BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Results
Rhea-AI Summary
BJ’s Restaurants (Nasdaq: BJRI) reported fiscal second quarter 2026 revenue of $388.9 million, up 6.4% year over year, with comparable restaurant sales up 6.5% and traffic up 8.3%. Restaurant level operating profit rose to $66.8 million, a 17.2% margin, and Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.5% to $44.4 million. Diluted EPS was $0.86, while adjusted diluted EPS was $0.94.
Net income declined to $18.8 million from $22.2 million, as general and administrative expenses rose by $4.6 million, including $2.9 million of incremental deferred compensation, legal and leadership transition costs. The company repurchased about 64,000 shares for $2.4 million and cut total debt from $85.0 million to $44.0 million.
BJ’s raised its 2026 outlook, increasing comparable sales guidance to 3.0%–4.0%, restaurant level operating profit to $228–$235 million, and Adjusted EBITDA to $145–$152 million, while keeping capital expenditure and share repurchase guidance unchanged.
Positive
- Revenue growth to $388.9 million, up 6.4% year over year
- Comparable restaurant sales up 6.5% with 8.3% traffic growth
- Restaurant level operating profit up $4.7 million to $66.8 million (17.2% margin)
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $44.4 million from $42.1 million
- 2026 guidance raised for comps, restaurant level profit and Adjusted EBITDA
- Total debt reduced to $44.0 million from $85.0 million
- Share repurchases of ~64,000 shares for $2.4 million in Q2 2026
Negative
- Net income decreased to $18.8 million from $22.2 million year over year
- Operating margin declined, income from operations fell to $18.4 million from $21.2 million
- General and administrative expense increased to $26.3 million from $21.8 million
- Legal settlements and leadership transition costs totaled about $1.4 million in Q2 2026
- Cash balance declined to $14.4 million from $23.8 million at year-end 2025
News Explained
The July 30 results release reports the fiscal second quarter ended
Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 05 | Q1 earnings | Positive | +4.6% | Quarterly sales, profit growth, and reiterated full-year guidance |
| Feb 25 | FY2025 earnings | Positive | -2.1% | Annual results and initial fiscal 2026 outlook |
| Oct 30 | Q3 earnings | Positive | +18.4% | Quarterly revenue, operating profit, EBITDA, and guidance |
| Jul 31 | Q2 earnings | Positive | -3.6% | Quarterly revenue, comparable sales, margins, and repurchases |
| May 01 | Q1 earnings | Positive | +13.2% | Quarterly results and raised fiscal-year comparable-sales outlook |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
BJRI's tag-matched earnings reactions were positive in three of five events, while two favorable earnings releases were followed by negative 24-hour reactions.
Key Terms
adjusted ebitda financial
non-gaap measures financial
stock-based compensation financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Delivers
Raises Fiscal 2026 Financial Guidance
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq: BJRI) today reported financial results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Compared to Second Quarter 2025
- Total revenues increased
6.4% to$388.9 million - Comparable restaurant sales increased
6.5% - Restaurant level operating profit(1) was
$66.8 million , an increase of7.6% , or$4.7 million - Restaurant level operating profit margin(1) increased to
17.2% , compared to17.0% last year - Diluted net income per share was
$0.86 and adjusted diluted net income per share(1) was$0.94 - Adjusted EBITDA(1) was
$44.4 million , an increase of5.5% from$42.1 million - The Company repurchased and retired approximately 64,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately
$2.4 million
(1) Restaurant level operating profit, restaurant level operating profit margin, adjusted diluted net income per share, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to GAAP measures and further information are set forth below.
“The second quarter - or Celebration Season as we call it - was another outstanding quarter for BJ's, marking our eighth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth and our seventh consecutive quarter of profit growth. Comparable restaurant sales grew
“Two years into our journey to unlock the full potential of BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, our results reflect the meaningful progress we have made. Going forward, we remain focused on our four strategic pillars and on ensuring BJ's continues to be the restaurant of choice when people get together with those they care about most,” concluded Tick.
