Q1 26 EPS
$1.18
BEAT +15.09%
Est. $1.03
Q1 26 Revenue
$183.7M
MISS 2.15%
Est. $187.8M
vs S&P Since Q1 26
-13.9%
TRAILING MARKET
WING -8.2% vs S&P +5.6%
Market Reaction
Did WING Beat Earnings? Q1 2026 Results
Wingstop posted a mixed but ultimately earnings-positive first quarter for fiscal 2026, beating Wall Street's profit expectations for the fourth consecutive quarter while falling just short on the top line. The chicken wing chain reported adjusted EP… Read more Wingstop posted a mixed but ultimately earnings-positive first quarter for fiscal 2026, beating Wall Street's profit expectations for the fourth consecutive quarter while falling just short on the top line. The chicken wing chain reported adjusted EPS of $1.18, topping the $1.03 consensus estimate by 15.09%, even as revenue of $183.72 million came in 2.15% below expectations despite rising 7.4% year over year. The headline tension in the quarter was a sharp 8.7% decline in domestic same-store sales driven by lower transaction volumes, which clipped unit-growth tailwinds; net new franchise development, adding 97 locations to reach 3,153 globally, was the primary engine keeping revenue moving higher. Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.9% to $65.40 million, and the company expanded its share repurchase authorization by $300.00 million. Looking ahead, management updated guidance to project a low-single-digit decline in domestic same-store sales for the full year, acknowledging sustained consumer spending pressure, while reiterating global unit growth of 15% to 16%.
Key Takeaways
- • 17% year-over-year unit growth with 97 net new openings in Q1 2026
- • System-wide sales of $1.4 billion increased 5.9% year-over-year
- • Domestic same-store sales declined 8.7% due to lower transaction volumes reflecting continued consumer spending pressure
- • Decline in bone-in chicken wing costs improved cost of sales as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales to 74.9% from 76.0%
- • Net new franchise development contributed $12.2 million in incremental royalty revenue
- • Vendor rebates increased $3.4 million
- • Digital sales represented 72.5% of system-wide sales
WING Forward Guidance & Outlook
Wingstop updated its 2026 guidance to project a low-single-digit decline in domestic same-store sales growth, reflecting macroeconomic uncertainty and continued consumer spending pressure. SG&A is expected to be $146–$149 million, including $3 million in restructuring charges related to corporate realignment. Stock-based compensation is expected to be approximately $28 million. The company reiterated its guidance for global unit growth of 15%–16%, interest expense of approximately $43 million, and depreciation and amortization of approximately $30 million.
WING YoY Financials
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025, source: SEC Filings
WING Revenue by Segment
With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings
“Despite the decline in same store sales, we delivered system-wide sales growth and double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth in the quarter supported by 17% unit growth. Our results demonstrate the resiliency of our asset-light, highly franchised model.”
— Michael Skipworth, Q1 2026 Earnings Press Release
WING Earnings Trends
WING vs Market 30 Day Price Reactions
30-day stock return vs benchmark after each earnings
WING EPS Trend
Earnings per share: estimate vs actual
WING Revenue Trend
Quarterly revenue: estimate vs actual
WING Quarterly Results
5 quarters of earnings data
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 26 BEAT | $1.03 | $1.18 | +15.09% | $183.7M | -2.15% |
| Q4 25 BEAT FY | $0.83 | $1.00 | +19.98% | $175.7M | -0.94% |
| FY Full Year | $3.91 | $4.08 | +4.38% | $696.9M | -0.23% |
| Q3 25 BEAT | $0.92 | $1.09 | +18.61% | $175.7M | -5.17% |
| Q2 25 BEAT | $0.87 | $1.00 | +15.11% | $174.3M | +0.46% |
| Q1 25 BEAT | $0.87 | $0.99 | +14.37% | $171.1M | +0.09% |