for any of these new store expansion plans to matter, but I think brighter days are incoming for investors.

How same-store sales could turn around Wingstop appears to be one of many excellent stocks that have been hampered by the rise of the "k-shaped economy," where more affluent households seem to be doing fine, while lower- and middle-class consumers have reined in their spending. Wingstop management noted that "more than 55% of our domestic restaurants are located in urban trade areas where households are under more financial stress than higher-income households," a trend that has weighed heavily on the stock's results over the last year.

I'm optimistic that this should prove to be a cyclical downturn, at least in the long run. First, enrollments in Club Wingstop (the company's brand new rewards program) are already 22% ahead of management's expectations. More than half of Wingstop's digital transactions are already made by Club Wingstop members, highlighting the rapid adoption of the nascent program. Success from these rewards programs should enable personalized marketing efforts and reward tiers that may help boost customer engagement and, in turn, SSS.

Second, management noted that despite Wingstop's overall SSS decline over the last two quarters, SSS grew by double digits on game days during the World Cup and NBA Finals. To me, this suggests that Wingstop's brand awareness is still quite powerful, and its SSS slowdown stems more from pressured consumers than from the company's brand being in any kind of decline. Wingstop intends to build upon the success of these group occasions on game days with its new Smart Kitchen operating platform, which improves customer satisfaction rates, and by enhancing group meal offerings marketed through its new loyalty program.

Lastly, before declining by 4% in 2025 -- and likely dropping between 4% and 6% in 2026 -- Wingstop grew SSS for 21 straight quarters. Thanks to this incredible track record, I'm willing to give the company some leeway as customers wrestle with inflation in essential products, soaring gas prices, minimal real wage growth, and a tougher macroeconomic environment overall.

That said, it seems this consumer weakness is reflected in Wingstop's reeling share price -- and once-in-a-decade valuation -- leaving investors an opportunity to buy a great compounder at a time when things look bleak. Even following the stock's recent 74% drop, Wingstop has delivered annualized total returns of 16% since its initial public offering in 2015.

WING Total Return Level data by YCharts

In my opinion, this is a top-tier compounder facing a cyclical consumer spending crunch, but the underlying brand and growth outlook remain as robust as ever. It may just take a few quarters for a turnaround to take hold. However, now receiving an all-time high 1.2% dividend yield, with payments raised for eight straight years, I'm happy to double down on the growth stock and hold for the long haul.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Wingstop (WING - Free Report) .

Wingstop currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.53, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 29 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.53 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 29 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 20 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 69% and 6.9% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for WING

Check price target & stock forecast for Wingstop here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Wingstop, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in WING?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Wingstop, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 1.4% over the past month to $4.5.

Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Wingstop. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for Wingstop with a grain of salt.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.

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Investors Are Buying Into Sweetgreen Again—Should They?Wingstop NASDAQ: WING reported a 7.5% decline in domestic same-store sales for its fiscal second quarter of 2026, as the restaurant chain said its core lower-income consumer faced greater pressure from inflation and economic uncertainty than management had anticipated.

President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Skipworth said the company’s financial performance fell short of expectations, but he characterized the sales weakness as macroeconomic rather than structural. More than 55% of Wingstop’s domestic restaurants are in urban trade areas with households facing greater financial stress, he said. Digital guest visits and frequency in those areas declined about 9% during the quarter, while visits in higher-income trade areas increased.

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MarketBeat Week in Review – 06/08 - 06/12“The challenge we’re facing today is not structural and not a reflection of our brand relevance or product quality,” Skipworth said. He noted that aided brand awareness increased by more than five percentage points over the past year and said independent tracking continues to rank Wingstop among the stronger restaurant brands for quality.

Value messaging shifts toward core guests Wingstop said it will refine its marketing strategy in the second half of 2026 to more explicitly communicate value, particularly for group occasions. Skipworth said guests can feed a group at Wingstop for approximately $8 per person, but the company needs to make that value more apparent amid broader industry price-point messaging.

Short Sellers Are Piling Into Wingstop, But Analysts See Big UpsideDuring the quarter, the company tested several value-oriented promotions, including a $1 wing offer, a “30 for $30” bundle and “Flavors Under $10” messaging. The 30-wing promotion increased average first-party ticket by nearly 17%, as customers added items and built larger bundles, according to Skipworth. Satisfaction scores improved in 89% of markets where the lower-price flavor promotion ran.

Management said the tests helped improve transaction trends in more financially stressed trade areas, though some of that transaction improvement was offset by lower ticket. Wingstop plans to pair value messaging with its established focus on flavor, quality and abundance rather than broadly discounting the menu.

Skipworth also pointed to higher sales during major sporting events as evidence that the brand remains relevant with its core consumers. On certain World Cup match days, same-store sales moved into double-digit growth, while similar results occurred in markets where hometown teams competed in the NBA Finals. Customers on those occasions often ordered for groups, increasing average ticket and choosing bundled offerings, he said.

Club Wingstop exceeds early enrollment expectations The company nationally launched Club Wingstop, its first loyalty program, during the quarter. Wingstop said enrollments in the program are tracking 22% ahead of its expectations just weeks after launch. Loyalty-related sales represented nearly half of first-party digital sales, exceeding results from pilot markets.

Management said the program provides a platform for personalized offers, targeted communications, exclusive experiences and loyalty challenges. Alex Kaleida, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said the company’s customer relationship management investments can help deliver more value-focused messages to guests under financial pressure while providing flavor- or quality-oriented communications to other customers.

Wingstop said approximately 70% of enrolled loyalty members had already returned for another visit. The company identified the typical early Club Wingstop member as its younger, lower-income core consumer demographic.

The chain also continued rolling out its Wingstop Smart Kitchen operating platform. Skipworth said the initiative has improved guest satisfaction, speed, consistency and restaurant execution, although the current sales environment has masked its near-term impact on same-store sales. Historically lower-performing restaurants improved digital guest satisfaction by more than 11 percentage points, reducing the performance gap across the system by more than 40%, according to the company.

Sales growth and profit increase despite same-store sales decline Systemwide sales increased 5.3% to approximately $1.4 billion, supported by new restaurant openings. Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other revenue rose 8.7% to $86.8 million.