Todd Wilson, Chief Financial Officer, added, “Growth in second quarter sales, restaurant-level operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA demonstrates the underlying strength of our model. Incremental general & administrative costs of
Share Repurchase Program
During the second quarter of 2026, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 64,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately
2026 Financial Outlook
We are raising certain fiscal year 2026 guidance metrics as follows:
| Metric | Prior Outlook: May 5, 2026 | Revised Outlook: July 30, 2026 | ||
| Comparable Restaurant Sales | Increase | Increase | ||
| Restaurant Level Operating Profit | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||
| Share Repurchases(1) | Up to | Up to |
(1) Depending on market conditions
Actual results may differ materially from the 2026 Financial Outlook set forth above as a result of, among other things, the factors described under the “Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer” below.
Investor Conference Call and Webcast
BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. will conduct a conference call on its second quarter 2026 earnings release today, July 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Management will discuss the financial results and host a question-and-answer session. In addition, a live audio webcast of the call will be accessible to the public on the “Investors” page of the Company’s website located at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com, and a recording of the webcast will be archived on the site for 30 days following the live event. Please allow 15 minutes to register and download and install any necessary software.
About BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.
Founded in 1978, BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is a national casual dining brand with deep brewhouse roots delivering premium food and memorable experiences. With more than 200 restaurants across 31 states, BJ's brings guests together to celebrate life's everyday moments over chef-crafted food, award-winning house crafted beer and genuine hospitality in a fresh atmosphere. With signature deep-dish pizzas, the often imitated but never replicated world-famous Pizookie® dessert, pours and more, BJ's offers something for every taste and every occasion. A pioneer in craft brewing, BJ's is the most decorated restaurant-brewery in the country, earning over 270 medals since 1996, including the 2025 Questex Vibe Vista Award for Best Beer Program and top rankings across multiple categories at the 2026 World Beer Cup and North American Beer Awards. Whether gathering with family for a weeknight dinner, catching the game with friends or raising a glass to life's biggest milestones, BJ's is where moments turn into lasting memories. To learn more, visit www.bjsrestaurants.com or follow @bjsrestaurants on Instagram, Facebook and X.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute “forward-looking” statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding our anticipated comparable restaurant sales, restaurant level operating profit, Adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures and share repurchases, as well as the success of various sales-building and productivity initiatives, future guest traffic trends, on and off-premise sales trends, cost savings initiatives and the number and timing of new restaurants expected to be opened in future periods. These “forward-looking” statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) any inability or failure to successfully and adequately address and offset rising costs, including the effects of tariffs and increases in energy, labor, construction and other operational costs, as well as changes in macroeconomic conditions and consumer spending, (ii) any inability to manage new restaurant openings, (iii) construction delays, (iv) wage inflation and competitive labor market conditions which may result in staffing shortages, (v) the impact of any union organizing efforts at our restaurants and our responses to such efforts, (vi) increases in minimum wage and other employment related costs, including compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and minimum salary requirements for exempt team members, (vii) the effect of credit and equity market disruptions on our ability to finance our continued expansion on acceptable terms, (viii) food quality and health concerns and the effect of negative publicity about us, our restaurants, other restaurants, or others across the food supply chain, due to food borne illness or other illnesses or other reasons, whether or not accurate, (ix) factors that disproportionately impact California, Texas and Florida, where a substantial number of our restaurants are located, (x) restaurant and brewery industry competition, (xi) impact of certain brewing business considerations, including without limitation, dependence upon suppliers, third party contractors and distributors, and related hazards, (xii) consumer spending trends in general for casual dining occasions, (xiii) potential uninsured losses and liabilities due to limitations on insurance coverage, (xiv) fluctuating commodity costs and availability of food in general and certain raw materials related to the brewing of our craft beers and energy requirements, (xv) government regulations and licensing costs, including beer and liquor regulations, (xvi) loss of key personnel, (xvii) inability to secure acceptable sites, (xviii) legal proceedings, (xix) the success of our key sales-building and related operational initiatives, (xx) any failure of our information technology or security breaches with respect to our electronic systems and data, and (xxi) numerous other risks discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.
The “forward-looking” statements contained in this press release are based on current assumptions and expectations, and BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or alter its “forward-looking” statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact ICR at (332) 242-4370 or at InvestorRelations@BJRI.com.
