Companies:
10,822
total market cap:
$147.828 T
Sign In
๐บ๐ธ
EN
English
$ USD
โฌ
EUR
๐ช๐บ
โน
INR
๐ฎ๐ณ
ยฃ
GBP
๐ฌ๐ง
$
CAD
๐จ๐ฆ
$
AUD
๐ฆ๐บ
$
NZD
๐ณ๐ฟ
$
HKD
๐ญ๐ฐ
$
SGD
๐ธ๐ฌ
Global ranking
Ranking by countries
America
๐บ๐ธ United States
๐จ๐ฆ Canada
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
๐ง๐ท Brazil
๐จ๐ฑ Chile
Europe
๐ช๐บ European Union
๐ฉ๐ช Germany
๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom
๐ซ๐ท France
๐ช๐ธ Spain
๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands
๐ธ๐ช Sweden
๐ฎ๐น Italy
๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
๐ต๐ฑ Poland
๐ซ๐ฎ Finland
Asia
๐จ๐ณ China
๐ฏ๐ต Japan
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea
๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia
๐ฎ๐ณ India
๐ฒ๐พ Malaysia
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
๐น๐ญ Thailand
๐ป๐ณ Vietnam
Others
๐ฆ๐บ Australia
๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand
๐ฎ๐ฑ Israel
๐ธ๐ฆ Saudi Arabia
๐น๐ท Turkey
๐ท๐บ Russia
๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa
>> All Countries
Ranking by categories
๐ All assets by Market Cap
๐ Automakers
โ๏ธ Airlines
๐ซ Airports
โ๏ธ Aircraft manufacturers
๐ฆ Banks
๐จ Hotels
๐ Pharmaceuticals
๐ E-Commerce
โ๏ธ Healthcare
๐ฆ Courier services
๐ฐ Media/Press
๐ท Alcoholic beverages
๐ฅค Beverages
๐ Clothing
โ๏ธ Mining
๐ Railways
๐ฆ Insurance
๐ Real estate
โ Ports
๐ผ Professional services
๐ด Food
๐ Restaurant chains
โ๐ป Software
๐ Semiconductors
๐ฌ Tobacco
๐ณ Financial services
๐ข Oil&Gas
๐ Electricity
๐งช Chemicals
๐ฐ Investment
๐ก Telecommunication
๐๏ธ Retail
๐ฅ๏ธ Internet
๐ Construction
๐ฎ Video Game
๐ป Tech
๐ฆพ AI
>> All Categories
ETFs
๐ All ETFs
๐๏ธ Bond ETFs
๏ผ Dividend ETFs
โฟ Bitcoin ETFs
โข Ethereum ETFs
๐ช Crypto Currency ETFs
๐ฅ Gold ETFs & ETCs
๐ฅ Silver ETFs & ETCs
๐ข๏ธ Oil ETFs & ETCs
๐ฝ Commodities ETFs & ETNs
๐ Emerging Markets ETFs
๐ Small-Cap ETFs
๐ Low volatility ETFs
๐ Inverse/Bear ETFs
โฌ๏ธ Leveraged ETFs
๐ Global/World ETFs
๐บ๐ธ USA ETFs
๐บ๐ธ S&P 500 ETFs
๐บ๐ธ Dow Jones ETFs
๐ช๐บ Europe ETFs
๐จ๐ณ China ETFs
๐ฏ๐ต Japan ETFs
๐ฎ๐ณ India ETFs
๐ฌ๐ง UK ETFs
๐ฉ๐ช Germany ETFs
๐ซ๐ท France ETFs
โ๏ธ Mining ETFs
โ๏ธ Gold Mining ETFs
โ๏ธ Silver Mining ETFs
๐งฌ Biotech ETFs
๐ฉโ๐ป Tech ETFs
๐ Real Estate ETFs
โ๏ธ Healthcare ETFs
โก Energy ETFs
๐ Renewable Energy ETFs
๐ก๏ธ Insurance ETFs
๐ฐ Water ETFs
๐ด Food & Beverage ETFs
๐ฑ Socially Responsible ETFs
๐ฃ๏ธ Infrastructure ETFs
๐ก Innovation ETFs
๐ Semiconductors ETFs
๐ Aerospace & Defense ETFs
๐ Cybersecurity ETFs
๐ฆพ Artificial Intelligence ETFs
Watchlist
Account
Wingstop Restaurants
WING
#3907
Rank
$3.31 B
Marketcap
๐บ๐ธ
United States
Country
$121.64
Share price
-1.69%
Change (1 day)
-57.39%
Change (1 year)
๐ Restaurant chains
๐ด Food
Categories
Wingstop Inc.
is an American restaurant chain specialized in chicken wings. Wingstop locations are decorated following a 1930s and 1940s "pre-jet" aviation theme.
