Jack in the Box Reports Q1 Earnings with Declining Sales and Margins
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
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Should l Buy JACK?
Source: Newsfilter
- Same-Store Sales Decline: Jack in the Box reported a 6.7% decline in same-store sales for Q1, with franchise same-store sales down 7.0% and company-owned stores down 4.7%, indicating a drop in transaction volume and sales mix, which, despite price increases, will exert pressure on future revenue growth.
- Profitability Erosion: The company posted net earnings of $14.4 million for the first quarter, a significant drop from $31.0 million in the prior year, with diluted EPS at $0.75 compared to $1.61 last year, highlighting the severe impact of cost pressures and declining sales on profitability.
- Restaurant Count Changes: The net restaurant count decreased in Q1, with six openings and 14 closures, reflecting structural adjustments under the 'JACK on Track' plan; while this may temporarily affect market coverage, it is expected to optimize resource allocation in the long run.
- Capital Allocation Strategy: The company did not repurchase any shares in Q1, with $175 million remaining under the buyback authorization, and prepaid $105 million of debt, indicating a conservative financial management approach to navigate an uncertain market environment.
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Analyst Views on JACK
Wall Street analysts forecast JACK stock price to fall
15 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
11 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 22.010
Low
15.00
Averages
19.35
High
25.00
Current: 22.010
Low
15.00
Averages
19.35
High
25.00
About JACK
Jack in the Box Inc. is a restaurant company. The Company operates and franchises Jack in the Box, a hamburger chain with approximately 2,135 restaurants across 21 states. Jack in the Box restaurants offer products, including classic burgers like its Jumbo Jack and product lines, such as the Buttery Jack and Smash Jack burgers. Jack offers products, such as breakfast sandwiches with cracked eggs, as well as tacos, curly fries, egg rolls, specialty sandwiches and real ice cream shakes, among many other items. Its menu offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and late-night. Jack in the Box allows its guests to customize meals to their tastes and order any product on the menu when they want it, including breakfast at night, or burgers and chicken in the morning.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Jack in the Box Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Sales Decline: Jack in the Box reported a 6.7% decrease in same-store sales for Q1, with franchise locations down 7% and company-owned stores down 4.7%, indicating persistent market pressures and weak consumer demand that adversely affected overall revenue performance.
- Margin Compression: The restaurant-level margin fell to 16.1%, down from 23.2% a year ago, while food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales rose to 29.7%, increasing by 380 basis points, which exacerbates the company's challenges in cost control.
- Debt Management Progress: The company made a partial prepayment of $105 million on its August 2026 debt tranche, although total debt remains at $1.6 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio of 6.5x, reflecting management's ongoing commitment to reducing debt levels.
- Marketing Strategy: The CEO emphasized the launch of a 75th-anniversary marketing calendar to drive Munchie Meals sales, and despite the challenges of declining same-store sales, management maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for future sales growth, aiming to improve performance through business simplification and enhanced field support.
See More
Jack in the Box Launches Matcha Beverage Lineup
- Beverage Innovation: Jack in the Box officially launches a nationwide matcha beverage lineup, becoming one of the first QSRs in the U.S. to feature matcha drinks, aiming to transform a café staple into an everyday option to attract younger consumers.
- Market Positioning: The introduction of matcha beverages not only showcases Jack in the Box's forward-thinking approach to beverage innovation but also reflects its focus on global flavors and café culture, catering to the evolving tastes of Millennials and Gen Z.
- Product Features: The new Matcha Platform includes Matcha Iced Latte and OREO® Matcha Shake, made with real matcha to ensure consistent flavor, color, and performance in every cup, enhancing the overall customer experience.
- Brand Strategy: Executive Chef Ciaran Duffy emphasizes that the matcha offerings are not just about novelty but about maintaining the unique flavor of matcha at scale, thereby increasing the brand's appeal in the highly competitive fast-food market.
See More
Jack In The Box Q1 Earnings Miss Expectations
- Disappointing Performance: Jack In The Box reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $1.00, missing expectations by $0.11, with revenue of $349.52 million reflecting a 5.8% year-over-year decline, indicating significant competitive pressures in the market.
- Same-Store Sales Decline: The company experienced a 6.7% decrease in same-store sales during Q1, with franchise same-store sales down 7.0% and company-owned sales down 4.7%, highlighting weak consumer demand and challenging market conditions.
