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Dutch Bros Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 29.8% year over year: Total revenues were $549.8 million, against $423.6 million a year earlier. Income from operations was $52.8 million, against $41.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 29.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $101.1 million, 18.4% of revenue, against $78.0 million and the same 18.4% margin. Adjusted net income was $44.1 million, against $33.5 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS higher: Net income was $37.2 million, against $27.3 million. Diluted EPS was $0.20, against $0.14. Net income attributable to Dutch Bros Inc. was $27.2 million, against $17.5 million. Source
  • Shop contribution margin rose to 28.1%: Company-operated shops contribution was $144.5 million, against $109.2 million, and 28.1% of shop revenue against 27.8%. Contribution is gross profit before shop depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Company-operated same shop sales rose 5.4%: Company-operated same shop sales rose 5.4%, against 7.4% a year earlier. Nine-month company-operated same shop sales rose 7.9%, against 7.0%. Source
  • Systemwide same shop sales rose 4.4%: Systemwide same shop sales rose 4.4%, against 5.7% a year earlier. Systemwide sales were $702.2 million, against $576.9 million; nine-month systemwide same shop sales rose 6.0%. Source
  • Labor cost ratio fell: Labor costs were 26.7% of company-operated shop revenue, against 27.5% a year earlier. Beverage, food and packaging costs were 25.6%, against 25.9%. Source

“Dutch Bros continues to gain share in the high-growth beverage category.”

Christine Barone, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenues Sourcefiscal 2026at least $2.1 billion
Same shop sales growth Sourcefiscal 2026at least 5%
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $380 millionLowered from between $385 million and $390 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026between $370 million and $390 millionRaised from between $350 million and $370 million
Total system shop openings Sourcefiscal 2026at least 185Kept
Total system shop openings Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 250New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A 2027 system shop opening estimate of approximately 250 was given. The prior release gave only 2026 guidance. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management said the 2026 shop openings estimate of at least 185 remains unchanged. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The 2026 Adjusted EBITDA estimate moved to approximately $380 million from a range of $385 million to $390 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: The 2026 capital expenditure estimate moved to $370 million to $390 million from $350 million to $370 million. Source
  • New: Phoenix East Valley franchise reacquisition of 32 locations completed July 27, 2026. Acquisition-related costs were $1.2 million in the quarter. Source

Results and profit

  • Revenue rose 29.8% year over year: Total revenues were $549.8 million, against $423.6 million a year earlier. Income from operations was $52.8 million, against $41.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 29.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $101.1 million, 18.4% of revenue, against $78.0 million and the same 18.4% margin. Adjusted net income was $44.1 million, against $33.5 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS higher: Net income was $37.2 million, against $27.3 million. Diluted EPS was $0.20, against $0.14. Net income attributable to Dutch Bros Inc. was $27.2 million, against $17.5 million. Source

Company-operated and franchise segments

  • Company-operated shop revenue rose: Company-operated shops revenue was $515.0 million, against $392.8 million a year earlier. Nine-month company-operated shops revenue was $1.45 billion. Source
  • Shop contribution margin rose to 28.1%: Company-operated shops contribution was $144.5 million, against $109.2 million, and 28.1% of shop revenue against 27.8%. Contribution is gross profit before shop depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Franchising and other revenue rose: Franchising and other revenue was $34.8 million, against $30.8 million. Nine-month franchising and other revenue was $111.0 million, against $94.8 million. Source
  • Shop count reached 1,273: Total shop count was 1,273, against 1,081, made up of 960 company-operated and 313 franchised shops. The quarter included 30 franchise shops acquired. Source

“In the third quarter, we achieved our fourteenth consecutive quarter of positive same shop sales and ninth consecutive quarter of same shop customer visit growth.”