Company-owned restaurant sales increased 5.3% to $34.2 million. Company-owned same-store sales declined 2.5%, outperforming the broader system. Net income rose 16.9% from the prior year to $31.3 million, or $1.15 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA increased 12.5% to $66.6 million. Company-owned cost of sales improved 190 basis points to 73.3% of company-owned restaurant sales, primarily due to lower bone-in wing costs. Kaleida said the company-owned portfolio benefited from its concentration in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, which has high brand awareness and a more diversified consumer base than the broader Wingstop system.

Wingstop updated its full-year domestic same-store sales outlook to a decline of 4% to 6%, citing second-quarter performance, the macroeconomic environment and recent fuel-price inflation. The company reiterated its forecast for 15% to 16% global unit growth and said the fourth quarter is expected to be its largest period for net new restaurant openings. It also updated its SG&A outlook to $140 million to $143 million and projected stock-based compensation expense of approximately $24 million.

Development pipeline remains a focus Despite the weaker sales trend, Wingstop said its development pipeline and franchisee demand remain strong. Domestic franchisees opened more than 300 restaurants in 46 states over the last 12 months, representing growth of more than 13%.

Internationally, the company surpassed 100 restaurants in the United Kingdom, opened a flagship location in Singapore and said it remains on track to enter India later this year. Wingstop also signed a development agreement for Poland, where management sees an opportunity for more than 100 restaurants.

In the third quarter, Wingstop expects to close on the acquisition of 13 restaurants outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area for approximately $32 million. The company said the market could support an additional 25 company-owned restaurants over time. The acquired locations are expected to contribute about $7 million in revenue and $1 million in adjusted EBITDA for the balance of 2026, net of royalty impact.

The board also increased Wingstop’s quarterly cash dividend to $0.33 per share from $0.30 per share. Through the first half of the year, the company repurchased 374,324 shares for $78.5 million, with approximately $313 million remaining under its repurchase authorization at quarter-end.

About Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING)Wingstop Inc NASDAQ: WING is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings and related menu items. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, the company has built its brand around bold, chef-inspired wing flavors and a streamlined service model that caters to dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering orders.

The company's core offerings include both bone-in and boneless chicken wings tossed in a variety of proprietary rubs and sauces, such as Original Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Mango Habanero.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Wingstop Right Now?Before you consider Wingstop, you'll want to hear this.

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For the quarter ended June 2026, Wingstop (WING - Free Report) reported revenue of $185.56 million, up 6.4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.18, compared to $1.00 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $190.11 million, representing a surprise of -2.39%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +15.69%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.02.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Wingstop performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Total System-wide Restaurants: 3,255 versus the five-analyst average estimate of 3,261.Domestic same store sales growth: -7.5% versus -5.4% estimated by five analysts on average.Total Franchise Restaurants: 3,198 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 3,204.Number of Restaurants at end of period - International Franchised Activity: 527 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 525.Total Domestic Restaurants: 2,728 compared to the 2,736 average estimate based on four analysts.Number of Restaurants at end of period - Domestic Company-Owned Activity: 57 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 58.Number of Restaurants at end of period - Domestic Franchised Activity: 2,671 versus 2,679 estimated by four analysts on average.Company-owned domestic same store sales growth: -2.5% versus the three-analyst average estimate of -1.3%.New Restaurant Openings - International Franchised Activity: 30 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 25.Revenue- Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other: $86.84 million compared to the $87.84 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.7% year over year.Revenue- Company-owned restaurant sales: $34.18 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $35.35 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.3%.Revenue- Advertising fees: $64.54 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $66.92 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.2%.View all Key Company Metrics for Wingstop here>>>

Shares of Wingstop have returned -22.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

102 Net New Openings in Second Quarter, 16% Unit Growth

, /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 27, 2026.

"During the second quarter, we continued making meaningful progress against the strategic priorities that we believe will drive the next phase of growth for Wingstop," said Michael Skipworth, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The national launch of Club Wingstop marked an important milestone in building deeper relationships with our guests, while our continued investments in value, flavor innovation and Smart Kitchen are strengthening the business in ways that position us to win more occasions. Combined with one of the strongest development pipelines in the industry, these investments reinforce our confidence in the long-term opportunity to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand."

Q2 2026 Highlights

System-wide sales of $1.4 billion increased 5.3% vs. Q2 2025 102 net new openings Domestic restaurant AUV of $1.9 million Domestic same store sales decreased 7.5% vs. Q2 2025 Digital sales represented 71.6% of system-wide sales Total revenue of $185.6 million, an increase of 6.4%, vs. Q2 2025 Net income, increased 16.9% to $31.3 million, or $1.15 per diluted share Adjusted net income1 and adjusted earnings per diluted share1, both non-GAAP measures, increased 14.9% to $32.1 million, or $1.18 per diluted share; and Adjusted EBITDA1, increased 12.5% vs. Q2 2025 to $66.6 million 1

See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the reconciliation tables accompanying this release for a discussion and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures included in this release.

Key Operating Metrics

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27, 2026

June 28, 2025

Number of system-wide restaurants open at end of period

3,255

2,818

Number of domestic franchise restaurants open at end of period

2,671

2,357

Number of international franchise restaurants open at end of period (1)

527

407

System-wide sales (in millions)

$                 1,411

$                 1,340

Domestic AUV (in thousands)

$                 1,893

$                 2,112

Domestic same store sales growth

(7.5) %

(1.9) %

Company-owned domestic same store sales growth

(2.5) %

3.6 %

Net income (in thousands)

$               31,288

$               26,763

Adjusted net income (in thousands)

$               32,092

$               27,929

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) 

$               66,627

$               59,205

(1)

Including U.S. territories.

Q2 2026 Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter 2026 increased to $185.6 million from $174.3 million in the prior second quarter. Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other increased $7.0 million, of which $11.2 million was due to net new franchise development and $0.8 million related to an increase in vendor rebates, partially offset by a decrease of $5.0 million due to a 7.5% decline in domestic same store sales contributed by lower transaction volumes, reflecting continued pressure on consumer spending. Advertising fees increased $2.6 million due to a 5.3% increase in system-wide sales in the second quarter 2026. Company-owned restaurant sales increased $1.7 million due to the three additional corporate stores opened or acquired since the prior year period.

Cost of sales was $25.1 million compared to $24.4 million in the prior second quarter. As a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales, cost of sales decreased to 73.3% from 75.2% in the prior second quarter. The decrease as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales was primarily driven by a decline in food, beverage and packaging costs, reflecting a decrease in the cost of bone-in chicken wings as compared to the prior second quarter.