Market cap
Revenue
Earnings
Price history
P/E ratio
P/S ratio
More
Price history
P/E ratio
P/S ratio
P/B ratio
Operating margin
EPS
Dividends
Dividend yield
Shares outstanding
Fails to deliver
Cost to borrow
Total assets
Total liabilities
Total debt
Cash on Hand
Net Assets
Annual Reports (10-K)
Wingstop Restaurants
Quarterly Reports (10-Q)
Submitted on 2026-04-29
Wingstop Restaurants - 10-Q quarterly report FY
Text size:
Small
Medium
Large
0001636222
12/26
2026
Q1
FALSE
xbrli:shares
iso4217:USD
iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares
wing:restaurant
xbrli:pure
wing:segment
0001636222
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
2026-04-28
0001636222
2026-03-28
0001636222
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:RoyaltyFranchiseFeesAndOtherMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:RoyaltyFranchiseFeesAndOtherMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AdvertisingMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AdvertisingMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisorOwnedOutletMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisorOwnedOutletMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2024-12-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2024-12-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2024-12-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2024-12-28
0001636222
2024-12-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2025-03-29
0001636222
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisedUnitsMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisedUnitsMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:InternationalAndUnitedStatesMember
us-gaap:FranchisedUnitsMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:EntityOperatedUnitsMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:SubsequentEventMember
2026-03-29
2026-05-15
0001636222
us-gaap:SubsequentEventMember
2026-06-05
0001636222
wing:A2023And2024ASRAgreementsMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:A2023And2024ASRAgreementsMember
2024-12-29
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
2024-12-29
2025-12-27
0001636222
2024-12-29
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
2026-03-05
0001636222
wing:ASRAgreementMember
2024-12-09
0001636222
wing:ASRAgreementMember
2024-12-09
2024-12-09
0001636222
wing:ASRAgreementMember
2025-02-20
2025-02-20
0001636222
wing:ASRAgreementMember
2024-12-09
2025-02-20
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:A20221ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:A20241ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:SecuredDebtMember
us-gaap:LineOfCreditMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:LineOfCreditMember
wing:A2020VariableFundingNotesMember
2025-12-27
0001636222
us-gaap:LineOfCreditMember
wing:A2020VariableFundingNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:A20201ClassA2SeniorSecuredNotesMember
us-gaap:SeniorNotesMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
wing:PSUsBasedOnOperationalTargetsMember
srt:MaximumMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
wing:PSUsBasedOnOperationalTargetsMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
srt:MaximumMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:PerformanceSharesMember
us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:LemmonPepperHoldingsLtdMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
wing:LemmonPepperHoldingsLtdMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:LemmonPepperHoldingsLtdMember
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RoyaltyMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:RoyaltyMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
wing:AdvertisingFeesAndRelatedIncomeMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:AdvertisingFeesAndRelatedIncomeMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchiseMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchiseMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
2026-03-29
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:RoyaltyFranchiseFeesAndOtherMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:RoyaltyFranchiseFeesAndOtherMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:AdvertisingMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:AdvertisingMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisorOwnedOutletMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
us-gaap:FranchisorOwnedOutletMember
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
0001636222
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2025-12-28
2026-03-28
0001636222
wing:RestaurantsSegmentMember
2024-12-29
2025-03-29
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark one)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
March 28, 2026
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission File No.
001-37425
WINGSTOP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
47-3494862
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2801 N Central Expressway
Suite 1600
Dallas
,
Texas
75204
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(
972
)
686-6500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
WING
NASDAQ Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x
Yes
¨
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
x
Yes
¨
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐
Yes
x
No
On April 28, 2026 there were
27,232,553
shares of common stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
Financial Information
4
Item 1.
Financial Statements
4
Consolidated Balance Sheets -
March 2
8
,
202
6
(Unaudited) and December 2
7
, 202
5
4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - Thirteen
Weeks Ended
March 28,
202
6
and
March 29, 2025
5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit (Unaudited) - Thirteen
Weeks Ended
March 28,
202
6
and
March 29, 2025
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) -
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
March 28,
202
6
and
March 29, 2025
7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
8
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
14
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
26
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
27
PART II
Other Information
28
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
28
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
28
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
28
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
28
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
28
Item 5.
Other Information
28
Item 6.
Exhibits
29
Signatures
30
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands, except share and par value amounts)
March 28,
2026
December 27,
2025
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
128,816
$
196,572
Restricted cash
25,994
25,994
Accounts receivable, net
23,525
20,823
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
7,689
7,956
Advertising fund assets, restricted
30,921
16,143
Total current assets
216,945
267,488
Property and equipment, net
138,427
130,581
Operating lease assets
47,909
48,637
Goodwill
83,875
83,875
Trademarks
32,700
32,700
Investments
88,358
87,164
Other non-current assets, net
40,672
42,964
Total assets
$
648,886
$
693,409
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$
9,362
$
12,846
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
3,401
3,232
Other current liabilities
53,056
49,744
Advertising fund liabilities
30,921
16,143
Total current liabilities
96,740
81,965
Long-term debt, net
1,209,837
1,209,094
Operating lease liabilities
57,177
58,080
Deferred revenues, net of current
50,876
47,721
Deferred income tax liabilities, net
33,279
33,142
Other non-current liabilities
149
169
Total liabilities
1,448,058
1,430,171
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 7)
Stockholders' deficit
Common stock, $
0.01
par value;
100,000,000
shares authorized;
27,232,479
and
27,540,619
shares issued and outstanding as of March 28, 2026 and December 27, 2025, respectively
272
275
Additional paid-in-capital
213
1,529
Retained deficit
(
804,285
)
(
744,915
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
4,628
6,349
Total stockholders' deficit
(
799,172
)
(
736,762
)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
$
648,886
$
693,409
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Revenue:
Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other
$
87,470
$
78,775
Advertising fees
63,269
62,272
Company-owned restaurant sales
32,986
30,047
Total revenue
183,725
171,094
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales
(1)
24,716
22,835
Advertising expenses
67,311
65,795
Selling, general and administrative
34,449
31,440
Depreciation and amortization
6,841
6,228
Loss on disposal of assets
—
6,535
Total costs and expenses
133,317
132,833
Operating income
50,408
38,261
Interest expense, net
9,764
8,910
Investment (income) expense
72
(
93,839
)
Income before income tax expense
40,572
123,190
Income tax expense
10,689
30,925
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
Earnings per share
Basic
$
1.09
$
3.25
Diluted
$
1.08
$
3.24
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Currency translation adjustment
$
(
1,721
)
$
3,259
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(
1,721
)
3,259
Comprehensive income
$
28,162
$
95,524
(1)
Cost of sales includes all operating expenses of company-owned restaurants, including advertising expenses, and excludes depreciation and amortization, which are presented separately.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025
(amounts in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
Common Stock
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-In Capital
Retained Deficit
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
Balance at December 27, 2025
27,540,619
$
275
$
1,529
$
(
744,915
)
$
6,349
$
(
736,762
)
Net income
—
—
—
29,883
—
29,883
Shares issued under stock plans
101,952
1
(
1
)
—
—
—
Purchases of common stock
(
374,324
)
(
4
)
(
6,034
)
(
72,480
)
—
(
78,518
)
Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting
(
35,768
)
—
—
(
8,460
)
—
(
8,460
)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
—
—
4,823
—
—
4,823
Dividends declared on common stock and equivalents
—
—
(
104
)
(
8,313
)
—
(
8,417
)
Currency translation adjustment
—
—
—
—
(
1,721
)
(
1,721
)
Balance at March 28, 2026
27,232,479
272
213
(
804,285
)
4,628
(
799,172
)
Common Stock
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-In Capital
Retained Deficit
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
Balance at December 28, 2024
28,662,614
$
287
$
1,568
$
(
676,940
)
$
(
501
)
$
(
675,586
)
Net income
—
—
—
92,265
92,265
Shares issued under stock plans
109,964
1
(
1
)
—
—
—
Purchases of common stock
(
830,012
)
(
8
)
(
5,179
)
(
115,582
)
—
(
120,769
)
Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting
(
39,678
)
(
1
)
—
(
11,596
)
—
(
11,597
)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
—
—
5,312
—
—
5,312
Dividends declared on common stock and equivalents
—
—
(
409
)
(
7,457
)
—
(
7,866
)
Currency translation adjustment
—
—
—
—
3,259
3,259
Balance at March 29, 2025
27,902,888
279
1,291
(
719,310
)
2,758
(
714,982
)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Operating activities
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
6,841
6,228
Deferred income taxes
137
13,320
Stock-based compensation expense
4,823
5,312
Non cash investment income
(
2,406
)
(
1,467
)
Loss on disposal of assets
—
6,535
Gain on sale of investment
—
(
92,485
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
802
769
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(
2,702
)
1,209
Prepaid expenses and other assets
474
(
6,802
)
Advertising fund assets and liabilities, net
15,936
(
15,223
)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
4,616
12,223
Deferred revenue
3,152
2,515
Other non-current liabilities
(
175
)
895
Cash provided by operating activities
61,381
25,294
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment
(
17,725
)
(
8,022
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
—
17,330
Payments for investments
—
(
76,513
)
Proceeds from sale of investments
—
107,700
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(
17,725
)
40,495
Financing activities
Purchases of common stock
(
78,518
)
(
120,772
)
Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting
(
8,460
)
(
11,597
)
Dividends paid
(
8,500
)
(
8,046
)
Cash used in financing activities
(
95,478
)
(
140,415
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(
51,822
)
(
74,626
)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
228,453
359,574
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
$
176,631
$
284,948
Supplemental information:
Accrued capital expenditures
$
2,018
$
6,689
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
7
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(1)
Basis of Presentation and Update to Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of operations.
