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Bloomin' Brands, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 narrowed, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarterly EPS near breakeven: The company reported Q3 diluted loss per share of $(0.02), against $(0.54) a year earlier, and adjusted diluted loss per share of $(0.17), against $(0.03). Source
  • Full-year guidance moved both ways: The full-year EPS range was raised and the U.S. comparable sales range was lowered; all other full-year guidance was reaffirmed. Source
  • Combined U.S. comparable sales up 1.9%: Combined U.S. comparable restaurant sales rose 1.9%: Bonefish up 5.3%, Outback up 1.9%, Carrabba’s up 0.6%, Fleming’s flat. Year-to-date combined was 1.7%. Source
  • Traffic down, check up: Combined U.S. traffic fell 1.8% while average check per person rose 3.7%. The check measure includes menu pricing, product mix and discounts. Source
  • Restaurant-level margin rose: Restaurant-level operating margin was 10.6%, against 9.2%; the adjusted margin, which excludes a $13.2 million breakage adjustment, was 9.3%, against 9.5%. Source
  • Inflation costs offset pricing gains: Higher commodity, operating and labor costs, mainly from inflation, and higher advertising expense partly offset the pricing and productivity gains in restaurant margin. Source

“We are encouraged by our third quarter results and the continued progress on the Outback Turnaround, including five consecutive quarters of year-over-year improvement in Outback guest scores”

Mike Spanos, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
U.S. comparable restaurant sales Sourcefiscal 20261% to 1.5%Narrowed, top end cut from 1% to 2%
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$1.06 to $1.11Raised from $0.85 to $0.95
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$0.97 to $1.02Raised from $0.90 to $1.00
Diluted weighted average shares Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 86 millionKept
U.S. comparable restaurant sales Sourcefourth quarter 20260% to 1%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.07 to $0.12New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.07 to $0.12New
Diluted weighted average shares Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 88 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: U.S. comparable restaurant sales guidance for fiscal 2026 changed from 1% to 2% to 1% to 1.5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 diluted EPS guidance changed from $0.85 to $0.95 to $1.06 to $1.11. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance changed from $0.90 to $1.00 to $0.97 to $1.02. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 guidance was given for U.S. comparable restaurant sales, diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management said all other full-year guidance was reaffirmed as previously communicated. Source
  • New: A change in the gift card breakage accounting estimate added $13.2 million to Q3 revenue; the company excluded it from adjusted measures. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarterly EPS near breakeven: The company reported Q3 diluted loss per share of $(0.02), against $(0.54) a year earlier, and adjusted diluted loss per share of $(0.17), against $(0.03). Source
  • Revenue rose on comps and breakage: Total revenues were $944.3 million, up 1.7%, from higher comparable restaurant sales and the gift card breakage change, partly offset by net closures and openings. Source
  • Operating income margin turned positive: GAAP operating income margin was 2.0%, against (3.9)% a year earlier; adjusted operating income margin was 0.3%, against 0.8%. Source
  • Adjusted net loss larger than prior year: Adjusted net loss from continuing operations was $14.2 million, against $2.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS higher: Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $0.90, against $0.87 a year earlier; nine-month diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.99, against $0.25. Source
  • Full-year guidance moved both ways: The full-year EPS range was raised and the U.S. comparable sales range was lowered; all other full-year guidance was reaffirmed. Source

Comparable sales, traffic and check

  • Combined U.S. comparable sales up 1.9%: Combined U.S. comparable restaurant sales rose 1.9%: Bonefish up 5.3%, Outback up 1.9%, Carrabba’s up 0.6%, Fleming’s flat. Year-to-date combined was 1.7%. Source
  • Traffic down, check up: Combined U.S. traffic fell 1.8% while average check per person rose 3.7%. The check measure includes menu pricing, product mix and discounts. Source
  • Brand traffic varied: Outback traffic fell 1.5% and Carrabba’s fell 2.9% in the quarter; Bonefish traffic fell 0.8%, and was up 2.3% year-to-date. Source

“We remain focused on consistent execution across food, service, experience, and affordability to strengthen the guest experience and drive sustainable long-term growth.”

Mike Spanos, CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Restaurant-level margin rose: Restaurant-level operating margin was 10.6%, against 9.2%; the adjusted margin, which excludes a $13.2 million breakage adjustment, was 9.3%, against 9.5%. Source
  • Inflation costs offset pricing gains: Higher commodity, operating and labor costs, mainly from inflation, and higher advertising expense partly offset the pricing and productivity gains in restaurant margin. Source
  • Impairment and closure costs fell: Impairments, closures and disposal of assets were a $(0.9) million credit in Q3, against $33.2 million of expense a year earlier. Source
  • General and administrative expense lower: G&A fell to $54.3 million from $59.1 million, as lapping prior-year transformation and foreign currency contract costs offset higher compensation expense. Source

Segments and corporate

  • U.S. segment income increased: U.S. segment income from operations was $47.2 million, against $1.6 million, a 5.1% margin; the adjusted U.S. margin was 3.4%, against 3.6%. Source
  • International franchise revenue higher: International franchise segment revenues were $7.8 million, against $7.1 million; segment income from operations was $7.6 million, against $7.0 million. Source
  • Unallocated corporate expense lower: Unallocated corporate operating expense was $36.9 million in the quarter, against $45.2 million a year earlier. Source

Restaurant footprint

  • System-wide count rose by four: System-wide restaurants rose to 1,452 from 1,448 after 10 openings and 6 closures, with 958 company-owned and 494 franchised. Source
  • Outback U.S. unit changes: Company-owned Outback count held at 544 with two openings and two closures; franchised Outback units fell to 113 after two closures. Source
  • International units grew: International franchise restaurants reached 361 from 354; Brazil rose to 197 from 192 and South Korea to 102 from 100. Source

Capital, cash and balance sheet

  • Cash higher than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $90.7 million at September 27, 2026, against $59.5 million at December 28, 2025. Source
  • Total debt below year-end: Total debt was $768.0 million, against $787.4 million at year-end and $702.8 million at June 28, 2026; stockholders’ equity was $434.3 million. Source
  • Negative working capital is typical: Management said negative working capital is common for restaurant companies, since restaurant cash is collected before current liabilities fall due; the deficit was $553.2 million. Source

Outback turnaround and strategy

  • Turnaround equipment depreciation excluded: Nine-month adjustments included $6.2 million of accelerated depreciation from equipment upgrades tied to the turnaround strategy. Source
  • Prior-year closure plan: Prior-year costs covered a decision to close 21 U.S. restaurants and not renew 22 leases, plus impairments at five underperforming U.S. restaurants. Source
  • Surplus property sold for gain: The company recorded a $2.9 million gain from the sale of one U.S. surplus property in both the quarter and the nine months. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable restaurant sales, Combined U.S. (Q3) Source1.9%
Traffic, Combined U.S. (Q3) Source(1.8)%
Average check per person, Combined U.S. (Q3) Source3.7%
Restaurant-level operating margin (Q3) Source10.6%
Restaurant openings and closures (Q3) Source10 openings, 6 closures
System-wide restaurants (end of Q3) Source1,452

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management named inflation in commodity, operating and labor costs as a drag on restaurant-level margin this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed all full-year guidance not updated in this release, as previously communicated. Source
  • Not stated: Management cited continued progress on the Outback Turnaround as part of its view of the quarter. Source

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.