greeksoup/ stock research

Bloomin' Brands, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.37: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.37 against $0.29 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.39 against $0.32. Adjustments mainly relate to transformational and restructuring costs. Source
  • Bonefish Grill traffic turned positive: Bonefish Grill traffic rose 4.5% in the quarter against an 11.4% decline a year earlier. Source
  • Outback average check rose 4.2%: Outback Steakhouse average check per person rose 4.2%, against 0.4% a year earlier and 2.1% in the first quarter. Source
  • Restaurant margin rose to 12.4%: Restaurant-level operating margin was 12.4% against 12.0%. Higher average check from pricing, productivity initiatives, and lower pre-opening and health insurance costs drove the increase. Source
  • Inflation and advertising offset gains: Commodity, labor and operating costs rose with inflation, and advertising expense increased, partly offsetting the restaurant margin gain. Source
  • Total debt fell to $702.8 million: Total debt was $702.8 million, against $787.4 million at December 28, 2025 and $752.6 million at March 29, 2026. Source
  • Accelerated depreciation excluded from adjusted results: Accelerated depreciation of $2.9 million from turnaround equipment upgrades was excluded from adjusted results in Q2 2026. Source

“I am pleased with our financial results in the second quarter and our continued progress on the Outback Turnaround, which has led us to raise our full year earnings guidance”

Mike Spanos, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$0.85 to $0.95Raised from $0.70 to $0.85
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$0.90 to $1.00Raised from $0.75 to $0.90
U.S. comparable restaurant sales SourceFiscal 20261.0% to 2.0%
Diluted weighted average shares (assumption) SourceFiscal 2026 and Q3 2026 rangesapproximately 86 millionKept
U.S. comparable restaurant sales SourceQ3 20261.0% to 2.0%New
Diluted EPS SourceQ3 2026($0.28) to ($0.23)New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceQ3 2026($0.27) to ($0.22)New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS guidance raised to $0.85 to $0.95 from $0.70 to $0.85. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to $0.90 to $1.00 from $0.75 to $0.90. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management reaffirmed all full-year guidance items other than the EPS and comparable sales figures it updated. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.37: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.37 against $0.29 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.39 against $0.32. Adjustments mainly relate to transformational and restructuring costs. Source
  • Revenue rose 1.3% on comparable sales: Total revenues were $1,015.8 million against $1,002.4 million, up 1.3%. The company attributed the increase primarily to higher comparable restaurant sales, partly offset by net closures and openings. Source
  • Operating margin widened to 3.8%: GAAP operating income margin was 3.8% against 3.0%. Income from operations was $38.3 million against $29.7 million, driven by a higher restaurant-level margin and lower transformational costs. Source
  • First-half EPS rose year on year: Twenty-six week adjusted diluted EPS was $1.06 against $0.91. Twenty-six week diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.01 against $0.79. Source

Segments and brand performance

  • U.S. segment income slightly lower: U.S. segment income from operations was $67.6 million against $68.5 million. The GAAP segment margin was 6.8% against 6.9%. Source
  • International franchise income rose: International Franchise segment income from operations was $7.4 million against $6.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate expense fell about $9 million: Unallocated corporate operating expense was $37.4 million against $46.4 million. The documents do not give a reason for the change. Source
  • Brand comparable sales varied widely: Bonefish Grill comparable sales rose 8.1%, Carrabba’s Italian Grill 1.7%, Outback Steakhouse 1.4% and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 1.6%. Source

“We remain focused on consistency of execution across food, service, experience, and affordability to deliver a great guest experience.”

Mike Spanos, CEO

Traffic and average check

  • Bonefish Grill traffic turned positive: Bonefish Grill traffic rose 4.5% in the quarter against an 11.4% decline a year earlier. Source
  • Outback traffic declined again: Outback Steakhouse traffic fell 2.8% in the quarter, against a 1.0% decline a year earlier. Source
  • Outback average check rose 4.2%: Outback Steakhouse average check per person rose 4.2%, against 0.4% a year earlier and 2.1% in the first quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Restaurant margin rose to 12.4%: Restaurant-level operating margin was 12.4% against 12.0%. Higher average check from pricing, productivity initiatives, and lower pre-opening and health insurance costs drove the increase. Source
  • Inflation and advertising offset gains: Commodity, labor and operating costs rose with inflation, and advertising expense increased, partly offsetting the restaurant margin gain. Source
  • Food and beverage costs rose: Food and beverage costs were $306.4 million against $298.3 million. Labor and other related costs were $312.7 million against $315.5 million. Source

Restaurant count changes

  • Brazil added four Outback units: Outback Steakhouse Brazil opened four restaurants, reaching 192. South Korea closed one, to 100. Source
  • U.S. company Outback count fell: U.S. company-owned Outback Steakhouse restaurants fell to 544 from 546 after one opening and three closures. Source
  • Fleming's company count fell by one: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar company-owned restaurants fell to 64 from 65 after one closure. Source

Capital, cash and balance sheet

  • Cash rose to $66.6 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $66.6 million at June 28, 2026, against $59.5 million at December 28, 2025. Source
  • Total debt fell to $702.8 million: Total debt was $702.8 million, against $787.4 million at December 28, 2025 and $752.6 million at March 29, 2026. Source
  • Equity rose to $435.1 million: Total stockholders’ equity was $435.1 million, against $337.2 million at December 28, 2025 and $398.8 million at March 29, 2026. Source
  • Negative working capital explained: Net working capital was a deficit of $614.4 million. The company says cash from restaurant sales is typically collected before current liabilities fall due. Source
  • Foreign currency hedge costs fell: Foreign currency forward contract costs were $2.2 million in Q2 2025 and nil in Q2 2026. The contracts mostly offset exchange risk on Brazil Sale Transaction installments. Source
  • Diluted share count higher: Diluted weighted average shares were 86.2 million in Q2 2026, against 85.1 million a year earlier. Source

Turnaround and adjusted results

  • Accelerated depreciation excluded from adjusted results: Accelerated depreciation of $2.9 million from turnaround equipment upgrades was excluded from adjusted results in Q2 2026. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 4.0%: Adjusted operating income margin was 4.0% against 3.5%. Adjusted income from operations was $41.1 million against $35.4 million. Source
  • Prior-year severance costs adjusted out: Q2 2025 adjustments of $3.5 million covered severance, professional fees and other transformational and restructuring costs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Q3 2026 guidance issued: Management gave expectations for fiscal Q3 2026, covering U.S. comparable restaurant sales and diluted and adjusted diluted EPS. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source2.3%
Traffic Source(1.9)%
Average ticket Source4.2%
Store openings and closings Source5 openings, 9 closures

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Commodity, labor and operating costs rose with inflation, and advertising expense increased, offsetting part of the restaurant margin gain. Source
  • Financial: Provision for impaired assets and restaurant closings was $4.0 million against $1.5 million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the full-year guidance items it did not update, as previously communicated. Source
  • Not stated: The prior quarter's Q2 2026 expectations were diluted EPS of $0.24 to $0.29 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.27 to $0.32.
  • Not stated: In the prior quarter, management said it was making progress on the turnaround and remained committed to long-term, sustainable, and profitable growth.

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.