Wingstop Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Wingstop” or the “Company”), is in the business of franchising and operating Wingstop restaurants. As of March 28, 2026, the Company had a total of
3,153
restaurants system-wide. The Company’s restaurant base is approximately
98
% franchised, with
3,096
franchised locations (including
500
restaurants in international locations and U.S. territories) and
57
company-owned restaurants as of March 28, 2026.
Basis of presentation.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Consequently, financial information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared annually in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. Balance sheet amounts are as of March 28, 2026 and December 27, 2025, and operating results are for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the financial statements and accompanying footnotes to conform to the Company’s current period presentation.
In the Company’s opinion, all necessary adjustments have been made for the fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2025 (the “Annual Report”).
Fiscal year.
The Company uses a 52- or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the last Saturday of the calendar year. Fiscal years 2026 and 2025 each have 52 weeks.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash.
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of March 28, 2026 and December 27, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
March 28, 2026
December 27, 2025
Cash and cash equivalents
$
128,816
$
196,572
Restricted cash
25,994
25,994
Restricted cash, included in Advertising fund assets, restricted
21,821
5,887
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
176,631
$
228,453
Recently issued accounting pronouncements.
We reviewed all recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements. There have been no changes to the recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted that were previously disclosed in the Annual Report.
(2)
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities convertible into, or other contracts to issue, common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the basic weighted average number of shares is increased by the dilutive effect of the exercise and vesting of stock options and service-based and performance-based restricted stock units, respectively, as determined using the treasury stock method.
8
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding is reconciled to diluted weighted average shares outstanding as follows (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
27,481
28,385
Dilutive shares
112
124
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
27,593
28,509
For the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, equity awards representing approximately
98,000
and
8,000
shares, respectively, were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
(3)
Stockholders’ Deficit
Dividends
In connection with the Company’s regular dividend program, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $
0.30
per share of common stock in the first quarter of 2026.
Subsequent to the first quarter, on April 28, 2026, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $
0.30
per share of common stock for stockholders of record as of May 15, 2026. The regular quarterly dividend is to be paid on June 5, 2026, totaling approximately $
8.2
million.
Share Repurchase Program
The following table summarizes shares repurchased and retired, and the average price per share, during the periods presented:
March 28, 2026
December 27, 2025
# of shares
Weighted average price per share
# of shares
Weighted average price per share
2023 & 2024 ASR Agreements
—
$
—
317,202
$
292.28
Share repurchases
374,324
208.08
901,191
243.81
Total share repurchases
374,324
$
208.08
1,218,393
$
256.43
On March 5, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to an additional $
300.0
million of the Company’s common stock under the share repurchase program.
On December 9, 2024, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the “ASR Agreement”) with a third-party financial institution to repurchase $
250.0
million of the Company’s common stock under its Share Repurchase Program. Pursuant to the terms of the ASR Agreement, the Company paid the financial institution $
250.0
million and, on December 9, 2024, the Company received and retired
551,325
shares of its common stock. The final settlement under the ASR Agreement occurred on February 20, 2025, and the Company received and retired an additional
317,202
shares of common stock. In connection with the ASR Agreement, the Company received and retired a total of
868,527
shares of common stock at an average price of $
287.84
per share. The total number of shares repurchased under the ASR Agreement was based on a daily volume-weighted average share price during the valuation period specified in the ASR Agreement, less a discount and subject to adjustments.
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, the Company repurchased and retired
374,324
shares of its common stock at an average price of $
208.08
per share. As of March 28, 2026, $
313.4
million remained available under the Share Repurchase Program.
(4)
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or
9
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
liability. Assets and liabilities are classified using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value as follows:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
Level 2 — Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs corroborated by market data.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s estimates and assumptions.
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The fair value of the Company’s preference share investment in the Company’s United Kingdom master franchisee, Lemon Pepper Holdings Ltd. (“LPH”), which is accounted for as a held-to-maturity debt security, was estimated using a discounted cash flow model that incorporates unobservable inputs, including expected cash flows, discount rates, and an assumed maturity term of approximately five years.
Based on this valuation approach, the estimated fair value of the preference share investment was determined at $
94.5
million. The carrying value of the investment as of March 28, 2026 was $
86.5
million, net of an allowance for credit losses of $
5.1
million.
