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BJs Restaurants Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and comparable sales grew: Total revenues rose 6.4% to $388.9 million, and comparable restaurant sales rose 6.5% against the same quarter last year. Source
  • Restaurant profit rose 7.6%: Restaurant level operating profit was $66.8 million, up $4.7 million or 7.6%, lifting the margin to 17.2% from 17.0%. Source
  • Traffic drove the comparable gain: Management attributed the 6.5% comparable sales increase to an 8.3% traffic increase, and said sales continued to outperform casual dining benchmarks. Source
  • Eighth straight quarter of growth: Management counted this as the eighth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth and the seventh consecutive quarter of profit growth. Source
  • G&A rose as share of revenue: General and administrative costs were $26.3 million, or 6.8% of revenues against 5.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Shares bought back in quarter: The company repurchased and retired about 64,000 shares for about $2.4 million, against about 151,000 shares for $5.3 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Debt reduced to $44.0 million: Total debt was $44.0 million at June 30, 2026, down from $85.0 million at December 30, 2025; cash was $14.4 million against $23.8 million. Source
  • Sales and profit growth behind raise: The CFO said consistent sales and profit growth gave management confidence to raise fiscal 2026 guidance. Source

“These results reinforce our ability to win across multiple occasions while improving guest and team member metrics and increasing profits,”

Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable restaurant sales Sourcefiscal 20263.0% to 4.0%Raised from 1.0% to 3.0%
Restaurant level operating profit Sourcefiscal 2026$228 million to $235 millionRaised from $221 million to $233 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$145 million to $152 millionRaised from $140 million to $150 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$85 million to $95 millionKept
Share repurchasesfiscal 2026Up to $50 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 guidance raised for comparable restaurant sales, restaurant level operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure guidance was kept at $85 million to $95 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and comparable sales grew: Total revenues rose 6.4% to $388.9 million, and comparable restaurant sales rose 6.5% against the same quarter last year. Source
  • Restaurant profit rose 7.6%: Restaurant level operating profit was $66.8 million, up $4.7 million or 7.6%, lifting the margin to 17.2% from 17.0%. Source
  • Diluted EPS below last year: Diluted EPS was $0.86 against $0.97 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.94 against $0.97. Net income was $18.8 million against $22.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $44.4 million, up 5.5% from $42.1 million a year earlier. Source

Traffic and occasions

  • Traffic drove the comparable gain: Management attributed the 6.5% comparable sales increase to an 8.3% traffic increase, and said sales continued to outperform casual dining benchmarks. Source
  • Eighth straight quarter of growth: Management counted this as the eighth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth and the seventh consecutive quarter of profit growth. Source
  • Brewing awards highlighted: The company describes itself as the most decorated restaurant-brewery in the country, with over 270 medals since 1996. Source

“Growth in second quarter sales, restaurant-level operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA demonstrates the underlying strength of our model.”

Todd Wilson, Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Cost of sales rose as share: Cost of sales was 25.5% of revenues against 24.8% a year earlier, and was $99.1 million. Source
  • Labor ratio improved: Labor and benefits were 34.5% of revenues against 35.4% a year earlier, at $134.3 million. Source
  • G&A rose as share of revenue: General and administrative costs were $26.3 million, or 6.8% of revenues against 5.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Depreciation rose to 5.4%: Depreciation and amortization was $21.0 million, or 5.4% of revenues, against $18.7 million a year earlier. Source

Restaurant base and operations

  • No openings; 219 restaurants: No restaurants opened in the second quarter or the first six months, and 219 restaurants were open at period end. Source
  • Operating weeks held flat: Restaurant operating weeks were 2,847 in the second quarter, the same as a year earlier. Source
  • Opening costs fell: Restaurant opening costs were $87,000 in the quarter against $225,000 a year earlier. Source

“Going forward, we remain focused on our four strategic pillars and on ensuring BJ's continues to be the restaurant of choice when people get together with those they care about most,”

Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Shares bought back in quarter: The company repurchased and retired about 64,000 shares for about $2.4 million, against about 151,000 shares for $5.3 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Repurchase capacity about $85.5 million: About $85.5 million remained under the repurchase authorization as of July 30, 2026, against $85.6 million as of May 5, 2026. Source
  • Debt reduced to $44.0 million: Total debt was $44.0 million at June 30, 2026, down from $85.0 million at December 30, 2025; cash was $14.4 million against $23.8 million. Source
  • Net interest expense fell: Net interest expense was $0.8 million in the quarter against $1.3 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and guidance

  • Sales and profit growth behind raise: The CFO said consistent sales and profit growth gave management confidence to raise fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Four strategic pillars remain focus: Management said it remains focused on four strategic pillars going forward. Source
  • Two years into the journey: The CEO said that two years into the journey, the company's results reflect meaningful progress. Source

People and leadership

  • Leadership transition expenses recorded: Leadership transition expenses of $682,000 were recorded in the quarter and excluded from adjusted diluted net income. Source
  • Stock-based compensation increased: Total stock-based compensation was $2.5 million against $1.9 million a year earlier, or 0.6% of revenues. Source
  • CEO and CFO commented: Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented on the quarter; Todd Wilson, Chief Financial Officer, addressed costs and guidance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Buybacks up to $50 million: Management said it may repurchase up to $50 million of stock, depending on market conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source6.5% in the second quarter; 4.5% for six months
Traffic Source8.3% increase
Store openings Sourcenone in the quarter; 219 open at period end

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Incremental G&A of $2.9 million was tied to deferred compensation, legal and leadership transition costs. Source
  • Regulatory: A $750,000 legal settlement was recorded in the quarter and excluded from adjusted diluted net income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The May 5, 2026 release reiterated fiscal 2026 targets; the July 30, 2026 release raised three of them.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.