By Evie Liu
Brinker International, the owner of Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy, reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results on Wednesday, lifting its stock by nearly 6% premarket and reinforcing the gains the shares have logged since November.
For the second fiscal quarter ended in December, total revenue rose to $1.45 billion, up nearly 7% from a year earlier and above consensus forecasts of $1.42 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were at $2.87 per share, also surpassing analyst expectations of $2.62.
Same-restaurant sales increased 7.5% from a year ago, driven by an 8.6% gain at Chili's, where ongoing menu innovation and marketing initiatives attracted more guests. Maggiano's continued to lag, posting a slight decline in comparable sales.
On the back of the positive results in both the first and second quarter of fiscal 2026 , management raised full-year guidance, now targeting an annual revenue of $5.76 billion to $5.83 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $10.45 to $10.85.
Chili's has been outperforming a sluggish restaurant industry over the past few years with 19 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth. Compared to the same quarter two years ago, the December quarter results were up as much as 43%, according to the company.
The chain has leaned hard into value at a time when consumers are trading down, offering clear, affordable bundles rather than confusing limited-time promotions. Faster service times, consistent food quality, and digital-savvy marketing campaigns further helped drive repeat visits.
Brinker shares had taken a dive since July 2025 as investors grew concerned that the company's growth was slowing. Still, strong quarterly results last October -- with earnings and revenues beating consensus expectations -- helped rebuild investor confidence and bolster the stock price again.
Write to Evie Liu at evie.liu@barrons.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 28, 2026 09:40 ET (14:40 GMT)
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