Fair value of debt and the investment in debt securities are determined on a non-recurring basis, which results are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Fair Value
Hierarchy
March 28, 2026
December 27, 2025
Carrying
Value
Fair Value
Carrying
Value
Fair Value
Securitized Financing Facility:
2020-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
(1)
Level 2
$
472,800
$
457,968
$
472,800
$
456,961
2022-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
(1)
Level 2
$
248,125
$
238,657
$
248,125
$
240,061
2024-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
(1)
Level 2
$
500,000
$
507,715
$
500,000
$
514,500
Investment in preference shares of LPH
(2)
Level 3
$
86,527
$
94,525
$
85,597
$
87,482
(1)
The fair values of the 2020-1, 2022-1, and 2024-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes were estimated using available market information.
(2)
The fair value approximates discounted cash flows using current market rates for debt investments with similar maturities and credit risk. The preference shares are accounted for as held-to-maturity debt securities at amortized cost. Refer to Note 9 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments.
The Company also measures certain non-financial assets (primarily long-lived assets, intangible assets, and goodwill) at fair value on a non-recurring basis in connection with its periodic evaluations of such assets for potential impairment.
(5)
Income Taxes
Income tax expense and the effective tax rate were $
10.7
million and
26.3
%, respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, and $
30.9
million and
25.1
%, respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025.
T
he increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to an increase in state income taxes and other non-deductible items. The decrease in total tax expense for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 is primarily related to the taxable gain on the sale of our non-controlling interest in LPH.
10
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(6)
Debt Obligations
Long-term debt consisted of the following components (in thousands):
March 28, 2026
December 27, 2025
2020-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
$
472,800
$
472,800
2022-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
248,125
248,125
2024-1 Class A-2 Senior Secured Notes
500,000
500,000
Debt issuance costs, net of amortization
(
11,088
)
(
11,831
)
Total debt
1,209,837
1,209,094
The Company’s outstanding debt was issued by Wingstop Funding LLC, a limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Wingstop Inc. and consists of (i) Series 2020-1
2.84
% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2020 Class A-2 Notes”), (ii) Series 2022-1
3.734
% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2022 Class A-2 Notes”), (iii) Series 2024-1
5.858
% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2024 Class A-2 Notes”), and (iv) a revolving financing facility of Series 2022-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes, Class A-1 (the “Variable Funding Notes”), which permits borrowings of up to a maximum principal amount of $
300
million, subject to certain borrowing conditions, a portion of which may be used to issue letters of credit.
No
borrowings were outstanding under the Variable Funding Notes as of March 28, 2026 and December 27, 2025.
As of March 28, 2026, the Company’s leverage ratio under the 2020 Class A-2 Notes, the 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and the 2024 Class A-2 Notes was less than
5.0
x. Per the terms of the Company’s debt agreements, principal payments can be suspended at the borrower’s election until the repayment date, as long as the Company maintains a leverage ratio of less than
5.0
x. Accordingly, the Company elected to suspend payments, and the entire outstanding balance of $
1.2
billion of the 2020 Class A-2 Notes, the 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and the 2024 Class A-2 Notes has been classified as long-term debt as the repayment date is more than one year from March 28, 2026.
The 2020 Class A-2 Notes, 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and 2024 Class A-2 Notes were issued in securitization transactions and are guaranteed by certain limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company and secured by a security interest in substantially all of their assets, including certain domestic and foreign revenue-generating assets, consisting principally of franchise-related agreements, intellectual property, and vendor rebate contracts.
(7)
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities, including claims and actions resulting from employment-related and franchise-related matters, which arise in the ordinary course of business and are generally covered by insurance. In the opinion of management, the amount of ultimate liability with respect to such actions is not likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
(8)
Stock-Based Compensation
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, the Company granted
38,984
restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain employees. The RSUs granted generally vest ratably over a
three-year
period subsequent to the grant date and had a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $
236.25
per unit.
In addition, the Company granted
31,669
performance stock units (“PSUs”) to certain employees during the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026. Of the total PSUs granted,
27,358
PSUs are subject to a service condition and a performance vesting condition based on return on incremental invested capital (“ROIIC PSUs”). The ROIIC PSUs are generally eligible to cliff-vest approximately
three years
from the grant date, and the maximum vesting percentage that could be realized for each of the ROIIC PSUs is
250
% based on the level of performance achieved for the awards. The remaining
4,311
PSUs granted are subject to a service condition and a performance vesting condition based on the number of net new restaurants opened over the performance period (“NNR PSUs”). The NNR PSUs vest ratably over a
three-year
period, and the maximum vesting percentage that could be realized for each of the NNR PSUs is
100
% based on the level of performance achieved for the awards. The PSUs had a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $
236.34
per unit. Total compensation cost for the PSUs is determined based on the most likely outcome of the performance condition and the number of awards expected to vest based on the outcome.
11
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Total compensation expense related to all share-based awards, net of forfeitures recognized, was $
4.8
million and $
5.3
million for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, respectively, and was included in Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(9)
Investments
In the first fiscal quarter of 2025, LPH, which was an unconsolidated equity method investment of the Company, completed a transaction to sell all its outstanding equity to a third party. The Company received proceeds of $
107.7
million and recognized a gain of $
97.2
million in Investment (income) expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
In connection with the transaction, the Company reinvested $
75.4
million in a newly formed entity, consisting primarily of preference shares and an approximately
18.75
% non-controlling equity interest.
Substantially all of the reinvestment consists of preference shares, which will be accounted for as held-to-maturity debt securities at amortized cost, with interest income recognized using the effective interest method.
These securities
are evaluated for credit losses on a quarterly basis under the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $
4.7
million in Investment (income) expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income during the first fiscal quarter of 2025.
The Company’s
18.75
% ownership interest in ordinary shares is accounted for using the equity method, with the Company’s share of investee income will be recorded in Investment (income) expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(10)
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The following table represents a disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2026
March 29, 2025
Royalty revenue
$
76,801
$
71,947
Advertising fees and related income
63,269
62,272
Franchise fees
1,879
1,399
Franchise fee, development fee, and international territory fee payments received by the Company are recorded as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, which represents a contract liability. Deferred revenue is reduced as fees are recognized in revenue over the term of the franchise license for the respective restaurant. As the term of the franchise license is typically
ten years
, substantially all of the franchise fee revenue recognized in the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 was included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 27, 2025. Approximately $
14.7
million and $
13.6
million of deferred revenue as of March 28, 2026 and December 27, 2025, respectively, relates to restaurants that have not yet opened, so the fees are not yet being amortized. The weighted average remaining amortization period for deferred franchise and renewal fees related to open restaurants is
7.5
years. The Company did not have any material contract assets as of March 28, 2026.