Selling, general & administrative ("SG&A") expense decreased $2.7 million to $30.2 million from $32.9 million in the prior second quarter. The decrease in SG&A expense was primarily driven by $2.3 million in reduced stock compensation expense due to forfeitures recognized in the current period. Also contributing to the decrease was a $1.6 million reduction in payroll costs which was partially offset by a $1.5 million increase in professional fees.

Income tax expense was $13.4 million, yielding an effective tax rate of 29.9%, comparable to 27.2% in the prior-year period. The increase in total tax expense is primarily due an increase in state income taxes and other non-deductible items.

Financial Outlook

The Company's outlook is dependent on the macro-environment which is inherently difficult to predict given current high levels of uncertainty.  The Company is providing updated guidance for 2026:

A decline of 4% to 6% in domestic same store sales growth; SG&A of between $140 - $143 million, which includes $3 million of restructuring charges related to corporate realignment; Stock-based compensation expense of approximately $24 million; and Depreciation and amortization of approximately $33 million. Additionally, the Company reiterates guidance for 2026:

Global unit growth rate of 15% to 16%; and Interest expense, net of approximately $43 million. Restaurant Development

As of June 27, 2026, there were 3,255 Wingstop restaurants system-wide. This included 2,728 restaurants in the United States, of which 2,671 were franchised restaurants and 57 were company-owned, and 527 franchised restaurants were in international markets, including U.S. territories. During the second quarter 2026, there were 102 net system-wide Wingstop restaurant openings.

Quarterly Dividend

In recognition of our strong cash flow generation and our commitment to returning value to stockholders, on July 28, 2026, our board of directors authorized and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share of common stock, resulting in a total dividend of approximately $9.0 million. This dividend will be paid on September 5, 2026 to stockholders of record as of August 15, 2026.

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release:

Domestic average unit volume ("AUV") consists of the average annual sales of all restaurants that have been open for a trailing 52-week period or longer. This measure is calculated by dividing sales during the applicable period for all restaurants being measured by the number of restaurants being measured. Domestic AUV includes revenue from both company-owned and franchised restaurants. Domestic AUV allows management to assess our domestic company-owned and franchised restaurant economics. Changes in domestic AUV are primarily driven by increases in same store sales and are also influenced by opening new restaurants.

Domestic same store sales reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the same store restaurant base. We define the same store restaurant base to include those restaurants open for at least 52 full weeks. This measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants, while excluding the impact of new restaurant openings and permanent closures. We review same store sales for domestic company-owned restaurants as well as system-wide domestic restaurants. Domestic same store sales growth is driven by increases in transactions and average transaction size. Transaction size increases are driven by price increases or favorable mix shift from either an increase in items purchased or shifts into higher priced items.

System-wide sales represents net sales for all of our company-owned and franchised restaurants, as reported by franchisees. This measure allows management to better assess changes in our royalty revenue, our overall store performance, the health of our brand and the strength of our market position relative to competitors. Our system-wide sales growth is driven by new restaurant openings as well as increases in same store sales.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, net, income tax expense (benefit), and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), further adjusted for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, gains and losses on non-recurring transactions, certain system implementation costs, certain restructuring charges, and stock-based compensation expense.

Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, gains and losses on non-recurring transactions, certain system implementation costs, certain restructuring charges, and related tax adjustments.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share is defined as adjusted net income divided by weighted average diluted share count.

We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions above may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by our competitors because not all companies and analysts calculate certain key operating metrics or non-GAAP measurements in the same manner.

Conference Call and Webcast

We will host a conference call today to discuss the second fiscal quarter 2026 financial results at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. The conference call can be joined telephonically by dialing 1-877-259-5243 or 1-412-317-5176 (international) and asking for the Wingstop conference call. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-855-669-9658 or 1-412-317-0088 (international), then entering the replay code 4572027. The replay will be available through Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

The conference call will also be webcast live and later archived on the investor relations section of Wingstop's corporate website at ir.wingstop.com under the 'News & Events' section.

About Wingstop

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide, with approximately 98% of the total restaurant count owned by brand partners. Generating over $5 billion in system-wide sales in fiscal 2025, Wingstop offers made-to-order, always fresh classic and boneless wings, tenders, and chicken sandwiches in 12 bold, distinctive flavors, alongside signature sides and iconic housemade ranch and bleu cheese dips.

Dedicated to Serving the World Flavor, Wingstop is the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA with a vision to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand.

Learn more at wingstop.com or follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP financial measures, including those indicated above. By providing non-GAAP financial measures, together with a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, we believe we are enhancing investors' understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives. These measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures used in this press release may be different from the measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is available in this news release. In addition, the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") concurrent with the issuance of this press release includes a more detailed description of each of these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a discussion of the usefulness and purpose of such measures.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release includes statements of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute "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, and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to the discussion of our business strategies and our expectations concerning future operations, margins, profitability, trends, liquidity and capital resources and to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "outlook," "guidance," "anticipate," "believe," "think," "estimate," "seek," "predict," "can," "could," "project," "potential" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements are accompanied by such terms. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, our 2026 fiscal year outlook for domestic same store sales growth, global unit growth, SG&A expense, stock-based compensation expense, interest expense, net and depreciation and amortization. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties, risks, and factors relating to our operations and business environments, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Please refer to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be found at the SEC's website www.sec.gov. The discussion of these risks is specifically incorporated by reference into this news release.

When considering forward-looking statements in this news release or that we make in other reports or statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements in this news release and future reports we file with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and we cannot predict when they may arise or how they may affect us. Any forward-looking statement in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Media Contact
Brett LeVecchio
[email protected]

Investor Contact
Sarah Niehaus
[email protected]

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

June 27,
2026

December 27,
2025

(Unaudited)

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$        127,455

$        196,572

Restricted cash

25,994

25,994

Accounts receivable, net

25,108

20,823

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

10,130

7,956

Advertising fund assets, restricted

19,630

16,143

Total current assets

208,317

267,488

Property and equipment, net

153,075

130,581

Operating lease assets

49,380

48,637

Goodwill

83,875

83,875

Trademarks

32,700

32,700

Investments

90,693

87,164

Other non-current assets, net

39,951

42,964

Total assets

$        657,991

$        693,409

Liabilities and stockholders' deficit

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$          10,267

$          12,846

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

3,713

3,232

Other current liabilities

36,596

49,744

Advertising fund liabilities

19,630

16,143

Total current liabilities

70,206

81,965

Long-term debt, net

1,210,589

1,209,094

Operating lease liabilities

58,173

58,080

Deferred revenues, net of current

51,471

47,721

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

40,345

33,142

Other non-current liabilities

194

169

Total liabilities

1,430,978

1,430,171

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' deficit

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
27,240,351 and 27,540,619 shares issued and outstanding as of June 27,
2026 and December 27, 2025, respectively

