Noodles & Company Announces Preliminary Revenue Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2025
Rhea-AI Summary
Noodles & Company (NASDAQ: NDLS) released preliminary, unaudited sales results for the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2025. System-wide comparable sales rose 6.6%, with company-owned restaurants +7.3% and franchise restaurants +3.8% versus Q4 2024. As of Dec 30, 2025 the company operated 340 company-owned and 83 franchise restaurants. The company closed 33 company-owned and nine franchise restaurants in 2025 and expects to close an additional 30–35 restaurants in 2026. Results remain preliminary and subject to quarter-end adjustments.
Positive
- Comparable sales +6.6% year-over-year in Q4 2025
- Company-owned restaurant comps +7.3% in Q4 2025
- Company operating base: 340 company-owned and 83 franchise restaurants
Negative
- Closed 33 company-owned restaurants in 2025
- Closed nine franchise restaurants in 2025
- Plans to close an additional 30–35 restaurants in 2026
- Preliminary sales results unaudited and subject to change
News Market Reaction – NDLS
On the day this news was published, NDLS gained 14.60%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +10.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 10 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $5M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $42M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
NDLS was down 4% while key peers showed mixed moves: YOSH up 20.42%, ARKR, FAT, FATBB and BDL down between 0.78% and 7.52%. This mixed pattern points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a unified restaurant-sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 03 | Activist stake | Positive | +18.4% | Activist disclosed 6.01% stake and proposed asset sales, debt reduction. |
| Dec 01 | Product promotion | Positive | +2.6% | Launch of limited-time Holiday Crispy made with SNICKERS and rewards push. |
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Neutral | -3.5% | Flat revenue, net loss, but higher adjusted EBITDA and margin improvement. |
| Nov 03 | Marketing campaign | Positive | +5.7% | Holiday catering and rewards offers positioned noodles as pizza alternative. |
| Oct 15 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +2.9% | Announcement of Q3 2025 earnings release and conference call details. |
Recent news with clearly positive tone (activist stake, marketing/promotional items) has generally coincided with positive 24-hour price reactions, while earnings events have seen more muted or negative responses.
Over the last several months, Noodles & Company has mixed operational and strategic headlines. An activist disclosed a 6.01% stake and proposed asset sales to raise about $60 million, which was followed by a strong positive price reaction. Marketing initiatives, like holiday-themed menu items and catering promotions, also produced modest gains. In contrast, Q3 2025 earnings showed flat revenue and a net loss despite better EBITDA, leading to a small decline. Today’s preliminary Q4 2025 sales update follows this backdrop of improving comps but ongoing profitability challenges.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock surged +14.6% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the notable improvement in preliminary Q4 2025 system-wide comparable sales of 6.6%, led by 7.3% growth at company-owned units. However, investors have also seen continuing closures, with 33 company-owned and 9 franchise restaurants closed in 2025 and another 30–35 closures expected in 2026. Past earnings reactions have been volatile, so sustainability often depended on how comps translated into margins and net income.
Key Terms
system-wide comparable sales financial
comparable restaurant sales financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Company to Host Investor Meetings at 28th Annual ICR Conference
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noodles & Company (Nasdaq: NDLS) today released preliminary, unaudited sales results for the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2025.
Preliminary Fourth Quarter of 2025 Sales Results Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 20241:
- Fourth quarter system-wide comparable sales increased
6.6% , comprised of a7.3% increase at company-owned restaurants and a3.8% increase at franchise restaurants.
_____________________
1 These sales results are preliminary and unaudited, have not been reviewed by the Company’s independent registered public accountants, and remain subject to the completion of normal quarter-end accounting procedures and adjustments and are subject to change.
Joe Christina, Chief Executive Officer and President of Noodles & Company, remarked, “Delivering significant positive comparable sales growth of over
Portfolio Optimization
As of December 30, 2025, the Company had 340 company-owned restaurants and 83 franchise restaurants. During 2025, the Company closed 33 company-owned restaurants and nine franchise restaurants. In 2026, the Company expects to close an additional 30 to 35 restaurants.
Christina continued, “Decisions like this are made thoughtfully and with a long-term view of the business. Our fourth quarter results reinforce that when we concentrate our resources on restaurants with the strongest opportunity to perform, Noodles can drive meaningful top-line growth. That performance gives us added confidence as we continue to refine our portfolio in 2026. These actions are intended to strengthen the overall health of the brand and our financial position, helping to ensure we are well-positioned for profitable growth and long-term value creation for our shareholders.”
Key Definitions
Comparable Restaurant Sales — represents year-over-year sales comparisons for the comparable restaurant base open for at least 18 full periods. This measure highlights performance of existing restaurants, as the impact of new restaurant openings is excluded. Changes in comparable restaurant sales are generated by changes in traffic, which we calculate as the number of entrées sold and changes in per-person spend, calculated as sales divided by traffic. Restaurants that were temporarily closed or operating at reduced hours remained in comparable restaurant sales.
About Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company has known noodles since 1995. For 30 years, the brand has brought people together over craveable classics and globally inspired flavors, from indulgent Creamy Mac & Cheese to bold Japanese Pan Noodles. With more than 400 restaurants and a team of passionate noodle lovers, Noodles is built on flavor, comfort, and a people-first culture. To learn more and to find the location nearest you, visit www.noodles.com.
Forward Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties such as the number of restaurants we intend to open, projected capital expenditures and estimates of our effective tax rates. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Examples of forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding expectations with respect to our business strategy and plans to deliver financial results. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to reasons including, but not limited to, current performance trends and our expectations for future performance and ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, if at all, and comply with our covenants under the A&R Credit Agreement; our ability to sustain or achieve overall growth, including, digital sales growth; our ability to open new restaurants, if any, and cause those newly opened restaurants to be successful; our ability to effectively optimize our restaurant portfolio including closures; our ability to achieve and maintain increases in comparable restaurant sales and to successfully execute our business strategy, including new restaurant initiatives and operational strategies to improve the performance of our restaurant portfolio and guest satisfaction; the success of our brand strategy and marketing efforts, including our ability to successfully introduce new menu items, including limited time offerings and the success of our promotions; our pricing strategies; economic conditions, including those resulting from inflation, increased interest rates, recessionary economic cycles, and changes in trade policies, including tariffs or other trade restrictions or the threat of such actions; price and availability of commodities and other supply chain challenges; our ability to adequately staff our restaurants; changes in labor costs; our ability to maintain compliance with requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; other conditions beyond our control such as domestic or global conflicts, wars, terrorist activity, weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting our customers or food supplies; and consumer reaction to industry related public health issues and health pandemics, including perceptions of food safety. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company’s forward-looking statements, see the Company’s risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in its filings with the SEC, included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, and, from time to time, in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.
Contacts:
Investor Relations
investorrelations@noodles.com
Media
Danielle Moore
(720) 214-1971
press@noodles.com
FAQ
What were Noodles & Company (NDLS) comparable sales in Q4 2025?
How did NDLS company-owned restaurant sales perform in Q4 2025?
How many restaurants did NDLS operate and close as of December 30, 2025?
What restaurant closures does NDLS expect in 2026 and why does it matter for shareholders?
Are the Q4 2025 NDLS sales results final and audited?
