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Dominos Pizza Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 3.4% on supply chain: Total revenues were $1,185.6 million, up 3.4%, mainly from higher supply chain revenues and higher global franchise royalty revenues. Source
  • Operating income up 8.3%: Income from operations was $241.8 million, up $18.6 million or 8.3%; excluding a $0.2 million negative currency effect on international royalties, the increase was 8.4%. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 12.7%: Diluted EPS was $4.60 against $4.08, up $0.52 or 12.7%, helped by a lower weighted average diluted share count from repurchases. Source
  • U.S. same-store sales up 0.3%: U.S. same store sales rose 0.3%, against 5.2% a year earlier; franchise stores rose 0.3% and Company-owned stores 1.0%. International same store sales rose 0.2% excluding currency. Source
  • Supply chain volume and pricing lifted revenue: Supply chain revenue was $746.2 million, against $697.0 million, on higher order volumes and a 2.2% rise in food basket pricing to stores. Source
  • Supply chain margin up 0.9 points: Supply chain gross margin was 12.2% against 11.3%, which the company attributed to procurement productivity. Source
  • Free cash flow fell 7.2%: Free cash flow was $459.8 million against $495.6 million, down 7.2%, on advertising payment timing and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Source

“Domino’s has always been at its best when we are a step ahead. That mindset has helped us set the pace for the industry before, and it’s how we’ll push ourselves to do it again.”

Joe Jordan, Domino’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourceRecord date December 15, 2026; payment December 30, 2026$1.99 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Joe Jordan is Chief Executive Officer; the July release named Russell Weiner in that role. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 3.4% on supply chain: Total revenues were $1,185.6 million, up 3.4%, mainly from higher supply chain revenues and higher global franchise royalty revenues. Source
  • Operating income up 8.3%: Income from operations was $241.8 million, up $18.6 million or 8.3%; excluding a $0.2 million negative currency effect on international royalties, the increase was 8.4%. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 12.7%: Diluted EPS was $4.60 against $4.08, up $0.52 or 12.7%, helped by a lower weighted average diluted share count from repurchases. Source
  • Net income up 9.2%: Net income was $152.2 million, up $12.9 million or 9.2%, mainly on higher income from operations. Source
  • Three-quarter results shown: For the three fiscal quarters, total revenues were $3,530.6 million, up 3.7%, and diluted EPS was $12.80, up 4.7%. Source

Sales, same-store sales and stores

  • U.S. same-store sales up 0.3%: U.S. same store sales rose 0.3%, against 5.2% a year earlier; franchise stores rose 0.3% and Company-owned stores 1.0%. International same store sales rose 0.2% excluding currency. Source
  • Global retail sales up 3.2%: Global retail sales were $4,840.4 million, up 3.2% excluding currency; U.S. stores rose 2.1% and international stores 4.3%. Source
  • Net store growth of 175: The system added 175 net stores, 26 in the U.S. and 149 internationally. Source

“build on the competitive advantages that have long set us apart: our iconic brand, best-in-class franchise system, global scale and proven operating capabilities.”

Joe Jordan, Domino’s Chief Executive Officer

Segments and revenue lines

  • Supply chain volume and pricing lifted revenue: Supply chain revenue was $746.2 million, against $697.0 million, on higher order volumes and a 2.2% rise in food basket pricing to stores. Source
  • Franchise royalties rose on store growth: U.S. franchise royalties and fees were $165.6 million against $157.2 million, and international royalties and fees were $83.7 million against $78.5 million. Source
  • Company-owned store revenue fell: U.S. Company-owned store revenue was $61.4 million against $82.7 million, after refranchising of certain store markets in the second quarter of 2026. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Supply chain margin up 0.9 points: Supply chain gross margin was 12.2% against 11.3%, which the company attributed to procurement productivity. Source
  • Consolidated gross margin 40.2%: Gross margin was 40.2% of revenues against 40.1%; total cost of sales was 59.8% of revenues against 59.9%. Source
  • Operating margin rose to 20.4%: Income from operations was 20.4% of revenues against 19.5%; general and administrative expense was $105.7 million, or 8.9% of revenues. Source
  • Interest and tax costs higher: Interest expense, net was $44.2 million against $41.0 million, and the tax provision was $42.9 million against $39.9 million. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Free cash flow fell 7.2%: Free cash flow was $459.8 million against $495.6 million, down 7.2%, on advertising payment timing and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capex: Operating cash flow was $520.6 million for the three fiscal quarters, against $552.3 million; capital expenditures were $60.8 million against $56.7 million. Source
  • Current debt balance rose: Current portion of long-term debt was $1,326.8 million at September 6, 2026, against $6.1 million at December 28, 2025; the release gives no reason for the change. Source
  • Cash balance higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $229.0 million at September 6, 2026, against $125.7 million at December 28, 2025. Source

Shareholder returns and leverage

  • Third-quarter buybacks of $73.6 million: The company repurchased and retired 216,282 shares for $73.6 million in the quarter, and 848,503 shares for $304.9 million in the three fiscal quarters. Source
  • $1.15 billion authorization remaining: Remaining authorization for share repurchases was $1.15 billion as of September 6, 2026, down from $1.23 billion at June 14, 2026. Source
  • Leverage ratio down to 4.2x: The leverage ratio was 4.2x against 4.5x a year earlier, on trailing four quarters Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $1,123.4 million; the company has historically operated between four and six times. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Customer and franchisee focus: The CEO said priorities are getting closer to customers, helping franchisees grow profitability, and making the best performance the everyday performance. Source
  • Faster, clearer execution planned: Management said it will advance winning ideas faster with greater clarity, speed and consistency, aiming to earn more occasions and gain market share. Source
  • Belief about the next chapter: The CEO stated a belief about the company's next chapter; the release gives no numeric targets for it. Source

Coming up, as management said on 13 October 2026

  • Form 10-Q filed today: The company said it will file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter today. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency, third quarter Source+3.2%
U.S. same store sales growth, third quarter Source+0.3%
International same store sales growth, excluding foreign currency, third quarter Source+0.2%
Store count at September 6, 2026 Source22,706
Net store growth, third quarter Source175
Food basket pricing change to U.S. stores, third quarter Source+2.2%
Global retail sales, trailing four quarters Sourceover $20.7 billion
Share of stores owned by independent franchisees Source99%

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.