- Net Restaurant Count Decrease: Despite opening 6 new restaurants, Jack In The Box closed 14 locations in Q1, resulting in a net decrease in restaurant count, which may hinder future market share and growth potential.
- Financial Guidance Update: The company reiterated its guidance for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2026, expecting same-store sales to range from -1% to +1%, with Q1 results anticipated to remain pressured, reflecting uncertainty in future growth prospects.
See More
Jack in the Box Reports Q1 Earnings with Declining Sales and Margins
- Same-Store Sales Decline: Jack in the Box reported a 6.7% decline in same-store sales for Q1, with franchise same-store sales down 7.0% and company-owned stores down 4.7%, indicating a drop in transaction volume and sales mix, which, despite price increases, will exert pressure on future revenue growth.
- Profitability Erosion: The company posted net earnings of $14.4 million for the first quarter, a significant drop from $31.0 million in the prior year, with diluted EPS at $0.75 compared to $1.61 last year, highlighting the severe impact of cost pressures and declining sales on profitability.
- Restaurant Count Changes: The net restaurant count decreased in Q1, with six openings and 14 closures, reflecting structural adjustments under the 'JACK on Track' plan; while this may temporarily affect market coverage, it is expected to optimize resource allocation in the long run.
- Capital Allocation Strategy: The company did not repurchase any shares in Q1, with $175 million remaining under the buyback authorization, and prepaid $105 million of debt, indicating a conservative financial management approach to navigate an uncertain market environment.
See More
Jack In The Box Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Jack In The Box is set to announce its Q1 earnings on February 18th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.11, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 42.2%, indicating mounting pressure on profitability.
- Revenue Decline Forecast: The expected revenue for Q1 is $353.51 million, down 24.7% year-over-year, highlighting challenges in sales and market demand that could impact future growth strategies.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Jack In The Box has beaten EPS estimates 63% of the time and revenue estimates 38% of the time, suggesting some level of profitability, yet recent trends raise concerns about sustainability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and 14 downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced one upward and nine downward revisions, indicating a weakening confidence among analysts regarding the company's future performance.
See More
Shareholders Urged to Vote Against Goebel's Re-Election as Chairman
- Governance Crisis: Both Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones recommend shareholders vote against David Goebel's re-election as chairman, citing a staggering -68.6% total shareholder return during his tenure, which highlights governance failures and ineffective strategic execution, necessitating urgent board changes to restore investor confidence.
- Value Destruction: Over the past five years, Jack in the Box has lost approximately $1.8 billion, or 80% of its market value, reflecting the company's persistent underperformance under Goebel's leadership and indicating a troubling lack of accountability from the board, which must take decisive action to reverse this trend.
- Failed Acquisition Case: The acquisition of Del Taco, led by Goebel for $575 million, resulted in a sale just four years later for only $115 million, incurring a loss of over $400 million, further exacerbating the company's financial crisis and showcasing severe decision-making errors.
- Leadership Instability: Jack in the Box has seen three CEOs and eight CFOs in the last five years, indicating a critical lack of leadership stability, and there is an urgent need to introduce new talent to enhance strategic oversight and execution capabilities.
See More
Jack in the Box Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Sales Decline: Jack in the Box reported a 6.7% decrease in same-store sales for Q1, with franchise locations down 7% and company-owned stores down 4.7%, indicating persistent market pressures and weak consumer demand that adversely affected overall revenue performance.
- Margin Compression: The restaurant-level margin fell to 16.1%, down from 23.2% a year ago, while food and packaging costs as a percentage of sales rose to 29.7%, increasing by 380 basis points, which exacerbates the company's challenges in cost control.
- Debt Management Progress: The company made a partial prepayment of $105 million on its August 2026 debt tranche, although total debt remains at $1.6 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio of 6.5x, reflecting management's ongoing commitment to reducing debt levels.
- Marketing Strategy: The CEO emphasized the launch of a 75th-anniversary marketing calendar to drive Munchie Meals sales, and despite the challenges of declining same-store sales, management maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for future sales growth, aiming to improve performance through business simplification and enhanced field support.
See More
Jack in the Box Launches Matcha Beverage Lineup
- Beverage Innovation: Jack in the Box officially launches a nationwide matcha beverage lineup, becoming one of the first QSRs in the U.S. to feature matcha drinks, aiming to transform a café staple into an everyday option to attract younger consumers.
