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Texas Roadhouse, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Comparable sales rose 6.2%: Comparable restaurant sales rose 6.2% against 5.8% a year earlier, and store weeks rose 5.0%. For 26 weeks, comparable restaurant sales rose 6.7%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell 0.7%: Diluted EPS was $1.85 against $1.86. Management attributed the change to higher general and administrative and depreciation and amortization expenses, partly offset by restaurant margin dollars and share repurchases. Source
  • Bubba's 33 comparable sales 1.3%: Bubba’s 33 comparable sales rose 1.3% against 4.3% a year earlier. Store weeks rose 11.1% to 742, and average unit volume was $1,659 thousand, up 0.9%. Source
  • Restaurant margin fell 66 basis points: Restaurant margin was 16.4% of restaurant and other sales, down 66 basis points from 17.1%. Commodity inflation was 7.0% against 6.2% in the first quarter; wage and other labor inflation was 3.9% against 3.8%. Source
  • Food and beverage costs rose 136 bps: Food and beverage costs were 35.4% of restaurant and other sales against 34.0%, up 136 basis points. Labor was 32.5% against 32.9%, and other operating costs were 14.2% against 14.5%. Source
  • Third quarter started at 6.2%: The first five weeks of the third quarter had comparable sales of 6.2% over 2025, against 6.5% for the first five weeks of the second quarter in the prior release. Source

“We are excited about the momentum in our business this quarter as continued strong traffic trends drove record average weekly sales.”

Jerry Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Commodity inflation Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 5%Lowered from 6% to 7%
Effective income tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 14%Lowered from 14% to 15%
Store week growth Sourcefiscal 20265% to 6%Kept
Wage and other labor inflation Sourcefiscal 20263% to 4%Kept
Total capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $400 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: The 2026 commodity inflation expectation changed to approximately 5%, from 6% to 7%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The 2026 effective income tax rate expectation changed to approximately 14%, from 14% to 15%. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Comparable sales rose 6.2%: Comparable restaurant sales rose 6.2% against 5.8% a year earlier, and store weeks rose 5.0%. For 26 weeks, comparable restaurant sales rose 6.7%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell 0.7%: Diluted EPS was $1.85 against $1.86. Management attributed the change to higher general and administrative and depreciation and amortization expenses, partly offset by restaurant margin dollars and share repurchases. Source
  • Half-year revenue and EPS rose: For 26 weeks, revenue rose 11.9% to $3,313,142 thousand and income from operations rose 2.9%. Diluted EPS was $3.72 against $3.57, up 4.2%. Source

Brands and restaurant sales

  • Texas Roadhouse comparable sales 6.5%: Texas Roadhouse brand comparable sales rose 6.5% against 5.9%. Average unit volume was $2,380 thousand against $2,246 thousand, up 6.0%, on store weeks up 4.2%. Source
  • Bubba's 33 comparable sales 1.3%: Bubba’s 33 comparable sales rose 1.3% against 4.3% a year earlier. Store weeks rose 11.1% to 742, and average unit volume was $1,659 thousand, up 0.9%. Source
  • Franchise comparable sales 4.4%: Texas Roadhouse franchise restaurants reported comparable sales of 4.4% against 7.0%, and store weeks fell 4.1% to 1,205. Source

“Looking ahead, we continue to expect meaningful growth opportunities across all three of our brands.”

Jerry Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

Average weekly sales and to-go

  • Average weekly sales $177,252: Average weekly sales were $177,252, against $167,350 a year earlier. To-go sales within that were $25,369 per week, against $22,243. Source
  • Half-year average weekly sales: For 26 weeks, average weekly sales were $175,708 against $165,228. To-go sales were $25,371 against $22,195. Source
  • Menu price increase in April: The 2026 comparable sales expectation includes menu pricing. The prior release reported a menu price increase of about 1.9% implemented in early April.