12
WINGSTOP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(11)
Segment Information
The Company has
one
reportable segment, and the measure of restaurant segment assets is reported as Total assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Financial information for the Company’s reportable segment is as follows (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Revenue:
Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other
$
87,470
$
78,775
Advertising fees
63,269
62,272
Company-owned restaurant sales
32,986
30,047
Total revenue
183,725
171,094
Cost of sales:
Food, beverage and packaging costs
11,794
11,241
Labor
7,889
7,153
Other operating costs
5,869
5,191
Vendor rebates
(
836
)
(
750
)
Total cost of sales
24,716
22,835
Advertising expenses
67,311
65,795
Selling, general & administrative:
Transaction costs
—
497
System implementation costs
546
1,311
Amortization of capitalized system implementation costs
467
—
Restructuring charges
2,390
—
Stock-based compensation expense
4,823
5,312
Other segment expense
(1)
26,223
24,320
Total selling, general and administrative
34,449
31,440
Depreciation and amortization
6,841
6,228
Loss on disposal of assets
—
6,535
Interest expense, net
9,764
8,910
Investment (income) expense
72
(
93,839
)
Income tax expense
10,689
30,925
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
(1)
Other segment expense consists primarily of corporate related items such as headcount-related expenses, office rent expense, and other overhead costs.
13
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Wingstop Inc. (collectively with its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, “Wingstop,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2025 (our “Annual Report”). The statements in this discussion regarding industry outlook, our expectations regarding our future performance, liquidity and capital resources, and other non-historical statements are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” below and “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11 of our Annual Report. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday of each calendar year. Our fiscal quarters are comprised of 13 weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of a 53-week year, which contains 14 weeks. Fiscal years 2026 and 2025 each contain 52 weeks.
Overview
Wingstop is the largest fast casual chicken wings-focused restaurant chain in the world, with over 3,150 locations worldwide. We are dedicated to serving the world flavor through an unparalleled guest experience and offering of classic wings, boneless wings, tenders, and chicken sandwiches, always cooked to order and hand-sauced-and-tossed in 12 bold, distinctive flavors.
The Company is primarily a franchisor, with approximately 98% of Wingstop’s restaurants currently owned and operated by independent franchisees. We believe our asset-light, highly-franchised business model generates strong operating margins and requires low capital expenditures, creating stockholder value through strong and consistent free cash flow and capital-efficient growth.
Highlights for the fiscal first quarter 2026 compared to the fiscal first quarter 2025:
•
System-wide sales increased 5.9% to $1.4 billion;
•
97 net new openings in the fiscal first quarter 2026;
•
Domestic same store sales decreased 8.7%;
•
Total revenue increased 7.4% to $183.7 million;
•
Net income decreased 67.6% to $29.9 million, or $1.08 per diluted share;
•
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share, both non-GAAP measures, increased 14.7% to $32.5 million, or $1.18 per diluted share; and
•
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased 9.9% to $65.4 million.
14
Key Performance Indicators
Key measures that we use in evaluating our restaurants and assessing our business include the following:
Number of restaurants.
Management reviews the number of new restaurants, the number of closed restaurants, and the number of acquisitions and divestitures of restaurants to assess net new restaurant growth.
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Domestic Franchised Activity:
Beginning of period
2,529
2,154
Openings
67
96
Closures
—
—
Restaurants end of period
2,596
2,250
Domestic Company-Owned Activity:
Beginning of period
57
50
Openings
—
1
Closures
—
—
Restaurants end of period
57
51
Total Domestic Restaurants
2,653
2,301
International Franchised Activity
(1)
:
Beginning of period
470
359
Openings
33
30
Closures
(3)
(1)
Restaurants end of period
500
388
Total System-wide Restaurants
3,153
2,689
(1)
Including U.S. territories.
System-wide sales.
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.
Domestic average unit volume (“AUV”).
Domestic 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 growth are primarily driven by increases in same store sales and are also influenced by opening new restaurants.
Domestic same store sales.
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.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.
We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, net, income tax expense (benefit), and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, net, income tax
15
expense (benefit), and depreciation and amortization, with further adjustments for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, certain system implementation costs, gains and losses on non-recurring transactions, certain restructuring charges, and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation. For a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and for further discussion of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP measures and how we utilize them, see footnote 2 below.
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share.
We define Adjusted net income 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 that management believes are not indicative of the Company’s core operating results or business outlook over the long term. We define Adjusted earnings per diluted share as Adjusted net income divided by weighted average diluted share count. For a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted net income and for further discussion of Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per diluted share as non-GAAP measures and how we utilize them, see footnote 3 below.
The following table sets forth our key performance indicators for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (in thousands, except unit data):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2026
March 29, 2025
Number of system-wide restaurants open at end of period
3,153
2,689
System-wide sales
(1)
$
1,376,669
$
1,300,228
Domestic restaurant AUV
$
1,956
$
2,135
Domestic same store sales growth
(8.7)
%
0.5
%
Company-owned domestic same store sales growth
(2.2)
%
1.4
%
Total revenue
$
183,725
$
171,094
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
Adjusted EBITDA
(2)
$
65,403
$
59,497
Adjusted net income
(3)
$
32,469
$
28,316
(1)
The percentage of system-wide sales attributable to company-owned restaurants was 2.4% and 2.3% for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, respectively. The remainder was generated by franchised restaurants, as reported by our franchisees.
(2)
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.
We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by our competitors, because not all companies and analysts calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we consider them to be important supplemental measures of our performance and believe they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations. Many investors are interested in understanding the performance of our business by comparing our results from ongoing operations on a period-over-period basis and would ordinarily add back non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, as well as items that are not part of normal day-to-day operations of our business.
Management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
•
as a measurement of operating performance because we believe they assist us in comparing the operating performance of our restaurants on a consistent basis, as they remove the impact of items not directly resulting from our core operations;
16
•
for planning purposes, including the preparation of our internal annual operating budget and financial projections;
•
to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of our operational strategies;
•
to evaluate our capacity to fund capital expenditures and expand our business; and
•
to calculate incentive compensation payments for our employees, including assessing performance under our annual incentive compensation plan.
By providing these 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. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to, or a substitute for net income or other financial statement data presented in our consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance. Some of the limitations are:
•
such measures do not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
•
such measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
•
such measures do not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
•
such measures do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
•
although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and such measures do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
•
other companies in our industry may calculate such measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.
