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BRINKER INTERNATIONAL REPORTS THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL 2026 RESULTS AND UPDATES FISCAL 2026 GUIDANCE

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Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) reported third quarter fiscal 2026 results for the period ended March 25, 2026. Company sales were $1,455.5M, total revenues $1,470.2M, net income $127.9M and diluted EPS $2.87. Company comparable restaurant sales rose 3.3% (Chili's +4.0%, Maggiano's -4.6%). The company repurchased $108.0M of common stock and paid down its revolver. Updated fiscal 2026 guidance narrows total revenues to $5.78B–$5.82B and raises EPS (ex-special items) to $10.60–$10.85.

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Positive

  • Repurchased $108.0M of common stock during Q3
  • Company comparable restaurant sales +3.3% in Q3
  • Chili's comparable restaurant sales +4.0% in Q3
  • Updated fiscal 2026 EPS (ex-special items) to $10.60–$10.85

Negative

  • Maggiano's comparable restaurant sales down 4.6% in Q3
  • Restaurant operating margin as % of company sales down 0.5%
  • Chili's restaurant operating margin as % of sales down 0.3%

News Market Reaction – EAT

+14.45% 2.5x vol
14 alerts
+14.45% Session close to close
+14.5% Peak in 25 hr 56 min
$6.69B Market Cap
2.5x Rel. Volume

In the Apr 29 session, EAT gained 14.45%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +14.5% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 14 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. Trading volume was elevated at 2.5x the daily average, suggesting notable buying interest.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

The stock surged +14.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with t...
Analysis

The stock surged +14.4% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the solid fundamentals in this release, including higher Q3 revenues, expanding net income, and raised FY2026 EPS guidance. The company also repurchased $108.0M of stock and modestly reduced capex plans, which can be viewed as shareholder-friendly. Historically, Brinker headlines have produced mixed reactions, so an outsized move could reflect short-term positioning or prior gains. Investors would watch sustainability of Chili’s 4.0% comps and margin trends in future quarters.

Key Figures

Company sales: $1,455.5M Net income: $127.9M Diluted EPS: $2.87 +5 more
8 metrics
Company sales $1,455.5M Q3 FY2026 vs $1,413.0M in Q3 FY2025
Net income $127.9M Q3 FY2026 vs $119.1M in Q3 FY2025
Diluted EPS $2.87 Q3 FY2026 vs $2.56 in Q3 FY2025
Adj. EPS (non-GAAP) $2.90 Q3 FY2026 vs $2.66 in Q3 FY2025
Comparable sales - Chili's 4.0% Q3 FY2026 vs Q3 FY2025; Feb & Mar each +5.9%
Stock repurchases $108.0M Common stock repurchased during Q3 FY2026
FY2026 revenue guide $5.78B–$5.82B Updated from $5.76B–$5.83B
FY2026 capex guide $240.0M–$250.0M Lowered from $250.0M–$260.0M

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 15 (Neutral)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Apr 15 Earnings call notice Neutral -3.9% Scheduled timing for Q3 FY26 earnings call and webcast details.
Apr 14 Menu promotion Positive +3.3% Chili’s expands $10.99 3 For Me menu with new chicken sandwiches.
Mar 18 Menu / pricing move Positive -1.9% Maggiano’s increases portion sizes and expands Family Style offering at no extra cost.
Mar 16 Brand partnership Positive +0.8% Chili’s and Spire Motorsports launch themed NASCAR activation and merch drop.
Mar 02 Executive promotion Positive -1.0% George Felix promoted to EVP, CMO overseeing Chili’s and Maggiano’s marketing.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent brand and marketing headlines have produced mixed, often modest price reactions, with no consistent pattern of strong follow-through on news.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Brinker news has focused on brand promotions, marketing leadership, and investor communications. A March promotion at Maggiano’s on Mar 18, 2026 and Chili’s menu initiatives drove only modest stock moves. The announcement of George Felix’s promotion to EVP, CMO on Mar 2, 2026 coincided with a slightly negative reaction, while an earnings-call scheduling notice on Apr 15, 2026 saw a -3.91% move. Against this backdrop, today’s detailed Q3 results and guidance update represent a more fundamental financial checkpoint than recent marketing-oriented releases.