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Restaurant margin fell 66 basis points: Restaurant margin was 16.4% of restaurant and other sales, down 66 basis points from 17.1%. Commodity inflation was 7.0% against 6.2% in the first quarter; wage and other labor inflation was 3.9% against 3.8%. Source
  • Restaurant margin dollars rose 6.9%: Restaurant margin dollars rose 6.9% to $275.1 million from $257.3 million. Margin per store week rose 1.9% to $29,092 from $28,562. Source
  • Food and beverage costs rose 136 bps: Food and beverage costs were 35.4% of restaurant and other sales against 34.0%, up 136 basis points. Labor was 32.5% against 32.9%, and other operating costs were 14.2% against 14.5%. Source
  • General and administrative costs rose: General and administrative expenses were $72,409 thousand against $62,763 thousand. Pre-opening expenses were $8,492 thousand against $5,464 thousand. Source

“We believe this focus positions us well to continue creating long-term value for our shareholders.”

Jerry Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

Demand and quarter-to-date trend

  • Third quarter started at 6.2%: The first five weeks of the third quarter had comparable sales of 6.2% over 2025, against 6.5% for the first five weeks of the second quarter in the prior release. Source
  • Comparable sales 6.2% vs 7.1%: Second-quarter comparable sales were 6.2%, against 7.1% in the first quarter as reported in the prior release.
  • Comparable restaurants grew 6.1%: Comparable restaurants (626 units) had weekly sales of $183,982 thousand, up 6.1%. Restaurants less than six months old (16 units) rose 10.4% to $180,822 thousand. Source

Restaurant development and units

  • Nine company openings in quarter: Nine company restaurants and one franchise restaurant opened in the quarter. The prior-year quarter had four company openings and one franchise opening. Source
  • Company restaurants reached 732: Company restaurants totalled 732 at quarter end, against 695 a year earlier: 662 Texas Roadhouse, 59 Bubba’s 33 and 11 Jaggers. Source
  • System count 832 restaurants: The company describes itself as over 830 restaurants system-wide. Franchise restaurants totalled 100, against 102; total restaurants were 832, against 797. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow $180.1 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $180.1 million in the quarter. Capital expenditures were $98.7 million, dividends $49.3 million and repurchases $42.6 million. Source
  • Half-year operating cash flow $439.2 million: For 26 weeks, operating cash flow was $439.2 million, with capital expenditures of $178.8 million, franchise acquisitions of $71.8 million, dividends of $98.7 million and repurchases of $70.8 million. Source
  • Revolver draw of $50 million: Net proceeds from the revolving credit facility were $50,000 thousand in the first half. Long-term debt was $50,000 thousand at June 30, 2026, against none at December 30, 2025. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.75: The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share. Dividends declared per share were $0.75 against $0.68 a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 65,920 thousand against 66,598 thousand a year earlier. Source

Strategy and people

  • Development pipeline and balance sheet: Management cited its development pipeline, balance sheet and capital allocation approach as the basis for expanding its footprint and investing in its people. Source
  • Results credited to operators: Management attributed the results to operator hard work, passion and ownership, and to operators’ commitment to the company’s mission, values and purpose. Source
  • Jerry Morgan named chief executive: The documents name Jerry Morgan as chief executive officer and report no change in leadership. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Dividend payment September 29: The $0.75 quarterly dividend is to be paid September 29, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source6.2% for the quarter; Texas Roadhouse brand 6.5%; Bubba's 33 1.3%
Store openings Source9 company and 1 franchise restaurant opened in the quarter
Gross margin Sourcenot reported as gross margin; restaurant margin 16.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited commodity inflation of 6.6% and wage and other labor inflation of 3.9% for the first half as pressure on restaurant margin, partly offset by higher sales. Source
  • Financial: Higher general and administrative and depreciation and amortization costs were cited in the quarter's decline in diluted EPS. Depreciation and amortization was $58,341 thousand against $50,744 thousand. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated its expectation for total capital expenditures of approximately $400 million in 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its 2026 expectation of positive comparable restaurant sales growth, including the benefit of menu pricing actions. 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.