Due to these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using these non-GAAP measures only as performance measures and supplementally. As noted in the table below, Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments for losses on debt extinguishment and financing transactions, transaction costs, costs and fees associated with investments in our strategic initiatives, certain system implementation costs, gains and losses on non-recurring transactions, certain restrucutring charges, and stock-based compensation expense. We believe these adjustments are appropriate because the amounts recognized can vary significantly from period to period, do not directly relate to the ongoing operations of our restaurants, and complicate comparisons of our internal operating results and operating results of other restaurant companies over time. Each of the normal recurring adjustments and other adjustments described in this paragraph and in the reconciliation table below help management measure our core operating performance over time by removing items that are not related to day-to-day operations.
17
The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
Interest expense, net
9,764
8,910
Income tax expense
10,689
30,925
Depreciation and amortization
6,841
6,228
EBITDA
$
57,177
$
138,328
Additional adjustments:
Transaction costs
(a)
—
497
Loss on disposal of building
(b)
—
6,534
Gain on sale of investment
(c)
—
(92,485)
System implementation costs
(d)
546
1,311
Amortization of capitalized system implementation costs
(e)
467
—
Restructuring charges
(f)
2,390
—
Stock-based compensation expense
(g)
4,823
5,312
Adjusted EBITDA
$
65,403
$
59,497
(a)
Represents non-recurring transaction costs that are not part of our ongoing operations and were incurred to execute the sale and subsequent reinvestment of the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in LPH, the Company’s United Kingdom master franchisee, during the fiscal first quarter 2025; all transaction costs are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(b)
Represents a non-recurring loss on the sale of an office building during the fiscal first quarter 2025, which was included in Loss on disposal of assets on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(c)
Represents a non-recurring gain related to the sale of the Company’s
unconsolidated equity method investment
in LPH during the fiscal first quarter 2025, which was included in Investment income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Refer to Note 9 in the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)
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 Comprehensive Income.
(e)
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 Comprehensive Income.
(f)
Represents certain restructuring charges related to corporate realignment announced on January 13, 2026.
(g)
Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures.
(3)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to net income and earnings per share, as determined by GAAP. These measures have not been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company believes the use of adjusted net income allows investors and analysts to better understand the results of the operations of the Company, by excluding certain items that have a disproportionate impact on the Company’s results for a particular period. Additionally, management believes adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share supplement GAAP measures and enable management to more effectively evaluate the Company’s performance period-over-period and relative to competitors.
18
The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted net income and calculates adjusted earnings per diluted share for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Numerator:
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
Adjustments:
Transaction costs
(a)
—
497
Loss on disposal of building
(b)
—
6,534
Gain on sale of investment
(c)
—
(92,485)
System implementation costs
(d)
546
1,311
Amortization of capitalized system implementation costs
(e)
467
—
Restructuring charges
(f)
2,390
—
Tax effect of adjustments
(g)
(817)
20,194
Adjusted net income
$
32,469
$
28,316
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted
27,593
28,509
Adjusted earnings per diluted share
$
1.18
$
0.99
(a)
Represents non-recurring transaction costs that are not part of our ongoing operations and were incurred to execute the sale and subsequent reinvestment of the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in LPH, the Company’s United Kingdom master franchisee, during the fiscal first quarter 2025; all transaction costs are included in Selling, general and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(b)
Represents a non-recurring loss on the sale of an office building during the fiscal first quarter 2025, which was included in Loss on disposal of assets on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
(c)
Represents a non-recurring gain related to the sale of the Company’s
unconsolidated equity method investment
in LPH during the fiscal first quarter 2025, which was included in Investment income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Refer to Note 9 in the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)
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 Comprehensive Income.
(e)
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 Comprehensive Income.
(f)
Represents certain restructuring charges related to corporate realignment announced on January 13, 2026.
(g)
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 March 28, 2026, which includes provisions for U.S. federal income taxes, and assumes the respective statutory rates for applicable state and local jurisdictions.
19
Results of Operations
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 28, 2026 compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended March 29, 2025
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (dollars in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Increase / (Decrease)
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
$
%
Revenue:
Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other
$
87,470
$
78,775
$
8,695
11.0
%
Advertising fees
63,269
62,272
997
1.6
%
Company-owned restaurant sales
32,986
30,047
2,939
9.8
%
Total revenue
183,725
171,094
12,631
7.4
%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales
(1)
24,716
22,835
1,881
8.2
%
Advertising expenses
67,311
65,795
1,516
2.3
%
Selling, general and administrative
34,449
31,440
3,009
9.6
%
Depreciation and amortization
6,841
6,228
613
9.8
%
Loss on disposal of assets
—
6,535
(6,535)
NM*
Total costs and expenses
133,317
132,833
484
0.4
%
Operating income
50,408
38,261
12,147
31.7
%
Interest expense, net
9,764
8,910
854
9.6
%
Investment (income) expense
72
(93,839)
93,911
NM*
Income before income tax expense
40,572
123,190
(82,618)
(67.1)
%
Income tax expense
10,689
30,925
(20,236)
(65.4)
%
Net income
$
29,883
$
92,265
$
(62,382)
(67.6)
%
(1)
Cost of sales includes all operating expenses of company-owned restaurants, including advertising expenses, but excludes depreciation and amortization, which are presented separately.
*Not meaningful.
Revenue
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, total revenue was $183.7 million, an increase of $12.6 million, or 7.4%, compared to $171.1 million in the comparable period in 2025.
Royalty revenue, franchise fees and other
increased $8.7 million, primarily driven by $12.2 million from net new franchise restaurant development and a $3.4 million increase in vendor rebates, partially offset by a $5.9 million decrease attributable to an 8.7% decline in domestic same store sales.
Company-owned restaurant sales increased $2.9 million, driven by six additional corporate stores opened or acquired since the prior year period.
20
Cost of sales
The table below presents the major components of cost of sales (dollars in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2026
March 29, 2025
In dollars
As a % of company-owned restaurant sales
In dollars
As a % of company-owned restaurant sales
Food, beverage and packaging costs
$
11,794
35.8
%
$
11,241
37.4
%
Labor costs
7,889
23.9
%
7,153
23.8
%
Other restaurant operating expenses
5,869
17.8
%
5,191
17.3
%
Vendor rebates
(836)
(2.5)
%
(750)
(2.5)
%
Total cost of sales
$
24,716
74.9
%
$
22,835
76.0
%
Food, beverage and packaging costs as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales were 35.8% in the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, compared to 37.4% in the comparable period in 2025. This decrease as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales was primarily due to a 13.1% decrease in the cost of bone-in chicken wings as compared to the prior year period.