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands except for per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 388,888 | 100.0 | % | $ | 365,597 | 100.0 | % | $ | 747,006 | 100.0 | % | $ | 713,570 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Restaurant operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 99,102 | 25.5 | 90,803 | 24.8 | 189,014 | 25.3 | 177,623 | 24.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Labor and benefits | 134,333 | 34.5 | 129,374 | 35.4 | 264,211 | 35.4 | 255,026 | 35.7 | |||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and operating | 88,607 | 22.8 | 83,300 | 22.8 | 169,773 | 22.7 | 163,211 | 22.9 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 26,337 | 6.8 | 21,750 | 5.9 | 48,303 | 6.5 | 43,502 | 6.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 20,956 | 5.4 | 18,736 | 5.1 | 43,768 | 5.9 | 37,013 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Restaurant opening | 87 | - | 225 | 0.1 | 102 | - | 663 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal and impairment of assets, net | 1,023 | 0.3 | 195 | 0.1 | 2,769 | 0.4 | 368 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 370,445 | 95.3 | 344,383 | 94.2 | 717,940 | 96.1 | 677,406 | 94.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Income from operations | 18,443 | 4.7 | 21,214 | 5.8 | 29,066 | 3.9 | 36,164 | 5.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Other (expense) income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (810 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (1,272 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (1,898 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (2,502 | ) | (0.4 | ) | |||||||
| Other income, net | 1,388 | 0.4 | 3,761 | 1.0 | 942 | 0.1 | 3,700 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense) | 578 | 0.1 | 2,489 | 0.7 | (956 | ) | (0.1 | ) | 1,198 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 19,021 | 4.9 | 23,703 | 6.5 | 28,110 | 3.8 | 37,362 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 239 | 0.1 | 1,495 | 0.4 | 294 | - | 1,662 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 18,782 | 4.8 | % | $ | 22,208 | 6.1 | % | $ | 27,816 | 3.7 | % | $ | 35,700 | 5.0 | % | |||||||
| Net income per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.89 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.32 | $ | 1.59 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.86 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 1.54 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 21,042 | 22,220 | 21,100 | 22,452 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 21,889 | 22,962 | 21,904 | 23,130 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Percentages reflected above may not reconcile due to rounding. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||
| Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Information | |||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | |||||
| June 30, 2026 (unaudited) | December 30, 2025 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,427 | $ | 23,781 | |
| Total assets | $ | 991,788 | $ | 1,015,455 | |
| Total debt | $ | 44,000 | $ | 85,000 | |
| Shareholders’ equity | $ | 397,398 | $ | 366,193 | |
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unaudited Supplemental Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Labor and benefits | $ | 312 | 0.1 | % | $ | 865 | 0.2 | % | $ | 1,177 | 0.2 | % | $ | 1,265 | 0.2 | % | |||||||
| General and administrative | 2,195 | 0.6 | 1,042 | 0.3 | 3,897 | 0.5 | 2,592 | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation | $ | 2,507 | 0.6 | % | $ | 1,907 | 0.5 | % | $ | 5,074 | 0.7 | % | $ | 3,857 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Operating Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comparable restaurant sales % change | 6.5 | % | 2.9 | % | 4.5 | % | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Restaurants opened during period | - | - | - | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restaurants open at period-end | 219 | 219 | 219 | 219 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restaurant operating weeks | 2,847 | 2,847 | 5,694 | 5,682 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) Percentages represent percent of total revenues and may not reconcile due to rounding.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company is reporting certain non-GAAP financial results and related reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. These measures should only be used to evaluate the Company’s results of operations in conjunction with corresponding GAAP measures.
Adjusted diluted net income per share is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents net income excluding adjustments intended to provide greater transparency of underlying performance and to allow investors to evaluate our business on the same basis as our management.
Restaurant level operating profit is equal to the revenues generated by our restaurants less their direct operating costs which consist of cost of sales, labor and benefits, and occupancy and operating costs. This performance measure primarily includes the costs that restaurant-level managers can directly control and excludes other operating costs that are essential to conduct the Company’s business, as detailed in the table below. Management uses restaurant level operating profit as a supplemental measure of restaurant performance. Management believes restaurant level operating profit is useful to investors in that it highlights trends in the operating results of our business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the sum of net income adjusted for certain expenses and gains/losses detailed within the reconciliation below. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. Management believes these measures are useful to investors in that they highlight cash flow and trends in the operating results of our business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures.