Christine Barone, Chief Executive Officer and President

Same shop sales and customers

  • Company-operated same shop sales rose 5.4%: Company-operated same shop sales rose 5.4%, against 7.4% a year earlier. Nine-month company-operated same shop sales rose 7.9%, against 7.0%. Source
  • Systemwide same shop sales rose 4.4%: Systemwide same shop sales rose 4.4%, against 5.7% a year earlier. Systemwide sales were $702.2 million, against $576.9 million; nine-month systemwide same shop sales rose 6.0%. Source
  • Dutch Rewards share of visits rose: Dutch Rewards customer visits were 74% of total customer visits, against 72% in the third quarter of 2025. The nine-month share was also 74%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Labor cost ratio fell: Labor costs were 26.7% of company-operated shop revenue, against 27.5% a year earlier. Beverage, food and packaging costs were 25.6%, against 25.9%. Source
  • Occupancy cost ratio rose: Occupancy and other costs were 18.0% of company-operated shop revenue, against 17.0%. Pre-opening costs were 1.6%, against 1.8%. Source
  • SG&A ratio fell to 14.4%: SG&A was $79.0 million, 14.4% of revenue, against $65.3 million and 15.4%. Adjusted SG&A was $69.6 million, 12.7% of revenue, against $57.6 million and 13.6%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin flat at 18.4%: EBITDA was $92.5 million, 16.8% of revenue, against $70.7 million and 16.7%. Equity-based compensation was $7.0 million, against $4.6 million. Source

“As we look ahead to 2027, we’re building on that foundation and unlocking new growth opportunities across the business.”

Christine Barone, Chief Executive Officer and President

Openings and unit volumes

  • Nine-month openings rose: Nine-month company-operated openings were 119, against 89, and franchised openings were 18, against 10. Source
  • Company-operated AUV rose: Company-operated shops AUV was $2,228, against $2,023, for the nine-month period, calculated on trailing twelve-month sales. Systemwide AUV was $2,226, against $2,081. Source
  • Company-operated operating weeks rose: Company-operated operating weeks were 12,180 in the quarter, against 9,645. Franchising and other operating weeks were 4,174, against 4,192. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash from operating activities was $297.0 million for the nine months, against $215.9 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $307.9 million, against $169.9 million. Source
  • Cash balance below year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $194.6 million at September 30, 2026, against $269.4 million at December 31, 2025. Cash decreased $74.8 million over the nine months. Source
  • Tax receivable liability rose: The tax receivable agreements liability, net of current portion, was $973.1 million, against $813.4 million at December 31, 2025. Total debt including the current portion was $197.6 million. Source
  • Diluted share count rose: Diluted weighted-average Class A shares were 138.2 million in the quarter, against 127.4 million. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $10.1 million, against $9.8 million. Source

Strategy, people and innovation

  • Investments cited as foundation: Management said investments in people, tools and processes over several years have enabled execution and strengthened the business foundation. Source
  • Strategic focus on customer occasions: Management attributed the results to brand strength, a differentiated people-led culture and a strategic focus on expanding customer occasions. Source
  • Hot food and delivery testing: Management described accelerating beverage innovation, testing hot food platforms, enhancing digital capabilities and piloting delivery as steps to give customers more reasons to choose the brand. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Beverage innovation and delivery pilot: Management said it is accelerating beverage innovation, testing hot food platforms, enhancing digital capabilities and piloting delivery. No dates were given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceCompany-operated 5.4%; systemwide 4.4%
Traffic (customer visits) SourceCompany-operated 1.0%; systemwide 0.4%
Average ticket SourceCompany-operated 4.4%; systemwide 4.0%
Inventory Source$42.0 million at September 30, 2026
Store openings and closings SourceOpened 48 (42 company-operated, 6 franchised); closings not stated
Gross margin SourceCompany-operated shops gross profit 21.3% of shop revenue

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the 2026 shop openings estimate remains unchanged at at least 185. Source
  • Not stated: The headline calls the 2027 goal accelerated. The release does not state the earlier figure. 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.