Labor costs as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales were 23.9% for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, which was comparable to 23.8% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025.
Other restaurant operating expenses as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales were 17.8% for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, compared to 17.3% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025. The increase as a percentage of company-owned restaurant sales was due to repairs and maintenance costs.
Advertising expenses
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, advertising expenses were $67.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million compared to $65.8 million in the comparable period in 2025. Advertising expenses are recognized at the same time the related revenue is recognized, which does not necessarily correlate to the actual timing of the related advertising spend.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”)
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, SG&A expense was $34.4 million, an increase of $3.0 million compared to $31.4 million in the comparable period in 2025. The increase in SG&A expense was primarily driven by $2.4 million in restructuring charges during the fiscal first quarter 2026 related to the corporate realignment announced in January 2026, partially offset by lower system implementation costs and other expenses compared to the prior year period.
Depreciation and amortization
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, depreciation and amortization was $6.8 million, an increase of $0.6 million compared to $6.2 million in the comparable period in 2025. The increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily due to capital expenditures placed in service during the period related to our technology investments.
Interest expense, net
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, interest expense, net increased to $9.8 million from $8.9 million in the prior year period, primarily driven by a $0.6 million decline in interest income due to lower average cash balances and $0.3 million of additional interest expense.
21
Investment (income) expense
Investment income decreased by $93.8 million compared to the prior year period, which reflected a gain recorded on the sale of the Company’s unconsolidated equity method investment in LPH, its United Kingdom master franchisee, during the fiscal first quarter 2025. See Note 9 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Income tax expense
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, we recognized income tax expense of $10.7 million, yielding an effective tax rate of 26.3%, compared to an effective tax rate of 25.1% in the prior year period.
T
he increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to an increase in state income taxes and other non-deductible items.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General.
Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash provided from operating activities, cash and cash equivalents on hand, and borrowings available under our securitized financing facility. Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are working capital, general corporate needs, capital expenditures, income tax payments, debt service requirements, dividend payments. We generally utilize available cash flows from operations to invest in our business, service our debt obligations, pay dividends, and execute our share repurchase program. As of March 28, 2026, the Company had $176.6 million of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet.
Based upon current levels of operations and anticipated growth, we expect that cash flows from operations, combined with our securitized financing facility, including our Variable Funding Notes, will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months and the foreseeable future.
The following table shows summary cash flows information for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025 (in thousands):
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28,
2026
March 29,
2025
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$
61,381
$
25,294
Investing activities
(17,725)
40,495
Financing activities
(95,478)
(140,415)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
(51,822)
$
(74,626)
Operating activities
. Our cash flows from operating activities are principally driven by sales at both franchise restaurants and company-owned restaurants, as well as franchise and development fees. We collect franchise royalties from our franchise owners on a weekly basis. Restaurant-level operating costs at our company-owned restaurants, unearned franchise and development fees, and corporate overhead costs also impact our cash flow from operating activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $61.4 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, an increase of $36.1 million from net cash provided by operating activities of $25.3 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025, primarily related to changes in Ad Fund cash and cash equivalents, directly related to the timing of payments for expenses incurred for national advertising, as well as changes in working capital.
Investing activities
. Our net cash used in investing activities was $17.7 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, a change of $58.2 million from net cash provided by investing activities of $40.5 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025. The increase in capital expenditures primarily relates to our investments in technology. The prior year period included proceeds of $107.7 million from the sale of our non-controlling interest in LPH, partially offset by reinvestment in the newly formed entity of $75.4 million, as well as proceeds from the sale of an office building of $17.3 million in the prior year period.
Financing activities
. Our net cash used in financing activities was $95.5 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, a decrease of $44.9 million from net cash used in financing activities of $140.4 million in the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2025. The decrease is primarily related to an additional $41.9 million in common stock repurchased under our share repurchase program in the prior year period compared to the current year period.
22
Securitized financing facility
. On December 3, 2024, the Company completed a securitized financing transaction, in which Wingstop Funding LLC, a limited purpose, bankruptcy-remote, indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Issuer”), issued $500 million of its Series 2024-1 5.858% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2024 Class A-2 Notes”). The Issuer also increased the capacity of its revolving financing facility of Series 2022-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes, Class A-1 (the “Variable Funding Notes”) from $200 million to $300 million. Following the increase, borrowing capacity under the Variable Funding Notes permits borrowings of up to a maximum principal amount of $300 million, a portion of which may be used to issue letters of credit. The 2024 Class A-2 Notes and the Variable Funding Notes are referred to collectively as the “2024 Notes.” The proceeds from the securitized financing transaction were used to pay related transaction fees and expenses, strengthen the Company's liquidity position and for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock.
In addition to the 2024 Notes, the Company’s outstanding debt consists of its existing Series 2022-1 3.734% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2022 Class A-2 Notes”) and Series 2020-1 2.84% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2020 Class A-2 Notes”).
During the fiscal first quarter of 2026, the Company continued to have a leverage ratio under the 2020 Class A-2 Notes, the 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and 2024 Class A-2 Notes of less than 5.0x. Per the terms of the Company’s debt agreements, principal payments can be suspended at the borrower’s election until the repayment date, as long as the Company maintains a leverage ratio of less than 5.0x. Accordingly, the Company elected to suspend payments, and the entire outstanding balance of the 2020 Class A-2 Notes, the 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and the 2024 Class A-2 Notes has been classified as long-term debt due after fiscal year 2026.
Dividends.
We paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock resulting in aggregate declared dividends of $8.2 million during the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026. On April 28, 2026 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.30 per share, to be paid on June 5, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 15, 2026, totaling approximately $8.2 million.
We do not currently expect the restrictions in our debt instruments to impact our ability to make regular quarterly dividends pursuant to our quarterly dividend program. However, any future declarations of dividends, as well as the amount and timing of such dividends, are subject to capital availability and the discretion of our Board of Directors, which must evaluate, among other things, whether cash dividends are in the best interest of the Company and our stockholders.
Share Repurchase Program.