The following tables, which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, presented in this release, to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2026 and July 1, 2025, are set forth below:
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Financial Information – Adjusted Diluted Net Income Per Share | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 18,782 | 4.8 | % | $ | 22,208 | 6.1 | % | $ | 27,816 | 3.7 | % | $ | 35,700 | 5.0 | % | |||||||
| Loss on disposal and impairment of assets, net | 1,023 | 0.3 | 195 | 0.1 | 2,769 | 0.4 | 368 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Legal settlements | 750 | 0.2 | - | - | 750 | 0.1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Leadership transition expenses, net | 682 | 0.2 | - | - | 682 | 0.1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Tax effect of adjustments(1) | (594 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (47 | ) | - | (1,017 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (89 | ) | - | |||||||||
| After tax effect of adjustments | 1,861 | 0.5 | 148 | - | 3,184 | 0.4 | 279 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 20,643 | 5.3 | % | $ | 22,356 | 6.1 | % | $ | 31,000 | 4.1 | % | $ | 35,979 | 5.0 | % | |||||||
| Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding: | 21,889 | 22,962 | 21,904 | 23,130 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share (as reported) | $ | 0.86 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.27 | $ | 1.54 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted diluted net income per share | $ | 0.94 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.42 | $ | 1.56 | |||||||||||||||
| Percentages above represent percent of total revenues and may not reconcile due to rounding. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The tax effect is based on the Company’s annual statutory tax rate of
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Financial Information – Restaurant Level Operating Profit | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| Income from operations | $ | 18,443 | 4.7 | % | $ | 21,214 | 5.8 | % | $ | 29,066 | 3.9 | % | $ | 36,164 | 5.1 | % | |||
| General and administrative | 26,337 | 6.8 | 21,750 | 5.9 | 48,303 | 6.5 | 43,502 | 6.1 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 20,956 | 5.4 | 18,736 | 5.1 | 43,768 | 5.9 | 37,013 | 5.2 | |||||||||||
| Restaurant opening | 87 | - | 225 | 0.1 | 102 | - | 663 | 0.1 | |||||||||||
| Loss on disposal and impairment of assets, net | 1,023 | 0.3 | 195 | 0.1 | 2,769 | 0.4 | 368 | 0.1 | |||||||||||
| Restaurant level operating profit | $ | 66,846 | 17.2 | % | $ | 62,120 | 17.0 | % | $ | 124,008 | 16.6 | % | $ | 117,710 | 16.5 | % | |||
| Percentages above represent percent of total revenues and may not reconcile due to rounding. | |||||||||||||||||||
| BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Financial Information –Adjusted EBITDA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Quarter Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 18,782 | 4.8 | % | $ | 22,208 | 6.1 | % | $ | 27,816 | 3.7 | % | $ | 35,700 | 5.0 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 810 | 0.2 | 1,272 | 0.3 | 1,898 | 0.3 | 2,502 | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 239 | 0.1 | 1,495 | 0.4 | 294 | - | 1,662 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 20,956 | 5.4 | 18,736 | 5.1 | 43,768 | 5.9 | 37,013 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 2,507 | 0.6 | 1,907 | 0.5 | 5,074 | 0.7 | 3,857 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal and impairment of assets, net | 1,023 | 0.3 | 195 | 0.1 | 2,769 | 0.4 | 368 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | (1,388 | ) | (0.4 | ) | (3,761 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (942 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (3,700 | ) | (0.5 | ) | |||||||
| Legal settlements | 750 | 0.2 | - | - | 750 | 0.1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Leadership transition expenses, net | 682 | 0.2 | - | - | 682 | 0.1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 44,361 | 11.4 | % | $ | 42,052 | 11.5 | % | $ | 82,109 | 11.0 | % | $ | 77,402 | 10.8 | % | |||||||
| Percentages above represent percent of total revenues and may not reconcile due to rounding. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
