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Dine Brands Global, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose on company-owned sales: Total revenues were $225.2 million against $214.8 million. Management attributed the rise mainly to higher company-owned restaurant sales, linked to the number and timing of restaurant acquisitions from franchisees. Source
  • Diluted EPS $0.57 against $0.53: Net income available to common stockholders was $7.2 million, or $0.57 diluted EPS, against $7.8 million, or $0.53, a year earlier. Reported net income was $7.4 million against $8.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.88 in corrected release: Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $11.1 million, or $0.88 adjusted diluted EPS, against $15.4 million, or $1.03 a year earlier. Source
  • Applebee’s comparable sales rose 1.9%: Applebee’s domestic same-restaurant sales rose 1.9%, with off-premise at 23.9% of sales mix. Management said all brands outperformed Black Box, driven by everyday value, culturally relevant marketing and disciplined execution. Source
  • IHOP comparable sales flat: IHOP domestic comparable same-restaurant sales were flat, with off-premise at 21.5% of sales mix. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell on performance pay: Operating cash flow was $7.5 million against $16.1 million. Management attributed the decrease primarily to the year-over-year impact of performance plan compensation payments. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow negative: Adjusted free cash flow was negative $3.0 million against $14.6 million. Additions to property and equipment were $12.1 million against $3.3 million. Source
  • About $22 million of buybacks: The company repurchased about $22 million of its common stock and paid about $2.5 million in dividends in the first quarter. Source

“Dine Brands reported improved comp sales versus the prior year with all brands outperforming Black Box, driven by our focus on everyday value, culturally relevant marketing, and disciplined execution,”

John Peyton, Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Applebee's domestic comparable same-restaurant sales Sourcefiscal 2026between 0% and 2%Kept
IHOP domestic comparable same-restaurant sales Sourcefiscal 2026between 0% and 2%Kept
Applebee's domestic net development Sourcefiscal 2026between 15 and 5 net fewer restaurantsKept
IHOP domestic net development Sourcefiscal 2026between 10 net fewer restaurants and 10 net new openingsKept
Domestic dual-branded openings Sourcefiscal 2026at least 50Kept
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $220 million to $230 millionKept
G&A expenses Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $205 million to $210 millionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $25 million to $35 millionKept
Domestic dual-branded restaurant count Sourceend of fiscal 2026approximately 80

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The company reiterated its fiscal 2026 guidance items, and the same ranges appear in the earlier version of the release. Source

Results and profit measures

  • Revenue rose on company-owned sales: Total revenues were $225.2 million against $214.8 million. Management attributed the rise mainly to higher company-owned restaurant sales, linked to the number and timing of restaurant acquisitions from franchisees. Source
  • Diluted EPS $0.57 against $0.53: Net income available to common stockholders was $7.2 million, or $0.57 diluted EPS, against $7.8 million, or $0.53, a year earlier. Reported net income was $7.4 million against $8.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.88 in corrected release: Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $11.1 million, or $0.88 adjusted diluted EPS, against $15.4 million, or $1.03 a year earlier. Source
  • Release replaces earlier version: This release corrects the earlier version, which showed adjusted net income of $13.5 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.07. The reconciliation lines that differ are closure and impairment charges and the tax provision. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower year over year: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $50.8 million against $54.7 million a year earlier, per the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source

Brand and restaurant sales

  • Applebee’s comparable sales rose 1.9%: Applebee’s domestic same-restaurant sales rose 1.9%, with off-premise at 23.9% of sales mix. Management said all brands outperformed Black Box, driven by everyday value, culturally relevant marketing and disciplined execution. Source
  • IHOP comparable sales flat: IHOP domestic comparable same-restaurant sales were flat, with off-premise at 21.5% of sales mix. Source
  • Fuzzy’s domestic sales change positive: Fuzzy’s domestic same-restaurant sales change was 2.4% against (12.2)% a year earlier, as shown in the restaurant data table. Source
  • Franchise weekly sales per unit rose: Franchise domestic average weekly unit sales were $38.3 thousand for IHOP, $56.3 thousand for Applebee’s and $28.0 thousand for Fuzzy’s, against $37.8, $54.7 and $26.5 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Company-owned weekly sales mixed: Company-owned domestic average weekly unit sales were $29.1 thousand for IHOP against $32.5 thousand, $37.2 thousand for Applebee’s against $32.8 thousand, and $17.7 thousand for Fuzzy’s against $18.7 thousand. Source

