Noodles & Company Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

NOODLES & Co (NDLS) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Results of Operations and Financial Condition. EX-99.1 2 a2026q2ex991pressrelease.htm EX-99.1 NOODLES & COMPANY EARNINGS PRESS RELEASE DATED JULY 24, 2026 Document Exhibit 99.1 Noodles & Company Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Second Quarter 2026 Comparable Restaurant Sales Increased 10.3% System-Wide Broomfie

Event · Earnings
Also in this documentGuidance · raise · $485M–$500M

Facts are quoted from the filing text and checked against it.

Original reporting
Published Jul 24, 2026, 11:55 AM UTC
Analysis
AlphAI AI DeskAI-generated
Added to AlphAI Jul 24, 2026, 12:01 PM UTC. Informational, not investment advice.
How this was made
AlphAI summarizes source reporting and applies a structured AI analysis for relevance, timing, sentiment and ticker impact. Always verify material claims with the original publisher.
AlphAI market briefEarnings
Primary signal
$NDLS
Bullish
high confidence
Mentioned
$NDLS
Relevance
7/10
AlphAI data visualization · based on SEC EDGAR 8-K
Decision brief

The 30-second read

$NDLSBullishMed
01

Why it matters

The key tradable change is the combination of a Q2 operating improvement (margin and Adjusted EBITDA) and raised FY2026 guidance, alongside a stated expectation to reduce year-end debt to at or below 3x 2026 Adjusted EBITDA.

02

Market read

Traders can update models for NDLS using the raised FY2026 revenue, restaurant contribution margin, and Adjusted EBITDA ranges, plus the debt-paydown target.

03

What to watch

The filing highlights a strategic review and refinancing/refranchising options; execution risk and timing of any capital-structure actions could dominate the stock’s next leg.

Relevance 7/10Novelty 8/10Timing: Filed pre-market today with Q2 results and raised FY2026 guidance ranges.

Background

NDLS filed an 8-K with its Q2 2026 earnings release (Item 2.02) and provided a full-year 2026 outlook plus a continuing strategic alternatives review.

Company-level read

Ticker impact

$NDLSBullishHigh confidence
Context

Noodles & Company reported Q2 results and raised FY2026 guidance, including revenue $485M-$500M and Adjusted EBITDA $34M-$38M.

Expected impact

Likely positive near-term bias as guidance and margin/EBITDA inflect; magnitude depends on market expectations versus the raised ranges.

Evidence & confidence

The filing discloses a fresh earnings print plus explicit upward guidance ranges and liquidity/debt context, which are direct inputs to valuation and credit risk.

Market effects

Signals potential stabilization in fast-casual demand and margin recovery, which can modestly improve sentiment toward similarly positioned restaurant operators.

No specific regional read-through beyond general US restaurant demand.

Limited global relevance; primarily a US-listed restaurant turnaround story.

Counterpoint

Guidance improvement may still be fragile given ongoing restaurant closures and relatively small cash balance versus debt, so upside could be capped if sales momentum fades.

Key entities

  • NOODLES & COMPANY

    Subject of the 8-K earnings release and guidance update.

  • Board of Directors (Strategic Review)

    Initiated a strategic alternatives review that includes potential refinancing and refranchising or sale.

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Noodles & Company tightens 2026 outlook to $35M-$37M adjusted EBITDA as ramen becomes a permanent menu category

Noodles & Company (NDLS) updated its 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook to $35M-$37M, citing strong sales momentum. CEO Joseph Christina reported 9.5% system-wide comparable sales growth, driven by 10.7% growth at company-owned restaurants, including 7.8% traffic growth, marking eight consecutive quarters of positive growth. The company also announced ramen as a permanent menu category.

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Noodles & Company’s turnaround is a work in progress

Noodles & Company reported mixed Q3 results with 9.5% same-store sales growth and 7.8% traffic increase, but revenue declined 1.0% to $120.9M and net loss was $2.1M. The company is closing stores for long-term gains, with AUVs up 15.2% and restaurant margins at 16.7%. Debt stands at $101M with $1.5M in cash, and stock fell 12% post-results.

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Noodles & Company’s turnaround remains a work in progress

Noodles & Company reported mixed Q3 results, with 9.5% same-store sales growth and 7.8% traffic increase, but revenue declined 1.0% to $120.9M and net loss narrowed to $2.1M. The company closed 14 stores, aiming for 41-44 closures by 2026, and plans to focus on menu innovation and marketing. Despite improvements in AUVs and margins, debt remains at $101M with $1.5M in cash. Stock fell 12% post-results.

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Noodles & Company Finds Success by Getting Smaller

Noodles & Company reported a 9.5% increase in same-store sales for Q3, driven by restaurant closures, menu innovations, and operational improvements. Adjusted EBITDA rose 34% to $8.7M. The company plans further closures and new menu items in 2027, aiming for full-year revenue of $485M-$495M and adjusted EBITDA of $35M-$37M.

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What Noodles & Company (NDLS) Said on Its Q3 Earnings Call

Noodles & Company (NDLS) reported a 5.5% rise in comparable sales in October, driven by its new ramen offerings, which accounted for a double-digit percentage of product mix. The company tightened its full-year 2026 guidance, projecting revenue of $485M to $495M and comparable sales growth of 9% to 10%. NDLS also expects to reduce debt to $100M by year-end and extended its credit facility's maturity date to Nov. 30, 2027.