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Dine Brands Global, 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: 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose on company-owned sales: Total revenues were $240.9 million against $230.8 million a year earlier. The company reported the increase was mainly higher company-owned restaurant sales, tied to the number and timing of franchise restaurant acquisitions. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.35: Net income available to common stockholders was $4.2 million, or $0.35 diluted EPS, against $13.2 million and $0.89 a year earlier. Income before income taxes was $6.0 million, against $18.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $54.2 million, against $56.2 million. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $105.0 million, against $110.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • G&A rose on employee and reorganization costs: G&A expenses were $55.6 million, against $50.8 million. Six-month G&A was $108.7 million, against $102.1 million, with incentive compensation also cited for the first six months. Source
  • 44 domestic dual-branded locations: The company reported 44 domestic dual-branded IHOP and Applebee’s locations as of June 28, 2026, the count shown in the restaurant data table. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Six-month cash flows from operations were $19.9 million, against $53.1 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decrease to several items, as stated in the quote. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow dropped to $3.7M: Six-month adjusted free cash flow was $3.7 million, against $48.7 million. Six-month additions to property and equipment were $23.2 million, against $9.3 million. Source

“In the second quarter, our brands made meaningful progress in an environment in which consumers remain focused on affordability and value, highlighted by IHOP’s third consecutive quarter of industry outperformance on both sales and traffic”

John Peyton, Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Applebee’s domestic comparable same-restaurant salesfiscal 2026between 0% and 2%Kept
IHOP domestic comparable same-restaurant salesfiscal 2026between 0% and 2%Kept
Applebee’s domestic developmentfiscal 2026between 15 and 5 net fewer restaurantsKept
IHOP domestic developmentfiscal 2026between 10 net fewer restaurants and 10 net new openingsKept
Domestic dual-branded openingsfiscal 2026at least 50Kept
Consolidated adjusted EBITDAfiscal 2026approximately $220 million to $230 millionKept
G&A expensesfiscal 2026approximately $205 million to $210 millionKept
Capital expendituresfiscal 2026approximately $25 million to $35 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 guidance was maintained, with no revised figures in this release. The items listed in the prior release carry forward. Source
  • New: Board approved a new share repurchase program of up to $100 million on May 14, 2026, in addition to the existing program approved in February 2022. Source
  • New: Applebee’s company-owned count rose by 48 restaurants acquired from franchisees in June 2026. The footnote gives the February 2026 acquisition of 12 restaurants, which the prior release dated to March 2026. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA definition now lists reorganization costs and company preopening and transition costs as adjustments. The prior definition listed executive separation pay, which this definition does not. Source

Second quarter results and drivers

  • Revenue rose on company-owned sales: Total revenues were $240.9 million against $230.8 million a year earlier. The company reported the increase was mainly higher company-owned restaurant sales, tied to the number and timing of franchise restaurant acquisitions. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.35: Net income available to common stockholders was $4.2 million, or $0.35 diluted EPS, against $13.2 million and $0.89 a year earlier. Income before income taxes was $6.0 million, against $18.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS roughly flat year over year: Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $14.0 million, with adjusted diluted EPS of $1.16, against $17.4 million and $1.17 a year earlier. Adjusted measures exclude closure charges and amortization, among other items. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $54.2 million, against $56.2 million. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $105.0 million, against $110.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month revenue higher: Six-month revenues were $466.1 million, against $445.5 million. Six-month diluted EPS was $0.92, against $1.41, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.03, against $2.20. Source

Brand sales and unit volumes

  • System sales by brand: Total system sales were $892.6 million at IHOP, against $876.4 million, $1,097.2 million at Applebee’s, against $1,129.0 million, and $41.0 million at Fuzzy’s, against $43.3 million. Source
  • Applebee’s franchise sales fell: Applebee’s franchise system sales were $1,055.2 million, against $1,105.0 million. Company-owned Applebee’s system sales rose to $42.0 million from $24.0 million. The first row of this table is IHOP. Source
  • Average weekly unit sales by brand: Franchise average weekly unit sales were $39.7 thousand at IHOP, against $39.0 thousand, $57.7 thousand at Applebee’s, against $58.0 thousand, and $32.5 thousand at Fuzzy’s, against $30.2 thousand. Source

“Across all our brands, our everyday value platform, barbell marketing strategy, and continued investment in the guest experience are working”

John Peyton, Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands

Costs and company-owned restaurants

  • Company-owned restaurant revenue up: Company-owned restaurant revenues were $47.3 million, against $28.2 million. Company-owned restaurant expenses were $49.1 million, against $30.9 million, so expenses exceeded revenues in the quarter. Source
  • G&A rose on employee and reorganization costs: G&A expenses were $55.6 million, against $50.8 million. Six-month G&A was $108.7 million, against $102.1 million, with incentive compensation also cited for the first six months. Source
  • Gross profit slightly lower: Gross profit was $91.2 million, against $92.2 million. Total cost of revenues was $149.7 million, against $138.6 million. Source
  • Closure and impairment charges higher: Closure and impairment charges were $4.0 million in the quarter, against $1.2 million. Six-month charges were $4.8 million, against $7.0 million. Source

Demand and off-premise mix

  • Off-premise share of sales: Off-premise sales were 22.8% of Applebee’s sales mix, down from 23.9% in the first quarter. IHOP off-premise share was 20.2%, down from 21.5%. Source
  • IHOP sales outperformance cited: Management said IHOP posted its third consecutive quarter of industry outperformance on both sales and traffic. Source
  • Value platform and barbell marketing: Management said the everyday value platform and barbell marketing strategy are working across all brands, alongside continued investment in the guest experience. Source

“Our asset-lite model continues to provide the financial flexibility to invest in our brands and we are encouraged by the positive momentum we are seeing across our growth initiatives.”