Key Terms

non-gaap, adjusted ebitda, comparable restaurant sales, effective income tax rate, +2 more
6 terms
non-gaap financial
"Restaurant operating margin, non-GAAP (1) | $ 267.4 | | $ 266.8"
Non-GAAP refers to financial measures that companies use to show their earnings or performance without including certain expenses or income that are often added back to give a different picture. It matters because it can make a company's results look better or more favorable, but it may also hide important costs, so investors need to look at both GAAP (official rules) and non-GAAP numbers to get a full understanding.
View in glossary
adjusted ebitda financial
"Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP (1) | $ 223.7 | | $ 220.6"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
comparable restaurant sales financial
"Company comparable restaurant sales increased 3.3% in the third quarter"
Comparable restaurant sales measure how much revenue changed at locations that were open for a set prior period, excluding new or closed outlets, so it shows like-for-like sales performance. Investors use it as an 'apples-to-apples' gauge of customer demand, pricing power and operational health—rising comparable sales suggest stronger underlying business, while declines can signal weakening traffic or pricing issues even if overall revenue grows due to new openings.
effective income tax rate financial
"the effective income tax rate was 18.4% in the third quarter"
The effective income tax rate is the share of a company’s pre-tax profit that it actually pays in income taxes, calculated by dividing total tax expense by pre-tax income. For investors, it shows how much tax reduces a company’s earnings — like knowing the difference between a car’s sticker price and what you actually pay after fees and discounts — and helps compare profitability and cash available for growth or dividends.
fica tip credit financial
"lower than the statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to leverage of the FICA tip credit"
A FICA tip credit is a payroll tax benefit tied to employee tips: when tipped workers report their tips, employers can reduce the Social Security and Medicare taxes they owe by the portion of those taxes that apply to the reported tips. For investors, this lowers a business’s labor-related tax costs and can modestly improve margins in industries with many tipped staff, like restaurants, acting like a small rebate that reduces operating expenses.
diluted weighted average shares financial
"Diluted weighted average shares | 44.7 million - 45.0 million"
Diluted weighted average shares is the average number of common shares a company would have outstanding during a reporting period after adding any additional shares that could be created if all options, warrants, convertible debt, and other potential claims were exercised or converted. Investors use this adjusted share count to calculate per-share metrics like diluted earnings per share, which shows how profit or ownership would be spread if all potential shares became real—like counting every possible slice of a pie if everyone with a claim took one.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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DALLAS, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended March 25, 2026.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Highlights

"Chili's delivered its 20th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth, up 4%, lapping a 31% increase a year ago," said Kevin Hochman, President and CEO of Brinker International. "Guest demand remained strong in the quarter, recovering quickly after significant weather headwinds in January, driven by continuous improvements in food, service, and atmosphere, along with unmatched everyday value."

Company sales were $1,455.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to $1,413.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Company comparable restaurant sales increased 3.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, including 4.0% for Chili's. Chili's comparable restaurant sales for February and March both increased 5.9% with positive traffic, reflecting the underlying strength and momentum of the business. In contrast, Chili's January comparable restaurant sales of 0.6% were adversely impacted by Winter Storm Fern and one fewer operating day resulting from a holiday shift.

Chili's continued strong performance is driven by a disciplined strategy focused on improving the fundamentals of food, service, and atmosphere, supported by ongoing menu innovation, everyday value, and attention‑capturing media and advertising that reinforce the Company's value proposition, drive trial among new guests, and strengthen loyalty. During the quarter, the Company utilized operational cash flow to pay the outstanding amount on the company's revolver and repurchased $108.0 million of the Company's common stock.

Financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 were as follows (in millions, except per share amounts and percentages):


Third Quarter


2026


2025


Variance

Company sales

$ 1,455.5


$ 1,413.0


$    42.5

Total revenues

$ 1,470.2


$ 1,425.1


$    45.1







Operating income

$   166.6


$   156.9


$      9.7

Operating income as a % of Total revenues

11.3 %


11.0 %


0.3 %

Restaurant operating margin, non-GAAP(1)

$   267.4


$   266.8


$      0.6

Restaurant operating margin as a % of Company sales, non-GAAP(1)

18.4 %


18.9 %


(0.5) %

Net income

$   127.9


$   119.1


$      8.8

Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP(1)

$   223.7


$   220.6


$      3.1







Net income per diluted share

$    2.87


$    2.56


$    0.31

Net income per diluted share, excluding special items, non-GAAP(1)

$    2.90


$    2.66


$    0.24

Comparable Restaurant Sales(2)


Q3:26 vs 25

Brinker

3.3 %

Chili's

4.0 %

Maggiano's

(4.6) %



(1)

See Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations section below for more details



(2)

Comparable Restaurant Sales include restaurants that have been in operation for more than 18 full months.
Restaurants temporarily closed for 14 days or more are excluded from comparable restaurant sales.
Percentage amounts are calculated based on the comparable periods year-over-year

Updates to Full Year Fiscal 2026 Guidance

We are providing the following updated select financial guidance for fiscal 2026:


Updated Fiscal 2026 Guidance


Previous Fiscal 2026 Guidance

Total revenues

$5.78 billion - $5.82 billion


$5.76 billion - $5.83 billion

Net income per diluted share, excluding special items, non-GAAP

$10.60 - $10.85


$10.45 - $10.85

Capital expenditures

$240.0 million - $250.0 million


$250.0 million - $260.0 million

Diluted weighted average shares

44.7 million - 45.0 million


44.7 million - 45.2 million

The risks outlined in the Forward-Looking Statements paragraph of this press release, among other risks, could cause actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. We are unable to reliably forecast special items without unreasonable effort. As such, we do not present a reconciliation of forecasted non-GAAP measures to the corresponding GAAP measures.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2026 Operating Performance

Segment Performance

The table below presents selected financial information (in millions, except as noted) related to our segments' operational performance for the thirteen week periods ended March 25, 2026 and March 26, 2025:


Chili's


Maggiano's


Third Quarter


Variance


Third Quarter


Variance


2026


2025



2026


2025


Company sales

$ 1,348.1


$ 1,292.2


$     55.9


$   107.4


$   120.8


$   (13.4)

Franchise revenues

14.5


11.9


2.6


0.2


0.2


Total revenues

$ 1,362.6


$ 1,304.1


$     58.5


$   107.6


$   121.0


$   (13.4)













Company restaurant expenses(1)

$ 1,090.6


$ 1,042.1


$     48.5


$     97.1


$   103.5


$     (6.4)

Company restaurant expenses as a % of Company sales

80.9 %


80.6 %


0.3 %


90.4 %


85.7 %


4.7 %













Operating income - GAAP

$   209.4


$   197.7


$     11.7


$      4.6


$     10.7


$     (6.1)

Operating income (loss) as a % of Total revenues

15.4 %


15.2 %


0.2 %


4.3 %


8.8 %


(4.5) %













Restaurant operating margin, non-GAAP(2)

$   257.5


$   250.1


$      7.4


$     10.3


$     17.3


$     (7.0)

Restaurant operating margin as a % of Company sales, non-GAAP(2)

19.1 %


19.4 %


(0.3) %


9.6 %


14.3 %


(4.7) %




(1)

Company restaurant expenses includes Food and beverage costs, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses,
and excludes Depreciation and amortization, General and administrative and Other (gains) and charges



(2)

See Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations section below for more details

Chili's

  • Chili's Company sales increased primarily due to favorable comparable restaurant sales driven by menu pricing, partially offset by lower traffic.
  • Chili's Company restaurant expenses, as a percentage of Company sales, increased primarily due to unfavorable commodity costs and menu item mix, higher manager salaries, repairs and maintenance, delivery fees and to-go supplies, and other restaurant expenses partially offset by sales leverage.
  • Chili's franchisees generated sales of approximately $274.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to $237.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025.

