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BJs Restaurants Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 8.6% on comparable sales: Revenues were $358.6 million, up 8.6% from $330.2 million a year earlier. Comparable restaurant sales rose 8.1%, against 0.5% in the same quarter last year. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.24: Diluted net income per share was $0.24, against $0.02 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted net income per share was $0.33, against $0.04. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 48.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $31.4 million, up 48.6% from $21.1 million. Net income was $5.3 million, against $0.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Traffic up about 8% for ninth quarter: Management said this was the ninth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth. Traffic rose approximately 8%, in line with the comparable restaurant sales increase. Source
  • Restaurant margin up 220 basis points: Restaurant level operating profit was $52.9 million, up $11.5 million or 27.9%. The margin rose to 14.7% from 12.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Debt cut to $16.0 million: Total debt was $16.0 million at September 29, 2026, down from $85.0 million at December 30, 2025. Cash was $12.9 million, and shareholders’ equity was $410.2 million. Source

“The third quarter marked our ninth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth, with both comparable restaurant sales and traffic up approximately 8%”

Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable restaurant sales increase Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 4.7%Raised from 3.0% to 4.0%
Restaurant level operating profit Sourcefiscal 2026$233 million to $237 millionRaised from $228 million to $235 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$149 million to $154 millionRaised from $145 million to $152 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $80 millionLowered from $85 million to $95 million
Share repurchases Sourcefiscal 2026up to $50 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The company raised fiscal 2026 guidance for comparable restaurant sales, restaurant level operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditure guidance was lowered to approximately $80 million from $85 million to $95 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Share repurchase guidance of up to $50 million was unchanged. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 8.6% on comparable sales: Revenues were $358.6 million, up 8.6% from $330.2 million a year earlier. Comparable restaurant sales rose 8.1%, against 0.5% in the same quarter last year. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.24: Diluted net income per share was $0.24, against $0.02 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted net income per share was $0.33, against $0.04. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 48.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $31.4 million, up 48.6% from $21.1 million. Net income was $5.3 million, against $0.5 million a year earlier. Source

Guest traffic and restaurant base

  • Traffic up about 8% for ninth quarter: Management said this was the ninth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth. Traffic rose approximately 8%, in line with the comparable restaurant sales increase. Source
  • Nine-month comparable sales up 5.6%: For the nine months, comparable restaurant sales rose 5.6%, against 1.8% in the year-earlier period. Source
  • 219 restaurants, no openings in quarter: The company operated 219 restaurants at period-end, the same count as a year earlier, and opened none in the quarter. Source

“and our eighth quarter of profit growth, increasing restaurant level operating profit margin by 220 basis points year over year”

Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President

Restaurant costs and margins

  • Restaurant margin up 220 basis points: Restaurant level operating profit was $52.9 million, up $11.5 million or 27.9%. The margin rose to 14.7% from 12.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Labor cost share fell: Labor and benefits were 36.2% of revenues, against 37.1% a year earlier. Occupancy and operating costs were 23.8%, against 24.7%. Source
  • Cost of sales eased slightly: Cost of sales was 25.3% of revenues, against 25.7% a year earlier. General and administrative costs were 6.6% of revenues, against 6.8%. Source
  • Nine-month margin reached 16.0%: For the nine months, restaurant level operating profit was $176.9 million, a margin of 16.0%, against 15.2% a year earlier. Source

Non-recurring items and adjustments

  • Impairment charges rose: Loss on disposal and impairment of assets was $2.8 million in the quarter, against $0.6 million a year earlier. The nine-month figure was $5.5 million. Source
  • Legal settlement in nine-month results: A $750,000 legal settlement appears in nine-month figures, with none in the quarter. Adjusted diluted EPS adds back this item and leadership transition expenses. Source
  • Adjusted net income set out separately: Adjusted net income was $7.5 million in the quarter, against $0.9 million, after adding back impairments and other items net of tax. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our strategic growth drivers and will continue to invest in our team members”

Lyle Tick, Chief Executive Officer and President

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Debt cut to $16.0 million: Total debt was $16.0 million at September 29, 2026, down from $85.0 million at December 30, 2025. Cash was $12.9 million, and shareholders’ equity was $410.2 million. Source
  • Buybacks of about $1.0 million: The company repurchased and retired about 17,000 shares at a cost of about $1.0 million in the quarter. About $84.5 million remained under the program as of November 5, 2026. Source
  • Basic share count lower year over year: Basic weighted average shares were 21.6 million in the quarter, against 21.9 million a year earlier. Diluted shares were 22.6 million, against 22.5 million. Source

Strategy and people

  • Progress toward unlocking brand potential: Management described continued progress in its journey to unlock the full potential of the brand. Source
  • Restaurants as places teams take pride in: The CEO said the aim is to ensure the 219 restaurants are places where teams are proud to work and guests want to return. Source
  • Leadership transition costs recorded: Leadership transition expenses, net, were $82,000 in the quarter and $764,000 for the nine months. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Continued investment in team, menu and guests: Management said it will continue investing in team members, menu innovation and the guest experience. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable restaurant sales change Source8.1%
Traffic change Sourceapproximately 8%
Restaurants open at period-end Source219
Restaurants opened in period Source0

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.