On March 5, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $300.0 million of its outstanding shares of common stock under its existing share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”). During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, the Company repurchased and retired 374,324 shares of its common stock at an average price of $208.08 per share. As of March 28, 2026, $313.4 million remained available under the Share Repurchase Program. The authorization for the repurchase continues until all such shares have been repurchased or the repurchase plan is terminated by action of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparing consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by the application of our accounting policies. Critical accounting estimates are those that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. While we apply our judgment based on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could vary from these assumptions. It is possible that materially different amounts would be reported using different assumptions. Our critical accounting policies and estimates are identified and described in our annual consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report, and there have been no material changes since the filing of our Annual Report.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1,
Basis of Presentation
, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
23
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report includes statements of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) 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,” “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. 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.
Such risks and other factors include those listed below and elsewhere in this report and our Annual Report, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from the results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements:
•
our ability to effectively implement our growth strategy;
•
our relationships with, and the performance of, our existing and new franchises and franchisees, as well as actions by franchisees that could harm our business;
•
our ability to identify, recruit and contract with a sufficient number of qualified franchisees;
•
risks associated with food safety, food-borne illness and other health concerns;
•
our ability to successfully expand into new and existing markets;
•
our ability to effectively compete within our industry;
•
risks associated with changes in food and supply costs;
•
risks associated with interruptions in our supply chain, including availability of food products;
•
risks associated with data privacy, cybersecurity and the use and implementation of information technology, including heightened risks that may arise upon increased adoption of artificial intelligence technologies;
•
risks associated with our increasing dependence on digital commerce platforms and third-party delivery service providers;
•
uncertainty in the law with respect to the assignment or allocation of liabilities in the franchise business model;
•
risks associated with litigation against us or our franchisees;
•
risks associated with the availability and cost of labor;
•
our ability to successfully advertise and market our business;
•
risks associated with changes in customer preferences, perceptions and eating habits;
•
risks associated with our future performance and operating results falling below the expectations of securities analysts and investors;
•
risks associated with the geographic concentration of our business;
•
the impact on our business from unexpected events such as changes in trade relations and policies, including tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and other trade barriers, international conflict or war and related sanctions, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, epidemics and pandemics and severe weather;
•
our ability to comply with laws and government regulations, including those relating to food products, employment and franchising, advertising and consumer protection, or increased costs associated with new or changing regulations;
•
our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage for our business;
•
risks associated with damage to our reputation or lack of acceptance of our brand in existing or new markets;
•
risks associated with our expansion into international markets and foreign government restrictions on operations;
24
•
our ability to attract and retain our executive officers and other key employees;
•
our ability to protect our intellectual property, including trademarks, trade secrets and other proprietary rights;
•
the impact on our business from environmental, social and corporate governance matters; and
•
our ability to comply with the terms of our securitized debt financing and generate sufficient cash flows to satisfy our significant debt service obligations thereunder.
The above list of factors is not exhaustive. Some of these and other factors are discussed in more detail under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report. When considering forward-looking statements in this report or that we make in other reports or statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements in this report and future reports we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements made in this report speak only as of the date of the report, unless specified otherwise. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and we cannot predict when they may arise or how they may affect us. 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.
25
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Commodity Price Risk.
We are exposed to market risks from changes in commodity prices. Many of the food products purchased by us are affected by weather, production, availability and other factors outside of our control, including inflation as compared to the prior year period. Although we enter into arrangements in an effort to mitigate the price volatility of food costs, there are no established fixed price markets for fresh bone-in chicken wings, so we may be subject to prevailing market conditions. Bone-in chicken wings accounted for approximately 19.7% and 20.8% of our company-owned restaurant cost of sales during the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, respectively. A hypothetical 10% increase in the bone-in chicken wing costs would have increased costs of sales by approximately $0.5 million during the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026. We do not engage in speculative financial transactions nor do we hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk.
Our long-term debt, including current portion, consisted entirely of the $1.2 billion incurred under the 2020 Class A-2 Notes, the 2022 Class A-2 Notes, and the 2024 Class A-2 Notes as of March 28, 2026 (excluding unamortized debt issuance costs). The Company’s predominantly fixed-rate debt structure has reduced its exposure to interest rate increases that could adversely affect its earnings and cash flows, but the Company remains exposed to changes in market interest rates reflected in the fair value of the debt and to the risk that the Company may need to refinance maturing debt with new debt at a higher rate. The Company is exposed to interest rate increases under the Variable Funding Notes; however, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under its Variable Funding Notes as of March 28, 2026.
26
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 28, 2026, pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 28, 2026, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
27
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are currently involved in various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business, including claims and actions resulting from employment-related and franchise-related matters. None of these matters, some of which are covered by insurance, has had a material effect on us, and, as of the date of this report, we are not party to any pending legal proceedings that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
However, a significant increase in the number of these claims or an increase in amounts owing under successful claims could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
A description of the risk factors associated with our business is contained in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid Per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
(1)
December 28, 2025 - January 24, 2026
—
$
—
—
$
—
January 25, 2026 - February 21, 2026
56,136
225.82
56,136
78,663,009
February 22, 2026 - March 28, 2026
318,188
204.94
318,188
313,445,915
Total
374,324
$
208.08
374,324
$
313,445,915
(1)
In August 2023, the Company announced a share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”), authorizing the repurchase of up to $250.0 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. On December 5, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $500.0 million of its outstanding shares of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program. On March 5, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $300 million of its outstanding shares of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program. The authorization for the repurchase continues until all such shares have been repurchased or the Share Repurchase Program is terminated by action of the Company’s Board of Directors. Since the inception of the Share Repurchase Program in August 2023, we have repurchased and retired 2,959,473 shares of our common stock at an average price of $252.25 per share. As of March 28, 2026, $313.4 million remained available under the Share Repurchase Program.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2026, no director or officer of the Company
adopted
or
terminated
a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
28
Item 6. Exhibits
Index to Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Wingstop Inc., as amended through May 22, 2025, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-37425) on July 30, 2025 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Wingstop Inc., effective as of May 22, 2025, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37425) on May 23, 2025 and incorporated by reference herein
.
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002.
101 INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101 SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101 CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101 DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101 LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101 PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and Contained in Exhibit 101)
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished, not filed.
29
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Wingstop Inc.
(Registrant)
Date:
April 29, 2026
By:
/s/ Michael J. Skipworth
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date:
April 29, 2026
By:
/s/ Alex R. Kaleida
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
30