Maggiano's

  • Maggiano's Company sales decreased primarily due to unfavorable comparable restaurant sales and unfavorable impact of restaurant closures. Unfavorable comparable restaurant sales were driven by lower traffic, partially offset by menu pricing.
  • Maggiano's Company restaurant expenses, as a percentage of Company sales, increased primarily due to sales deleverage, unfavorable menu item mix and commodity costs, higher delivery fees and to-go supplies, and other restaurant expenses, partially offset by lower hourly labor, manager bonus, and worker's compensation and general liability insurance.

Corporate

  • On a GAAP basis, the effective income tax rate was 18.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The effective income tax rate is lower than the statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to leverage of the FICA tip credit. Excluding the impact of special items, the effective income tax rate was an expense of 18.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026.

Webcast Information

Investors and interested parties are invited to listen to today's conference call, as management will provide further details of the quarter and business updates. A real-time audio webcast of the presentation can be accessed via the Events and Presentations section of the Brinker Investor Relations page. The call will be broadcast live today, April 29, 2026 at 8 a.m. CDT:

https://investors.brinker.com/events-and-presentations/

For those who are unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the call will be available shortly thereafter.

Additional financial information, including statements of income which detail operations excluding special items, and comparable restaurant sales trends by brand, is also available on Brinker's website under the Financial Information section of the Investor tab.

Forward Calendar

  • SEC Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 filing on or before May 4, 2026
  • Earnings release call for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 on August 12, 2026

Non-GAAP Measures

Brinker management uses certain non-GAAP measures in analyzing operating performance and believes that the presentation of these measures in this release provides investors with information that is beneficial to gaining an understanding of the Company's financial results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in the tables below.

About Brinker

Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies and home of Chili's® Grill & Bar, and Maggiano's Little Italy.® Founded in 1975 in Dallas, Texas, we've ventured far from home, but stayed true to our roots. Brinker owns, operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in the United States, 28 other countries and two U.S. territories. Our passion is making everyone feel special, and we hope you feel that passion each time you visit one of our restaurants or invite us into your home through takeout or delivery. Learn more about Brinker and its brands at brinker.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements and tables contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are made only based on our current plans and expectations as of the date such statements are made, and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events or performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical results or from those projected in forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the impact of general economic conditions, including inflation, on economic activity and on our operations; disruptions on our business including consumer demand, costs, product mix, our strategic initiatives, operations, technology and assets, and our financial performance; the impact of current and potential tariffs and trade barriers; the impact of competition, including competitors employing our same strategies or discounting their offerings; changes in consumer preferences, including shifts in their brand preferences; consumer perception of food safety; reduced consumer discretionary spending; governmental regulations; the effectiveness of the Company's business strategy plan; loss of key management personnel; failure to hire and retain high-quality restaurant management and team members; increasing regulation surrounding wage inflation and competitive labor markets; the impact of social media, including the potential governmental ban of platforms used by the Company in its marketing initiatives; reputational damage or unfavorable publicity for our brands, which may result from actions of franchisees not within our control; reliance on technology and third party delivery providers; failure to protect the security of data of our guests and team members; product availability and supply chain disruptions; regional business and economic conditions; volatility in consumer, commodity, transportation, labor, currency and capital markets; litigation; franchisee success; technology failures; failure to protect our intellectual property; outsourcing; impairment of goodwill or assets; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; downgrades in credit ratings; changes in estimates regarding our assets; actions of activist shareholders; our pursuit of or failure to comply with new environmental and sustainability requirements; our pursuit of or failure to achieve any goals, targets or objectives with respect to sustainability matters; adverse weather conditions; terrorist acts; cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and phishing threats; health epidemics or pandemics; tax reform; inadequate insurance coverage; and limitations imposed by our credit agreements as well as the risks and uncertainties described in "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) 
(In millions, except per share amounts)

 


Thirteen Week Periods Ended


Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended


March 25, 2026


March 26, 2025


March 25, 2026


March 26, 2025

Revenues








Company sales

$        1,455.5


$        1,413.0


$        4,229.7


$        3,886.4

Franchise revenues

14.7


12.1


41.9


35.9

Total revenues

1,470.2


1,425.1


4,271.6


3,922.3

Operating costs and expenses








Food and beverage costs

373.1


353.1


1,088.2


981.3

Restaurant labor

456.4


452.2


1,333.8


1,250.6

Restaurant expenses

358.6


340.9


1,054.7


979.2

Depreciation and amortization

55.0


54.7


163.2


148.7

General and administrative

58.4


58.3


175.3


163.2

Other (gains) and charges(1)

