Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 5, 2026Portillo’s Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Revenue increased 5.6% on new restaurant openings, but same-restaurant sales declined 1.2% and operating income, net income, Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA all declined year over year.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenueGAAP | $199.0 million | – | an increase of 5.6% or $10.5 million |
| Same-restaurant salesother | decrease of 1.2% | – | decrease of 1.2%, or $2.2 million |
| Restaurant transactionsother | decrease of 3.4% | – | decrease of 3.4% |
| Average checkother | increase of 2.2% | – | increase of 2.2% |
| Total restaurant operating expensesGAAP | $155.7 million | – | an increase of $11.7 million or 8.1% |
| Commodity pricesother | increased 7.0% year over year | – | increased 7.0% year over year |
| General and administrative expensesGAAP | $19.6 million | – | an increase of $0.8 million or 4.1% |
| Operating incomeGAAP | $13.8 million | – | a decrease of $3.8 million or 21.4% |
| Net incomeGAAP | $7.2 million | – | a decrease of $2.9 million or 28.8% |
| Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $43.2 million | – | a decrease of $1.2 million or 2.8% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $29.8 million | – | a decrease of $0.2 million or 0.8% |
| Restaurants opened during the quarterother | three restaurants | – | – |
| Total restaurantsother | 109 restaurants | – | – |
| Comparable Restaurant Baseother | 85 restaurants | – | – |
Fiscal 2026 outlook
- NoteNew Units: 8 new units
- NoteCommodity inflation: Mid single digit
- NoteLabor inflation: 3% to 3.5%
- NoteRestaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin: 19.5% to 20.5%
- NoteGeneral and administrative expenses: $78-$82 million
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA: $92-$96 million
- NoteCapital expenditures: $55-$60 million
What drove it
- The increase in revenues was primarily attributed to the opening of eight restaurants in fiscal 2025 and seven restaurants during the two quarters ended June 28, 2026.
- Restaurants not in the Comparable Restaurant Base contributed $13.3 million of the total year-over-year increase.
- The higher average check was driven by an approximate 2.6% increase in certain menu prices, partially offset by a 0.4% decrease in product mix.
- Portillo's increased select menu prices by approximately 2.0% in April 2026.
- The Company opened its first-ever airport location at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Concerns
- Same-restaurant sales decreased 1.2%, attributable to a decrease in transactions of 3.4%.
- Commodity prices increased 7.0% year over year, resulting in higher food, beverage and packaging costs.
- Operating income decreased $3.8 million or 21.4% as higher revenue was more than offset by expense factors and an increase in other loss of $1.4 million due to a legal contingency.
- General and administrative expenses included $0.9 million of dead site costs.
- On July 31, 2026, Portillo's implemented a reduction in force affecting corporate headquarters employees and a limited number of field management roles, reducing the corporate headquarters active workforce by approximately 18%.
What to watch
- Same-restaurant sales trends, including transaction performance and average guest check.
- The effect of approximately 2.0% select menu price increases implemented in April 2026.
- Commodity and labor inflation relative to fiscal 2026 targets of mid single digit commodity inflation and 3% to 3.5% labor inflation.
- Execution on one additional restaurant planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, the Company's second in-line location in Chicago, Illinois.
- Management's forthcoming long-term strategy focused on sustainable, profitable growth.
Analysis
Second-quarter revenue was $199.0 million, up 5.6% or $10.5 million from $188.5 million. Growth was driven primarily by restaurants opened in fiscal 2025 and during the first two quarters of fiscal 2026. Restaurants outside the Comparable Restaurant Base contributed $13.3 million of the year-over-year increase. Portillo's opened three restaurants during the quarter and reported 109 restaurants as of the filing of the release, including a restaurant owned by C&O in which Portillo's owns 50% of the equity.
Underlying comparable demand was weaker. Same-restaurant sales decreased 1.2%, or $2.2 million, as transactions declined 3.4%. A 2.2% increase in average check partly offset the transaction decline. The check increase reflected an approximate 2.6% increase in certain menu prices, partly offset by a 0.4% decrease in product mix. The Company also increased select menu prices by approximately 2.0% in April 2026.
Expense growth exceeded revenue growth. Total restaurant operating expenses increased 8.1% to $155.7 million, with new-unit operating costs, higher commodity costs, team-member investments and higher other operating expenses cited as drivers. Commodity prices increased 7.0% year over year. General and administrative expenses increased 4.1% to $19.6 million and included $0.9 million of dead site costs. Operating income decreased 21.4% to $13.8 million, while net income decreased 28.8% to $7.2 million. Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA declined 2.8% to $43.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA declined 0.8% to $29.8 million.
The fiscal 2026 outlook calls for 8 new units, mid single digit commodity inflation, labor inflation of 3% to 3.5%, Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.5% to 20.5%, general and administrative expenses of $78-$82 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $92-$96 million, and capital expenditures of $55-$60 million. Following quarter-end, Portillo's reduced its corporate headquarters active workforce by approximately 18%, with no restaurant-level team members impacted. The filing states that revisions to fiscal 2026 financial targets reflecting these actions appear in the guidance section, making the execution of these efficiency actions and the Company's comparable sales recovery central items to monitor.
Management, verbatim
Q2 was highlighted by resilient underlying sales performance despite difficult promotional comparisons, as well as taking decisive actions to simplify the business to better support our priority of running great restaurants.
Brett Patterson, Portillo's Chief Executive Officer
While never an easy decision, it is imperative that we examine areas of the business where we can operate more efficiently and ensure our resources and future investments are directed at the right priorities.
Brett Patterson, CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- GAAP diluted earnings per share
- Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating margin
- Net income margin
- Adjusted EBITDA margin for the second quarter
- Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA margin for the second quarter
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Debt and liquidity
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Share repurchases
- Dividends
- Segment revenue disclosure
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics
- Fiscal 2026 revenue guidance
- Fiscal 2026 tax-rate guidance
- Prior fiscal 2026 outlook for comparison
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.