BJ's Restaurants (ZCG) AI Stock Analysis

Company Guidance

For 2026, the company now expects comparable restaurant sales growth of approximately 4.7%, restaurant level operating profit in the range of $233 million to $237 million, adjusted EBITDA in the range of $149 million to $154 million, and capital expenditures to be approximately $80 million, compared with prior ranges of growth of 3% to 4%, $228 million to $235 million, $145 million to $152 million, and $85 million to $95 million, respectively; share repurchase guidance remains unchanged at up to $50 million subject to market conditions, with financial ability and willingness to increase purchases meaningfully if market conditions warrant. For Q4, the company expects to grow comparable traffic and sales, including an approximately 100 basis point headwind from unfavorable shifts for Halloween and Christmas, occupancy and operating expenses to be approximately 23% of revenue compared with 22.6% last year, and $600 thousand of incremental expense; marketing investment as a percent of revenue on a full year basis is expected to be consistent year over year. The company expects 1 unit in Q4, 1 in Q1, and a mid single digit range of additional units in 2027, with around that 4 or 5 a good place to be thinking for next year.