2.1


9.0


3.5


30.0

Total operating costs and expenses

1,303.6


1,268.2


3,818.7


3,553.0

Operating income

166.6


156.9


452.9


369.3

Interest expenses

10.1


13.2


31.3


42.2

Other income, net

(0.2)


(0.1)


(0.8)


(0.7)

Income before income taxes

156.7


143.8


422.4


327.8

Provision for income taxes

28.8


24.7


66.5


51.7

Net income

$          127.9


$          119.1


$          355.9


$          276.1









Basic net income per share

$           2.96


$           2.68


$           8.09


$           6.19









Diluted net income per share

$           2.87


$           2.56


$           7.90


$           5.96









Basic weighted average shares outstanding

43.2


44.4


44.0


44.6









Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

44.5


46.4


45.1


46.4









Other comprehensive income (loss)








Foreign currency translation adjustment

$           (0.1)


$             0.1


$           (0.1)


$           (0.3)

Comprehensive income

$          127.8


$          119.2


$          355.8


$          275.8

(1)

Other (gains) and charges included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited):


Thirteen Week Periods Ended


Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended


March 25, 2026


March 26, 2025


March 25, 2026


March 26, 2025

Litigation & claims, net

$          0.9


$             2.5


$             2.4


$           11.1

Loss from natural disasters, net (of insurance recoveries)

0.3



(2.0)


0.7

Restaurant closure asset write-offs and charges

0.1


0.8


2.2


2.3

Enterprise system implementation costs


2.4



12.0

Severance and other benefit charges


2.0


1.7


2.3

Lease contingencies


1.5



1.5

Lease modification gain, net

(0.1)


(0.2)


(2.6)


(1.2)

Other

0.9



1.8


1.3

Total other (gains) and charges

$          2.1


$             9.0


$             3.5


$           30.0

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In millions)

 


March 25,
2026


June 25,
2025

ASSETS




Total current assets

$          270.5


$          207.0

Net property and equipment

966.4


952.7

Operating lease assets

1,193.3


1,149.1

Deferred income taxes, net

76.9


101.4

Other assets

265.2


268.4

Total assets

$        2,772.3


$        2,678.6

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




Total current liabilities

$          681.4


$          675.6

Long-term debt and finance leases, less current installments

424.4


426.0

Long-term operating lease liabilities, less current portion

1,182.8


1,135.3

Other liabilities

77.7


70.8

Total shareholders' equity

406.0


370.9

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$        2,772.3


$        2,678.6

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In millions)

 


Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended


March 25, 2026


March 26, 2025

Cash flows from operating activities




Net income

$          355.9


$          276.1

Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

163.2


148.7

Stock-based compensation

24.0


23.1

Deferred income taxes, net

24.5


12.6

Non-cash other (gains) and charges

6.7


11.6

Net loss on disposal of assets

6.5


8.6

Other

1.4


1.9

Changes in assets and liabilities

(10.4)


10.4

Net cash provided by operating activities

571.8


493.0

Cash flows from investing activities




Payments for property and equipment

(173.5)


(185.4)

Proceeds from sale of assets

0.3


Insurance recoveries

0.5


Net cash used in investing activities

(172.7)


(185.4)

Cash flows from financing activities




Borrowings on revolving credit facility

650.0


670.0

Payments on revolving credit facility

(650.0)


(580.0)

Payments on long-term debt

(18.1)


(366.3)

Purchases of treasury stock

(343.4)


(86.3)

Proceeds from issuance of treasury stock

0.6


8.0

Payments for debt issuance costs


(0.1)

Net cash used in financing activities

(360.9)