272

275

Additional paid-in-capital

2,409

1,529

Retained deficit

(779,246)

(744,915)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

3,578

6,349

Total stockholders' deficit

(772,987)

(736,762)

Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit

$        657,991

$        693,409

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27,
2026

June 28,
2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Revenue:

Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other

$          86,844

$          79,889

Advertising fees

64,536

61,962

Company-owned restaurant sales

34,184

32,478

Total revenue

185,564

174,329

Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales (1)

25,068

24,405

Advertising expenses

68,417

65,533

Selling, general and administrative

30,236

32,937

Depreciation and amortization

7,212

6,220

Total costs and expenses

130,933

129,095

Operating income

54,631

45,234

Interest expense, net

9,813

8,469

Investment (income) expense

167

—

Income before income tax expense

44,651

36,765

Income tax expense

13,363

10,002

Net income

$          31,288

$          26,763

Earnings per share

Basic

$             1.15

$             0.96

Diluted

$             1.15

$             0.96

Weighted average shares outstanding

Basic

27,235

27,912

Diluted

27,252

27,997

Dividends per share

$             0.30

$             0.27

(1)

Cost of sales includes all operating expenses of company-owned restaurants, including advertising expenses, but excludes
depreciation and amortization, which are presented separately.

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Supplemental Information

Cost of Sales Margin Analysis

(amounts in thousands)

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27, 2026

June 28, 2025

In dollars

As a % of
company-owned
restaurant sales

In dollars

As a % of
company-owned
restaurant sales

Cost of sales:

Food, beverage and packaging costs

$        12,040

35.2 %

$        11,937

36.8 %

Labor costs

7,763

22.7 %

7,441

22.9 %

Other restaurant operating expenses

6,180

18.1 %

5,821

17.9 %

Vendor rebates

(915)

(2.7) %

(794)

(2.4) %

Total cost of sales

$        25,068

73.3 %

$        24,405

75.2 %

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Supplemental Information

Restaurant Count

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27,
2026

June 28,
2025

Domestic Franchised Activity

Beginning of period

2,596

2,250

Openings

76

110

Closures

(1)

—

Acquired by Company

—

(3)

Restaurants end of period

2,671

2,357

Domestic Company-Owned Activity

Beginning of period

57

51

Openings

—

1

Closures

—

(1)

Acquired by Company

—

3

Restaurants end of period

57

54

Total Domestic Restaurants

2,728

2,411

International Franchised Activity(1)

Beginning of period

500

388

Openings

30

21

Closures

(3)

(2)

Restaurants end of period

527

407

Total System-wide Restaurants

3,255

2,818

(1)

Includes U.S. territories.

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands)

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27,
2026

June 28,
2025

Net income

$        31,288

$        26,763

Interest expense, net

9,813

8,469

Income tax expense

13,363

10,002

Depreciation and amortization

7,212

6,220

EBITDA

$        61,676

$        51,454

Additional adjustments:

System implementation costs (a)

514

1,534

Amortization of capitalized system implementation costs (b)

467

—

Restructuring charges (c)

77

—

Stock-based compensation expense (d)

3,893

6,217

Adjusted EBITDA

$        66,627

$        59,205

(a)

System implementation costs represent non-recurring expenses incurred related to the development and implementation of new enterprise resource planning, human capital management, and global development technology, which are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs related to these initiatives are not expected to recur beyond the current period.

(b)

Represents amortization associated with capitalized cloud computing costs related to our system implementation, which are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(c)

Represents certain restructuring charges related to corporate realignment announced on January 13, 2026.

(d)

Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures.

WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS

(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Thirteen Weeks Ended

June 27,
2026

June 28,
2025

Numerator:

Net income

$         31,288

$         26,763

Adjustments:

System implementation costs (a)

514

1,534

Amortization of capitalized system implementation costs (b)

467

—

Restructuring charges (c)

77

—

Tax effect of adjustments (d)

(254)

(368)

Adjusted net income

$         32,092

$         27,929

Denominator:

Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted

27,252

27,997

Adjusted earnings per diluted share

$           1.18

$           1.00

(a)

System implementation costs represent non-recurring expenses incurred related to the development and implementation of new enterprise resource planning, human capital management, and global development technology, which are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs related to these initiatives are not expected to recur beyond the current period.

(b)

Represents amortization associated with capitalized cloud computing costs related to our system implementation, which are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(c)

Represents certain restructuring charges related to corporate realignment announced on January 13, 2026.

(d)

Represents the tax effect of the aforementioned adjustments to reflect corporate income taxes at an assumed effective tax rate of 24% for the thirteen weeks ended June 27, 2026, which includes provisions for U.S. federal income taxes, and assumes the respective statutory rates for applicable state and local jurisdictions.

SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

Beyond analysts' top-and-bottom-line estimates for Wingstop (WING), evaluate projections for some of its key metrics to gain a better insight into how the business might have performed for the quarter ended June 2026.

Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) by 422.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,725 shares of the restaurant operator's stock after buying an additional 7,055 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp's

Free wings with qualifying purchase, exclusive Club Wingstop rewards and live music experiences bring fans the ultimate week of flavor

, /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop is turning up the flavor and elevating Wingstop Wing Day like never before. For the first time, the brand is expanding its takeover of National Wing Day (July 29) into Wingstop Wing Week, a five-day takeover from July 27–31, bringing fans even more ways to score free wings, unlock exclusive Club Wingstop rewards and, for eligible fans, enter for a chance to win live music prizes.

Wingstop is expanding Wing Day into Wing Week, a five-day celebration of rewards and experiences. Club Wingstop brings fans closer to the moments and experiences they love, and Wingstop Wing Week is giving everyone a taste of the exclusive access members can expect. Fans can enter for a chance to win once-in-a-lifetime music experiences and other prizes through Wingstop's broader $1 million giveaway, including trips to concerts and festivals with tickets, airfare, hotel accommodations and spending money. Fans can also score Ticketmaster® gift cards, Tickets for a Year and more, making this the ultimate week for flavor fanatics and music lovers alike.