Vance Chang, Chief Financial Officer of Dine Brands

Development and restaurant count

  • Net development negative in quarter: Net development was (5) at IHOP, (12) at Applebee’s and (5) at Fuzzy’s, against (18), (21) and (1) a year earlier. Source
  • Applebee’s franchise closures rose: Applebee’s franchise closures were 64 in the quarter, against 33 a year earlier, and franchise openings were 5, against none. Ending franchise count was 1,439. Source
  • Ending restaurant counts: Ending franchise restaurants were 1,796 at IHOP, 1,439 at Applebee’s and 96 at Fuzzy’s, against 1,786, 1,514 and 112 a year earlier. Source
  • Development counts adjusted for acquisitions: The company said development activity is adjusted for company-owned restaurants acquired from franchisees. Those acquisitions appear as franchise closures and company-owned openings. Source

Dual-brand expansion

  • 44 domestic dual-branded locations: The company reported 44 domestic dual-branded IHOP and Applebee’s locations as of June 28, 2026, the count shown in the restaurant data table. Source
  • Ten domestic dual-brand openings in quarter: The company reported 10 domestic dual-branded openings in the quarter and 20 in the six months, against one opening in the 2025 period. Source
  • 37 international dual-branded locations: The company reported 37 international dual-branded locations, against 20 a year earlier. In the quarter there was one international opening and two closures. Source
  • Counting method may change: Management noted the company may change how dual-branded restaurants are counted in future disclosures. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow fell: Six-month cash flows from operations were $19.9 million, against $53.1 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decrease to several items, as stated in the quote. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow dropped to $3.7M: Six-month adjusted free cash flow was $3.7 million, against $48.7 million. Six-month additions to property and equipment were $23.2 million, against $9.3 million. Source
  • Cash and restricted cash: Unrestricted cash was $97.5 million at June 28, 2026, down from $104.2 million at March 29, 2026. Total cash including restricted cash was $172.8 million. Source
  • Borrowing capacity available: Available capacity under the 2025 Variable Funding Senior Notes, Class A-1, was about $224.5 million. The prior release gave about $225 million at March 29, 2026. Source
  • Operating lease obligations rose: Operating lease obligations, less current portion, were $394.1 million at June 28, 2026, against $323.3 million at March 29, 2026 and $305.3 million at December 28, 2025. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Q2 buybacks and dividends: Six-month repurchases of common stock were $29.3 million, and six-month dividends paid were $4.8 million, per the cash flow statement. Source
  • Capacity under existing programs: The company reported about $143.8 million available under existing repurchase programs. This is in addition to the new $100 million program approved May 14, 2026. Source
  • First-quarter buybacks were larger: First-quarter repurchases were about $22 million of common stock, against about $7.4 million in the second quarter.

Adjustments, tax and reporting

  • Reorganization and preopening costs: Reorganization costs were $1.8 million and company-owned preopening expenses were $1.3 million in the quarter. Both are added back in the adjusted measures. Source
  • Amortization excluded from adjusted EPS: Amortization of intangible assets was $3.9 million in the quarter, against $2.7 million. The company adds this amount back when computing adjusted EPS. Source
  • Effective tax rate lower: The effective tax rate was 27.7% for the six months, against 30.6% in the prior-year period. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Dual-brand expansion continues: Management said it enters the second half with confidence in its growth initiatives, including continued dual-brand expansion. The release gives no dated figure for this. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Applebee’s domestic same-restaurant sales change, second quarter 2026 Source-1.8%
IHOP domestic same-restaurant sales change, second quarter 2026 Source1.5%
Fuzzy’s domestic same-restaurant sales change, second quarter 2026 Source4.6%
Store openings and closings, second quarter 2026 Source13 openings and 30 closures

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management describes consumers as focused on affordability and value. The release does not quantify any effect on the company's sales beyond the brand results. Source
  • Financial: Net interest expense was $22.0 million in the quarter, against $17.7 million. Six-month net interest expense was $43.8 million, against $35.5 million. The release does not attribute the change. Source
  • Operational: Company-owned restaurant expenses were $49.1 million in the quarter, against $30.9 million, and exceeded company-owned restaurant revenues of $47.3 million. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The prior release said the company remained on track for this target. This release does not restate the 80-restaurant figure.
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to its capital allocation priorities and to creating long-term value for shareholders. No status is given. 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.