(354.7)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

38.2


(47.1)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

18.9


64.6

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$           57.1


$           17.5

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Restaurant Summary






Fiscal 2026 New Openings


Total Restaurants
Open at March
25, 2026


Total Restaurants
Open at March
26, 2025


Third Quarter
Openings


Fiscal Year
Openings


Full Year
Projected
Openings

Company-owned restaurants










Chili's domestic

1,110


1,109


2


5


6

Chili's international

4


4




Maggiano's domestic

48


50




Total Company-owned

1,162


1,163


2


5


6

Franchise restaurants










Chili's domestic

100


99


3


3


3

Chili's international

367


361


7


17


24-27

Maggiano's domestic

3


3




Total franchise

470


463


10


20


27-30

Total Company-owned and franchise










Chili's domestic

1,210


1,208


5


8


9

Chili's international

371


365


7


17


24-27

Maggiano's domestic

51


53




Total

1,632


1,626


12


25


33-36

 

NON-GAAP INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATIONS

 

Comparable Restaurant Sales

 


Comparable Restaurant
Sales
(1)


Price Impact


Mix-Shift Impact(2)


Traffic Impact


Q3:26 vs 25


Q3:25 vs 24


Q3:26 vs 25


Q3:25 vs 24


Q3:26 vs 25


Q3:25 vs 24


Q3:26 vs 25


Q3:25 vs 24

Company-owned

3.3 %


28.2 %


4.7 %


4.6 %


0.6 %


5.9 %


(2.0) %


17.7 %

Chili's

4.0 %


31.6 %


4.6 %


4.4 %


0.6 %


6.3 %


(1.2) %


20.9 %

Maggiano's

(4.6) %


0.4 %


5.2 %


7.3 %


0.6 %


1.3 %


(10.4) %


(8.2) %

Franchise(3)

5.7 %


12.8 %













U.S

5.6 %


24.1 %













International

5.7 %


5.8 %













Chili's domestic(4)

4.1 %


31.1 %













System-wide(5)

3.6 %


25.9 %
















(1)

Comparable Restaurant Sales include all restaurants that have been in operation for more than 18 full
months. Restaurants temporarily closed 14 days or more are excluded from Comparable Restaurant Sales.
Percentage amounts are calculated based on the comparable periods year-over-year.



(2)

Mix-Shift is calculated as the year-over-year percentage change in Company sales resulting from the change
in menu items ordered by guests.



(3)

Franchise sales generated by franchisees are not included in Total revenues in the Consolidated Statements
of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited); however, we generate royalty revenues and advertising fees based
on franchisee revenues, where applicable. We believe presenting Franchise Comparable Restaurant Sales
provides investors relevant information regarding total brand performance.



(4)

Chili's domestic Comparable Restaurant Sales percentages are derived from sales generated by Company-
owned and franchise-operated Chili's restaurants in the United States.



(5)

System-wide Comparable Restaurant Sales are derived from sales generated by Chili's and Maggiano's
Company-owned and franchise-operated restaurants.

Reconciliation of Net Income Excluding Special Items (in millions, except per share amounts)

Brinker believes excluding special items from its financial results provides investors with a clearer perspective of the Company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results.


Q3 26


EPS Q3 26


Q3 25


EPS Q3 25

Net income, GAAP

$         127.9


$           2.87


$         119.1


$           2.56

Special items - Other (gains) and charges(1)

2.1


0.05


9.0


0.19

Income tax effect related to special items(2)

(0.6)


(0.01)


(2.3)


(0.05)

Special items, net of taxes

1.5


0.04


6.7


0.14

Adjustment for special tax items(3)

(0.4)


(0.01)


(2.5)


(0.04)

Net income, excluding special items, non-GAAP

$         129.0


$           2.90


$         123.3


$           2.66




(1)

See footnote (1) to the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for additional details on the composition of Other (gains) and charges



(2)

Income tax effect related to special items is based on the statutory tax rate in effect at the end of each period



(3)

Adjustment for special tax items primarily represents excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation

Reconciliation of Restaurant Operating Margin (in millions, except percentages)