Daily prize moments include:

Monday (7/27): $500 Ticketmaster gift card + $500 Wingstop gift card Tuesday (7/28): Concert package for two, including concert tickets, airfare, hotel and spending money Wednesday (7/29): Tickets for a Year ($3,000 Ticketmaster gift card) Thursday (7/30): Festival package for two, including VIP festival tickets, airfare, hotel and spending money Friday (7/31): $500 Ticketmaster gift card + $500 Wingstop gift card On Wingstop Wing Day (7/29), Wingstop is bringing back one of its biggest offers of the year: 5 FREE wings with any qualifying $10+ purchase using promo code FREEWINGS. It's also fans' last call to try Wingstop's limited-time Sweet Heat Chamoy flavor, and what greater way to experience the sweet-and-spicy favorite than with five FREE wings? Better yet, Club Wingstop members get extended access to the Wingstop Wing Day offer, with the ability to redeem one 5 FREE wings offer daily from 7/28–7/30 as part of Wingstop Wing Week.

Fans can unlock Wingstop Wing Week food offers and sign up for Club Wingstop to tap into insider perks and exclusive access through the Wingstop app or Wingstop.com.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal U.S./D.C.(excluding AK, HI, ME, MT, ND, RI, VT) residents, 18+. Void where prohibited. Begins 12:00 PM PT on 7/27/26 and ends 11:59 PM PT on 7/31/26. To enter or see Official Rules, visit ticketmaster.com/wingstop. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. Sponsor is Wingstop Restaurants, Inc., 2801 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1600, Dallas, TX 75204. Administrator is Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., 9348 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Ticketmaster is a registered trademark of Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.

About Wingstop
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide, with approximately 98% of the total restaurant count owned by brand partners. Generating over $5 billion in system-wide sales in fiscal 2025, Wingstop offers made-to-order, always fresh classic and boneless wings, tenders and chicken sandwiches in 12 bold, distinctive flavors, alongside signature sides and iconic housemade ranch and bleu cheese dips. Dedicated to Serving the World Flavor, Wingstop is the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA with a vision to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand. Learn more at wingstop.com or follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Media Contact
Kyra Harbert
[email protected]

SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

Wingstop (WING - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $134.95, moving -4.36% from the previous trading session. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.89%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.74%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 1.29%.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the restaurant chain had lost 9.98% lagged the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 1.33% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.63%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Wingstop in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 29, 2026. On that day, Wingstop is projected to report earnings of $1.02 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 2%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $190.17 million, up 9.09% from the year-ago period.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $4.57 per share and revenue of $774.12 million, indicating changes of +12.01% and +11.09%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Wingstop. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.46% lower. Wingstop is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.

Digging into valuation, Wingstop currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 30.85. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.47.

It is also worth noting that WING currently has a PEG ratio of 1.68. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Retail - Restaurants industry was having an average PEG ratio of 1.99.

The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 207, this industry ranks in the bottom 16% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

In the latest trading session, Wingstop (WING - Free Report) closed at $140.93, marking a -3.27% move from the previous day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.51%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.2%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.47%.

Coming into today, shares of the restaurant chain had lost 2.9% in the past month. In that same time, the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 0.51%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.53%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Wingstop in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on July 29, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Wingstop to post earnings of $1.02 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 2%. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $190.27 million, showing a 9.14% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $4.57 per share and a revenue of $774.9 million, demonstrating changes of +12.01% and +11.2%, respectively, from the preceding year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Wingstop. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.6% fall in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Currently, Wingstop is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Looking at its valuation, Wingstop is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 31.91. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 20.14.

We can additionally observe that WING currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.75. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The average PEG ratio for the Retail - Restaurants industry stood at 1.95 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 182, this industry ranks in the bottom 27% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

Wingstop (WING - Free Report) closed at $158.47 in the latest trading session, marking a -6.9% move from the prior day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.28%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 1.09%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.2%.

Coming into today, shares of the restaurant chain had gained 18.32% in the past month. In that same time, the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 0.18%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.64%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Wingstop in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 29, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.02, signifying a 2.00% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $190.27 million, showing a 9.14% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $4.57 per share and revenue of $776.14 million, which would represent changes of +12.01% and +11.38%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Wingstop. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.49% lower. Wingstop is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.

Looking at valuation, Wingstop is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 37.25. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 20.29.

We can additionally observe that WING currently boasts a PEG ratio of 2.04. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. As the market closed yesterday, the Retail - Restaurants industry was having an average PEG ratio of 1.95.

The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 202, placing it within the bottom 18% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) is tapping into fan cravings and bringing bold flavor to summer gatherings with its newest limited-time flavor, Sweet Heat Chamoy featuring Tajín. The new offering combines a custom chamoy dry rub with a vibrant Tajín Chamoy drizzle, creating a layered flavor experience that balances sweet, tangy fruit notes with chili heat and citrus brightness.

Wingstop announces its newest limited-time flavor, Sweet Heat Chamoy featuring Tajín.

The flavor features a chamoy dry rub finished with a drizzle of Tajín Chamoy Sauce, bringing together sweet, tangy and spicy notes. The new Sweet Heat Chamoy flavor will be available exclusively to Club Wingstop members June 26 through June 29 before launching nationwide on June 30 for a limited time. To complement the flavor, Wingstop is introducing Chamoy Ranch, a sweet and savory twist on the brand's iconic ranch, crafted specifically to pair with Sweet Heat Chamoy. Fans can also complete their summer meal with the new Fanta Summer Punch beverage, available exclusively at Wingstop locations featuring Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers nationwide.

"At Wingstop, we're always looking for ways to bring fans flavors that are both culturally relevant and uniquely Wingstop," said Donnie Upshaw, Chief Brand Officer of Wingstop. "Chamoy has become one of the most talked-about flavor profiles in food culture, and Sweet Heat Chamoy is our take on that trend. By combining a bold dry rub with Tajín Chamoy, we've created something that feels authentic, craveable and unmistakably Wingstop. It's the perfect flavor for summer, and we're excited to bring it to fans in a way only Wingstop can."

Wingstop's Flavor Experts transformed the popular chamoy flavor profile into a distinctive dry rub designed to deliver bold, mouthwatering flavor in every bite. Finished with a drizzle of Tajín Chamoy Sauce, Sweet Heat Chamoy brings together sweet, tangy and spicy notes in a way that reflects one of today's fastest-growing flavor trends. Fans can enjoy Sweet Heat Chamoy across the Wingstop menu, including classic and boneless wings, tenders, chicken sandwiches, fries and corn, all paired perfectly with the new limited-time Chamoy Ranch.

