By Nicholas G. Miller

Wingstop reported lower fourth-quarter comparable sales after previously saying that weakness from Hispanic and low-income consumers was weighing on its business.

But the results largely came in above Wall Street's expectations and shares rose 14% to $288 in premarket trading.

The restaurant chain posted net income of $26.8 million, about even with the year prior. On a per-share basis, earnings rose to 96 cents a share from 92 cents a share the year before. Analysts polled by FactSet expected 83 cents a share.

Revenue rose to $175.7 million from $161.8 million. Wall Street expected $177.6 million.

Domestic same-store sales fell 5.8%. Wall Street expected a decline of 6.7%.

The company guided for 2026 domestic same-store sales growth of flat to low-single digits.

The company said in November it was continuing to struggle from a decline in spending from Hispanic and low-income consumers. Chief Executive Michael Skipworth said then that that dynamic was expanding to more geographies and to some middle-income consumers, saying the restaurant chain over-indexes "to this consumer that's under the most pressure."

A wide range of chains have reported consumers are pulling back from restaurants, making fewer trips and smaller purchases due to affordability concerns. Analysts have said that after the pandemic, restaurants raised prices more than grocery stores did, and that this is now causing consumers to limit their spending in restaurants.

Write to Nicholas G. Miller at nicholas.miller@wsj.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 18, 2026 08:12 ET (13:12 GMT)

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