- Market Positioning: The introduction of matcha beverages not only showcases Jack in the Box's forward-thinking approach to beverage innovation but also reflects its focus on global flavors and café culture, catering to the evolving tastes of Millennials and Gen Z.
- Product Features: The new Matcha Platform includes Matcha Iced Latte and OREO® Matcha Shake, made with real matcha to ensure consistent flavor, color, and performance in every cup, enhancing the overall customer experience.
- Brand Strategy: Executive Chef Ciaran Duffy emphasizes that the matcha offerings are not just about novelty but about maintaining the unique flavor of matcha at scale, thereby increasing the brand's appeal in the highly competitive fast-food market.
See More
Jack In The Box Q1 Earnings Miss Expectations
- Disappointing Performance: Jack In The Box reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $1.00, missing expectations by $0.11, with revenue of $349.52 million reflecting a 5.8% year-over-year decline, indicating significant competitive pressures in the market.
- Same-Store Sales Decline: The company experienced a 6.7% decrease in same-store sales during Q1, with franchise same-store sales down 7.0% and company-owned sales down 4.7%, highlighting weak consumer demand and challenging market conditions.
- Net Restaurant Count Decrease: Despite opening 6 new restaurants, Jack In The Box closed 14 locations in Q1, resulting in a net decrease in restaurant count, which may hinder future market share and growth potential.
- Financial Guidance Update: The company reiterated its guidance for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2026, expecting same-store sales to range from -1% to +1%, with Q1 results anticipated to remain pressured, reflecting uncertainty in future growth prospects.
See More
Jack in the Box Reports Q1 Earnings with Declining Sales and Margins
- Same-Store Sales Decline: Jack in the Box reported a 6.7% decline in same-store sales for Q1, with franchise same-store sales down 7.0% and company-owned stores down 4.7%, indicating a drop in transaction volume and sales mix, which, despite price increases, will exert pressure on future revenue growth.
- Profitability Erosion: The company posted net earnings of $14.4 million for the first quarter, a significant drop from $31.0 million in the prior year, with diluted EPS at $0.75 compared to $1.61 last year, highlighting the severe impact of cost pressures and declining sales on profitability.
- Restaurant Count Changes: The net restaurant count decreased in Q1, with six openings and 14 closures, reflecting structural adjustments under the 'JACK on Track' plan; while this may temporarily affect market coverage, it is expected to optimize resource allocation in the long run.
- Capital Allocation Strategy: The company did not repurchase any shares in Q1, with $175 million remaining under the buyback authorization, and prepaid $105 million of debt, indicating a conservative financial management approach to navigate an uncertain market environment.
See More
Jack In The Box Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Jack In The Box is set to announce its Q1 earnings on February 18th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.11, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 42.2%, indicating mounting pressure on profitability.
- Revenue Decline Forecast: The expected revenue for Q1 is $353.51 million, down 24.7% year-over-year, highlighting challenges in sales and market demand that could impact future growth strategies.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Jack In The Box has beaten EPS estimates 63% of the time and revenue estimates 38% of the time, suggesting some level of profitability, yet recent trends raise concerns about sustainability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and 14 downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced one upward and nine downward revisions, indicating a weakening confidence among analysts regarding the company's future performance.
See More
Shareholders Urged to Vote Against Goebel's Re-Election as Chairman
- Governance Crisis: Both Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones recommend shareholders vote against David Goebel's re-election as chairman, citing a staggering -68.6% total shareholder return during his tenure, which highlights governance failures and ineffective strategic execution, necessitating urgent board changes to restore investor confidence.
- Value Destruction: Over the past five years, Jack in the Box has lost approximately $1.8 billion, or 80% of its market value, reflecting the company's persistent underperformance under Goebel's leadership and indicating a troubling lack of accountability from the board, which must take decisive action to reverse this trend.
- Failed Acquisition Case: The acquisition of Del Taco, led by Goebel for $575 million, resulted in a sale just four years later for only $115 million, incurring a loss of over $400 million, further exacerbating the company's financial crisis and showcasing severe decision-making errors.
- Leadership Instability: Jack in the Box has seen three CEOs and eight CFOs in the last five years, indicating a critical lack of leadership stability, and there is an urgent need to introduce new talent to enhance strategic oversight and execution capabilities.
See More