"We love bringing bold, authentic flavors to every moment with Tajín, and Wingstop's Sweet Heat Chamoy is the perfect way to experience that sweet and tangy kick," said Javier Leyva, Director of Tajín USA. "With the signature zest of Tajín via our Tajín Chamoy drizzle, this refreshing twist on a classic flavor will excite taste buds everywhere and add a deliciously vibrant touch to any meal."

Whether fans are elevating a spontaneous gathering, hosting a summer soccer watch party or simply looking to try the season's hottest flavor, Sweet Heat Chamoy delivers. Fans can get their hands on the new flavor at Wingstop's new Sweet Heat Chamoy cart in Venice Beach on June 27, with more summer experiences to follow. Additionally, fans can join Club Wingstop through the Wingstop app or at Wingstop.com for exclusive early access to Sweet Heat Chamoy featuring Tajín, along with members-only rewards, perks and future flavor launches.

To learn more about Wingstop, visit www.wingstop.com or follow @wingstop on Instagram and TikTok. To learn more about Tajín, visit www.tajin.com or follow @TajinUSA on Instagram or TikTok.

About Wingstop
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide, with approximately 98% of the total restaurant count owned by brand partners. Generating over $5 billion in system-wide sales in fiscal 2025, Wingstop offers made-to-order, always fresh classic and boneless wings, tenders and chicken sandwiches in 12 bold, distinctive flavors, alongside signature sides and iconic housemade ranch and bleu cheese dips. Dedicated to Serving the World Flavor, Wingstop is the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA with a vision to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand. Learn more at wingstop.com or follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

About Tajín
Industrias Tajín® is a market leader in both Mexico and the United States in chile products, in addition to being one of the most important brands in producing and commercializing products derived from chile worldwide. Today, it has a presence in more than 65 countries around the world. Tajín was founded in 1985, surprising consumers with the perfect blend of mild chile peppers, lime, and sea salt. In 1993, Tajín made its first export to the United States, and Tajín International Corporation was established in Houston, TX, from where all commercial activity of the brand in the U.S. is managed. The brand arrived in Central American and European markets in 2006. For more information visit www.tajín.com.

Media Contact
Kyra Harbert
[email protected]

SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

Wingstop (WING - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $156.74, demonstrating a -3.12% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.37%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.

Coming into today, shares of the restaurant chain had gained 15.22% in the past month. In that same time, the Retail-Wholesale sector lost 4.65%, while the S&P 500 gained 2.02%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Wingstop in its upcoming release. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $1.02, marking a 2% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $190.27 million, indicating a 9.14% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $776.14 million. These totals would mark changes of +12.5% and +11.38%, respectively, from last year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Wingstop. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.12% higher. Wingstop presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, Wingstop is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 35.21. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 19.16.

It's also important to note that WING currently trades at a PEG ratio of 1.8. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Retail - Restaurants industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.91.

The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 205, placing it within the bottom 16% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

In the latest trading session, Wingstop (WING - Free Report) closed at $166.22, marking a +2.42% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.65%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.92%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 3.07%.

Shares of the restaurant chain witnessed a gain of 25.6% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Retail-Wholesale sector with its loss of 4.86%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.48%.

The upcoming earnings release of Wingstop will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $1.02, reflecting a 2% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $190.27 million, up 9.14% from the prior-year quarter.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $776.76 million. These totals would mark changes of +12.5% and +11.47%, respectively, from last year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Wingstop. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.25% higher. Wingstop currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In the context of valuation, Wingstop is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 35.35. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 20.2.

Investors should also note that WING has a PEG ratio of 1.81 right now. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. WING's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.84 as of yesterday's close.

The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 206, which puts it in the bottom 16% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

Image: Bigstock

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Wingstop (WING - Free Report) reported $183.73 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.4%. EPS of $1.18 for the same period compares to $0.99 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.81% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $187.12 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.02, the EPS surprise was +16.11%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Wingstop performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Total System-wide Restaurants: 3,153 compared to the 3,160 average estimate based on six analysts.Domestic same store sales growth: -8.7% versus -6.3% estimated by six analysts on average.Total Franchise Restaurants: 3,096 versus 3,103 estimated by five analysts on average.Number of Restaurants at end of period - Domestic Company-Owned Activity: 57 versus the five-analyst average estimate of 58.Number of Restaurants at end of period - International Franchised Activity: 500 compared to the 501 average estimate based on four analysts.Total Domestic Restaurants: 2,653 compared to the 2,661 average estimate based on four analysts.Number of Restaurants at end of period - Domestic Franchised Activity: 2,596 versus the four-analyst average estimate of 2,604.Company-owned domestic same store sales growth: -2.2% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 1.4%.New Restaurant Openings - International Franchised Activity: 33 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 29.Revenue- Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other: $87.47 million compared to the $85.79 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11% year over year.Revenue- Company-owned restaurant sales: $32.99 million compared to the $34.98 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.8% year over year.Revenue- Advertising fees: $63.27 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $66.35 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.6%.View all Key Company Metrics for Wingstop here>>>

Shares of Wingstop have returned +11.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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Published in earnings earnings-estimates-revisions earnings-surprise

Wingstop Inc. (WING) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Wingstop is downgraded to Sell as decaying same store sales and aggressive, unrealistic expansion targets undermine the investment case. WING now guides to a low single-digit decline in same store sales for FY26, a sharp reversal from prior flat-to-growth expectations. Unit growth is unsustainable given franchisee margin pressures, weak comps, and macro headwinds; 16% location growth guidance appears highly unrealistic.

Wingstop (WING - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this restaurant chain have returned -13.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +11.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, which Wingstop falls in, has lost 1.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Wingstop is expected to post earnings of $1.03 per share, indicating a change of +3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.4% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $4.58 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +12.3%. This estimate has changed +0.3% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.55 indicates a change of +21.1% from what Wingstop is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.9%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Wingstop is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Wingstop, the consensus sales estimate of $190.13 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +9.1%. The $776.19 million and $888.84 million estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +11.4% and +14.5%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWingstop reported revenues of $183.73 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.4%. EPS of $1.18 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $187.12 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.81%. The EPS surprise was +15.69%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Wingstop is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Wingstop. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Gameday energy comes to life in Dallas and Toronto with bold flavors, fan-first moments and exclusive performances from platinum-selling rapper FERG

, /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) is bringing its House of Flavor experience to North America for the first time, turning up the heat this summer with culture-driven experiences only Wingstop can deliver.