“We’re confident in the progress of our strategy and continue to make great progress”

John Peyton, Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands

Costs and interest expense

  • G&A rose on employee costs: G&A was $53.1 million against $51.3 million. Management attributed the increase to employee costs as it invests in dual-brand and company-owned restaurant initiatives. Source
  • Company restaurant costs rose: Company-owned restaurant expenses were $34.9 million against $22.0 million, while company-owned restaurant revenues were $33.5 million against $21.6 million. Source
  • Net interest expense increased: Net interest expense was $21.8 million against $17.7 million. Closure and impairment charges were $0.8 million against $5.8 million. Source

Margins and tax rate

  • Gross profit down $3.0 million: Gross profit was $87.3 million against $90.3 million. Franchise revenues were $164.9 million against $166.2 million, and royalties, franchise fees and other were $93.9 million against $95.7 million. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell to 27.3%: The effective tax rate was 27.3% against 35.9% a year earlier. The income tax provision was $2.8 million against $4.6 million. Source
  • Asset disposal gain and pre-tax income: Gain on disposition of assets was $2.2 million against $0.1 million. Income before income taxes was $10.1 million against $12.8 million. Source

“Our asset lite model allows us to fund long term value creation initiatives while providing support to our franchisees and returning capital to shareholders concurrently.”

Vance Chang, Chief Financial Officer of Dine Brands

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow fell on performance pay: Operating cash flow was $7.5 million against $16.1 million. Management attributed the decrease primarily to the year-over-year impact of performance plan compensation payments. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow negative: Adjusted free cash flow was negative $3.0 million against $14.6 million. Additions to property and equipment were $12.1 million against $3.3 million. Source
  • Liquidity at quarter end: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was about $172.9 million, with about $104.2 million unrestricted. Available borrowing capacity under the 2025 Variable Funding Senior Notes, Class A-1 was about $225 million. Source
  • Stockholders’ deficit reached $290.0 million: Total stockholders’ deficit was $290.0 million against $273.9 million at year-end 2025. Long-term debt, net was $1,188.8 million. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • About $22 million of buybacks: The company repurchased about $22 million of its common stock and paid about $2.5 million in dividends in the first quarter. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks against prior year: Dividends paid were $2.5 million against $7.8 million, and repurchases of common stock were $22.0 million against $1.6 million. Source
  • Restricted stock repurchases for taxes rose: Restricted stock repurchased for tax payments upon vesting was $3.1 million against $1.7 million a year earlier. Source

Development and dual-brand strategy

  • 35 dual-branded domestic locations: The company reported 35 dual-branded domestic IHOP and Applebee’s locations at quarter end. The quarter recorded 10 domestic dual-branded openings and 10 international dual-branded openings. Source
  • 24 openings against 40 closures: Applebee’s and IHOP development in the quarter produced 24 new restaurant openings and 40 restaurant closures. Source
  • Applebee’s company restaurants acquired: The company acquired 12 Applebee’s restaurants in March 2026, which are counted among company-owned Applebee’s openings. Company-owned Applebee’s ending count was 71, against 47 a year earlier. Source
  • Remodels and company-owned investment continue: Management said continued investment in dual-brand development, remodels and the company-owned portfolio is driven by positive feedback from franchisees and guests. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales, Applebee’s domestic Source1.9%
Comparable sales, IHOP domestic Sourceflat
Comparable sales, Fuzzy’s domestic Source2.4% (prior year (12.2)%)
Off-premise share of sales, Applebee’s Source23.9%
Off-premise share of sales, IHOP Source21.5%
Restaurant openings and closures Source24 openings; 40 closures
Franchise average weekly unit sales, Applebee’s domestic Source$56.3 thousand (prior year $54.7 thousand)

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management stated the company remains on track to reach about 80 domestic restaurants by the end of the year. Source
  • Not stated: The CFO said the company remains committed to its capital allocation priorities. 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.