BJ's Restaurants Q2 2026: 6.5% Comp Sales Growth Drives Full-Year Guidance Raise
BJRI has more than doubled off its 52-week low of $28.46.
Summary
BJ's Restaurants posted Q2 2026 revenue of $388.9 million, up 6.4% year-over-year, with comparable sales growth of 6.5%. Full-year comparable sales guidance was raised to 3–4%.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · BJRI
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Comparable Sales Surge 6.5%
Comparable restaurant sales jumped 6.5% in Q2 2026, fueled by an 8.3% increase in guest traffic that was partially offset by a 1.8% decrease in average check.
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Full-Year Guidance Raised
Reflecting confidence in sustained momentum, management raised full-year 2026 comparable restaurant sales growth guidance to 3% to 4%, up from prior expectations.
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Revenue Growth Outpaces Costs
Total revenues grew 6.4% to $388.9 million. Restaurant-level margins benefited from labor and occupancy leverage, though cost of sales rose 70 bps to 25.5% due to commodity inflation.
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Net Income Dips on Higher D&A
Net income fell 15.4% to $18.8 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in depreciation and amortization, including a catch-up adjustment, and higher G&A expenses.
Analysis · BJRI · Trade & Services
A standout second quarter for BJ's Restaurants featured comparable restaurant sales up 6.5%, propelled by an 8.3% traffic surge that more than offset a slight check decline. The company raised its full-year comparable sales guidance to 3–4%, signaling confidence in sustained momentum. While operating income dipped year-over-year due to higher commodity costs and a one-time depreciation catch-up, the top-line strength and improved leverage on labor and occupancy costs underscore resilient consumer demand. The balance sheet remains solid with $155 million available on the credit facility and an active share repurchase program, though cash reserves have tightened. This quarter reinforces the turnaround narrative, with traffic gains outpacing the broader casual dining sector.
At the time of this filing, BJRI was trading at $71.00 on NASDAQ in the Trade & Services sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.6B. The 52-week trading range was $28.46 to $74.60. This filing was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10.