Wingstop's hometown of Dallas hosts House of Flavor from June 24-July 3.

House of Flavor debuts in Toronto from June 11-14. Wingstop's House of Flavor, coming to its hometown of Dallas as well as Toronto throughout June, is the ultimate fan destination. The experience features Wingstop's sauced-and-tossed wings, live DJs, gameday watch parties, merch, free tattoos and nonstop vibes. Dallas will also feature a barber delivering fresh, soccer-inspired cuts, while Toronto will offer custom nail art. Both cities will host exclusive, one-night-only performances from FERG on June 11 in Toronto and June 24 in Dallas.

House of Flavor previously had epic runs at major cultural moments in Milan (February 2026) and Paris (July 2024). In North America, the experience will feature immersive, flavor-packed environments that are inspired by the global energy of summer soccer.

"When the world shows up for the game, we bring the flavor and the culture," said Donnie Upshaw, Chief Brand Officer of Wingstop. "House of Flavor is built for that energy, bringing fans together through culture, community and craveable flavor you can see, feel and taste."

House of Flavor is free and open to the public in Toronto from June 11 to 14 at Stanley Barracks and in Dallas from June 24 to July 3 at The Bomb Factory, both open 11 a.m. until late. Hours are subject to change, entry fees and/or age restrictions may apply, and entry restrictions may apply.

For more information, visit www.houseofflavor.com.

About Wingstop
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide, with approximately 98% of the total restaurant count owned by brand partners. Generating over $5 billion in system-wide sales in fiscal 2025, Wingstop offers made-to-order, always fresh classic and boneless wings, tenders and chicken sandwiches in 12 bold, distinctive flavors, alongside signature sides and iconic housemade ranch and bleu cheese dips. Dedicated to Serving the World Flavor, Wingstop is the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA with a vision to become a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand. Learn more at wingstop.com or follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Media Contact
Kyra Harbert
[email protected]

SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

Integrates Ultra-Low Cost, Mass-Producible Long-Range Surveillance and One Way Systems into the Draganfly Platform of Drones

Tampa, FL., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with Skip Dynamix, Corporation (“Skip Dynamix”), a developer of ultra-low-cost, mass-producible fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems designed for long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (“ISR”), electronic warfare support, logistics, and one-way missions. pursuant to which Draganfly has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of Skip Dynamix’s drone technology business (the “Transaction”).

The Transaction deepens Draganfly’s defense platform portfolio and further strategically positions the Company within one of the fastest-growing segments of the global defense technology market: low-cost autonomous aerial systems capable of scalable deployment in contested environments.

The Transaction will combine Draganfly’s proven manufacturing, autonomy, AI, command-and-control, and military systems integration capabilities with Skip Dynamix’s innovative fixed-wing platform architecture optimized for affordability, rapid production, modular payload integration, and long-range operational deployment.

“Modern conflicts have fundamentally reshaped military procurement priorities,” said Cameron Chell, Chief Executive Officer of Draganfly. “The battlefield lessons emerging from Ukraine, the Middle East, and evolving Indo-Pacific security planning are clear: survivable mass, low-cost autonomy, long-range ISR, and systems are becoming core operational requirements for allied defense forces.”

“Skip Dynamix gives Draganfly a highly scalable platform capable of addressing this rapidly expanding global demand while complementing our existing ISR, logistics and tactical drone, defense technologies.”

Positioned for the New Era of Attributable Autonomous Systems

The Transaction coincides with accelerating global defense investment into low-cost autonomous aerial systems designed for persistent ISR, swarm deployment, electronic warfare resilience, and one-way operations. The Department of War has publicly identified low-cost autonomous systems as a strategic priority aimed at rapidly fielding large numbers of expendable autonomous systems for Indo-Pacific and other contested operational theaters.

The Pentagon’s initiatives specifically seek to deploy “thousands” of low-cost autonomous systems to the Indo-Pacific region to counter near-peer threats through distributed and scalable autonomous capabilities.

The Asia-Pacific ISR aircraft and drone market alone is projected to grow to more than US$20.5 billion by 2035 according to industry reports, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, maritime security requirements, and defense modernization programs across the region. At the same time, defense agencies globally are increasingly prioritizing systems that can be manufactured securely, rapidly and deployed at scale at materially lower cost than traditional cruise missiles or large unmanned platforms.

Scalable, Modular, and Mission Adaptable

Skip Dynamix’s systems architecture integrated into the Draganfly platform of drones is designed around rapid manufacturability, operational flexibility, and modular mission payloads, supporting applications including:

Long-range ISRMaritime surveillanceBorder securityCommunications relayElectronic warfare supportAutonomous logistics deliveryForce protectionOne-way missionsSwarm and distributed operations The systems are designed to integrate with commercially scalable manufacturing approaches and open architecture payload systems, enabling rapid adaptation for evolving mission requirements and allied defense procurement programs.

Draganfly expects the Transaction to enhance its ability to support defense customers seeking affordable autonomous systems deployable at scale across contested operational environments.

Expanding Defense and Allied Opportunities

In addition to strengthening Draganfly’s positioning with Department of War programs, the Transaction also strengthens NATO-aligned modernization initiatives, allied defense procurement agencies, and Indo-Pacific security programs increasingly focused on autonomous and asymmetric defense technologies. Draganfly intends to integrate Skip Dynamix’s technologies into its broader defense ecosystem, including AI-enabled autonomy, sensor integration, tactical ISR operations, and next-generation autonomous mission systems.

“The acquisition of Skip Dynamix is an important strategic step for Draganfly as we continue to expand our platform capabilities for defense, government, public safety, and international customers,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “The Orca fixed-wing platform adds long-range, hand-launchable endurance to our portfolio and addresses a clear capability gap in the market. By bringing Skip Dynamix’s technology and team into Draganfly, we believe we can accelerate commercialization, expand customer opportunities, and strengthen our position as a trusted North American drone solutions provider.”