Chili's


Maggiano's


Brinker


Q3 26


Q3 25


Q3 26


Q3 25


Q3 26


Q3 25

Operating income - GAAP

$ 209.4


$ 197.7


$    4.6


$  10.7


$ 166.6


$ 156.9

Operating income as a % of Total revenues

15.4 %


15.2 %


4.3 %


8.8 %


11.3 %


11.0 %













Operating income - GAAP

$ 209.4


$ 197.7


$    4.6


$  10.7


$ 166.6


$ 156.9

Less:  Franchise revenues

(14.5)


(11.9)


(0.2)


(0.2)


(14.7)


(12.1)

Plus:  Depreciation and amortization

47.6


48.9


4.6


3.5


55.0


54.7

General and administrative

13.2


12.7


1.3


2.5


58.4


58.3

Other (gains) and charges

1.8


2.7



0.8


2.1


9.0

Restaurant operating margin, non-GAAP

$ 257.5


$ 250.1


$  10.3


$  17.3


$ 267.4


$ 266.8

Restaurant operating margin as a % of Company sales, non-GAAP

19.1 %


19.4 %


9.6 %


14.3 %


18.4 %


18.9 %

Restaurant operating margin is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of financial performance. Restaurant operating margin is widely regarded in the restaurant industry as a useful metric by which to evaluate restaurant-level operating efficiency and performance of ongoing restaurant-level operations. This non-GAAP measure is not indicative of overall Company performance and profitability because this measure does not directly accrue benefit to the shareholders due to the nature of costs excluded.

We define Restaurant operating margin as Company sales less Food and beverage costs, Restaurant labor and Restaurant expenses. We believe this metric provides a more useful comparison between periods and enables investors to focus on the performance of restaurant-level operations by excluding revenues not related to Company-owned restaurants, corporate General and administrative expenses, Depreciation and amortization, and Other (gains) and charges. Restaurant operating margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to net income as an indicator of financial performance. Brinker believes presenting Adjusted EBITDA provides a useful measure of our operating performance, excluding the impacts of financing costs, capital expenditures and special items. We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net income before Provision for income taxes, Other income, net, Interest expenses, Depreciation and amortization and Other (gains) and charges.


Quarter


Year-to-Date


Q3 26


Q3 25


Q3 26


Q3 25

Net income - GAAP

$          127.9


$          119.1


$          355.9


$          276.1

Provision for income taxes

28.8


24.7


66.5


51.7

Other income, net

(0.2)


(0.1)


(0.8)


(0.7)

Interest expenses

10.1


13.2


31.3


42.2

Depreciation and amortization

55.0


54.7


163.2


148.7

Other (gains) and charges

2.1


9.0


3.5


30.0

Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP

$          223.7


$          220.6


$          619.6


$          548.0

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brinker-international-reports-third-quarter-of-fiscal-2026-results-and-updates-fiscal-2026-guidance-302756567.html

SOURCE Brinker International Payroll Company, L.P.

FAQ

What were Brinker (EAT) Q3 fiscal 2026 sales and EPS?

Brinker reported Q3 fiscal 2026 company sales of $1,455.5M and diluted EPS of $2.87. According to the company, total revenues were $1,470.2M and net income was $127.9M for the quarter ended April 29, 2026.

How did Chili's and Maggiano's comps perform in Q3 2026 for EAT?

Chili's comparable restaurant sales increased 4.0%; Maggiano's decreased 4.6%. According to the company, Chili's growth included positive traffic in February and March, while Maggiano's declined due to lower traffic and closures.

What guidance update did Brinker (EAT) provide for fiscal 2026?

Brinker updated fiscal 2026 total revenues to $5.78B–$5.82B and EPS (ex-special items) to $10.60–$10.85. According to the company, capital expenditures were lowered to $240M–$250M and shares outstanding guidance narrowed.

Did Brinker (EAT) return capital to shareholders in Q3 2026?

Yes. Brinker repurchased $108.0M of common stock in the quarter and paid down its revolver. According to the company, operational cash flow funded the share repurchases and revolver repayment.

What drove Brinker’s tax rate and profitability in Q3 fiscal 2026?

The GAAP effective tax rate was 18.4%, lower than statutory rate primarily due to FICA tip credit leverage. According to the company, exclusion of special items yields an effective rate of 18.7% for the quarter.