Transaction Highlights

Addresses Critical Multi Mission Opportunity Within One Platform. The Transaction of the Orca fixed-wing platform complements Draganfly’s established multi-rotor portfolio, including the Flex FPV, Apex, Commander 3XL, and Heavy Lift systems, by adding a long-range, hand-launchable fixed-wing capability that addresses a critical integrated multi-mission opportunity not being served in the existing market. Expanded Market Reach. The Transaction is expected to widen Draganfly’s presence in the defense, national security, government, and international markets, providing access to Skip Dynamix’s existing pipeline of opportunities for the Orca platform.Revenue Synergies. Management believes the business combination offers significant revenue synergies, allowing for incremental revenue growth for Draganfly in excess of Skip Dynamix’s standalone forecasts and valuation.Retention of Key Talent. Skip Dynamix’s founders, Jonathan Baron and Andrew Chapman, will continue with the combined business under employment agreements, bringing specialized expertise in fixed-wing sUAS technology. Key Strategic Goals for 2026. The key strategic goals for the Skip Dynamix acquisition in 2026 will be: (i) to fully exploit the existing pipeline of opportunities; (ii) to advance autonomy-assisted flight operations; and (iii) to establish Draganfly as the leading multi-platform (Fixed-wing and multi-rotor) integrated operations drone platform. Material Terms of the Agreement

The aggregate purchase price for the Transaction is up to US$7,525,000 (the “Purchase Price”):

A cash payment of US$2,525,000 (the “Closing Amount”), subject to customary working capital adjustments, will be paid to Skip Dynamix at closing. US$2,500,000 satisfiable in common shares of Draganfly (“Draganfly Shares”) pursuant to a special warrant issued at closing (the “Payment Shares”). The Payment Shares will be issued subject to the satisfaction of the Payment Vesting Condition, which requires each founder to be actively engaged by Draganfly until at least the first anniversary of closing. up to US$2,500,000 (the “Earn-Out Amount”), payable in a combination of cash and Draganfly Shares as determined by Draganfly, subject to: (i) the business achieving certain milestones. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of closing conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, including required regulatory and exchange approvals and the satisfaction of other customary conditions precedent, and is expected to close in early June 2026.

Additional transaction details will be disclosed in the Company’s applicable regulatory filings.

About Skip Dynamix

Skip Dynamix is a Delaware-based drone technology company engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of long-range, hyper-customizable, multi-purpose, hand-launchable, fixed-wing sUAS, including the Orca platform. Skip Dynamix serves customers across defense, national security, government and international markets.

About Draganfly

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is a leader in cutting-edge drone solutions and software that are transforming industries and serving stakeholders globally. Recognized for innovation and excellence for over 25 years, Draganfly is an award-winning Original Equipment Manufacturer and technology integrator to the public safety, civil, military, agriculture, industrial inspection, security, mapping, and surveying markets. The Company is driven by passion, ingenuity, and a mission to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to customers worldwide, saving time, money, and lives.

For more information, visit www.draganfly.com.

CSENASDAQFRANKFURT Media Contact
Erika Racicot
Email: [email protected]

Company Contact
Cameron Chell
Chief Executive Officer
(306) 955-9907
[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Draganfly’s integration plans with respect to the Skip Dynamix’s products, the size of the drone market, the ability of the Company to complete sales of its products to defense organizations, all statements under the heading “Transaction Highlights”, the expected closing of the Transaction and the expected closing date of the Transaction, Transaction benefits, expected additional revenues, expected growth, revenue synergies, strategic goals, results of operations, performance, industry trends and growth opportunities. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: the risk that the Transaction may not be completed as expected or at all; the expected benefits of the Transaction and additional revenues may not materialize; the inherent risks involved in the general securities markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; liability; competition; loss of key employees; and other related risks and uncertainties. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially, please refer to the public filings of Draganfly which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

On May 21, 2026, Wingstop Inc WING shares rose 3.5% today, currently priced at $132.63. The stock has seen significant volatility with a 52-week range of $116.35 to $388.14.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $132.63 is 64.7% below the estimated fair value of $376.11. GF Score™: 83/100, indicating a strong overall rating. Notable signal: Insider activity shows $0.9M in sales over the last 3 months with no buying. Is WING Overvalued or Undervalued? Wingstop Inc's current share price of $132.63 is significantly below the GF Value™ of $376.11, suggesting that the stock is 64.7% undervalued. This substantial margin of safety indicates a potential opportunity for long-term investors if the company's fundamentals align with future growth expectations. The GF Valuation label classifies WING as significantly undervalued, and this could signal a buying opportunity for investors who believe in the company's growth trajectory.

However, it is essential to approach this finding with caution. The discrepancies between the intrinsic value and current market price may also reflect underlying risks. Factors such as market sentiment, economic conditions, and company performance can impact future valuations. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates.

How Does WING's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 33.0x 92.7x Forward P/E 29.0x N/A The current P/E ratio of 33.0x is significantly lower than the 5-year median P/E of 92.7x, indicating that the stock is trading well below its historical valuation metrics. This aligns with the GF Value™ verdict that suggests WING is undervalued. The substantial difference in P/E ratios further supports the idea that the market may not fully recognize Wingstop's growth potential.

What Does WING's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 83/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 10/10 Growth 10/10 Valuation 2/10 Momentum 4/10 The GF Score™ of 83/100 indicates that Wingstop Inc has strong potential for long-term returns, particularly highlighted by its perfect scores in Profitability and Growth, both rated 10/10. However, it faces weaknesses in Valuation, with a low score of 2/10, suggesting that the stock may not be as attractively priced relative to its historical performance. The Financial Strength score of 4/10 indicates some concerns that investors should consider when analyzing the company.

What Are Insiders Doing with WING Stock? In the last three months, insiders have sold $0.9 million worth of Wingstop shares, with no recorded purchases during this period. This trend of insider selling may suggest a lack of confidence among executives about the company's near-term prospects or valuation levels. While insider activity can sometimes provide insight into the company's future, it is essential to consider the broader context and not base conclusions solely on these transactions.

What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis of GF Value™, Wingstop Inc WING is currently undervalued, presenting a potential opportunity for investors who are willing to look beyond recent price volatility and insider selling activity.

For the complete analysis, visit the Wingstop Inc WING stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions What is WING's GF Score™?

The GF Score™ for Wingstop Inc is 83/100, indicating a strong potential for long-term returns based on various key aspects of its business.

Is WING overvalued or undervalued?

WING is currently undervalued, with a GF Value™ of $376.11 compared to its current price of $132.63, representing a 64.7% upside.

What is WING's P/E ratio?

The P/E ratio for WING is 33.0x, significantly lower than its historical 5-year median of 92.7x, suggesting the stock is trading below its typical valuation levels.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].