Noodles & Co Q1 net loss narrows, raises 2026 outlook

Noodles & Co

06/05/2026 21:34

Overview

U.S. fast-casual chain's Q1 revenue was flat, while comparable sales rose 9.1% system-wide

Net loss narrowed and adjusted EBITDA more than tripled from a year ago

Company raised 2026 outlook for revenue, margins, and adjusted EBITDA

Outlook

Noodles & Co raises FY2026 revenue outlook to $483 mln-$498 mln, with comp restaurant sales up 7%-10%

Company expects FY2026 restaurant contribution margin of 15.5%-17.0%

Noodles & Co sees FY2026 adjusted EBITDA of $32.5 mln-$37.5 mln

Result Drivers

MENU AND PROMOTIONS - Co said improved menu, value-oriented Delicious Duos, and strong limited-time offers drove Q1 comparable sales growth

PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION - Co said closing 20 underperforming stores led to transfer of sales to nearby locations, improving comparable sales and profitability

GUEST EXPERIENCE - Co said improved guest satisfaction scores and sustained traffic growth contributed to better in-restaurant performance

Company press release: ID:nGNX5C1d9M

Key Details

Metric
Beat/Miss
Actual
Consensus Estimate
Q1 Revenue
$123.80 mln
Q1 EPS
-$0.58
Q1 Net Income
-$3.40 mln
Q1 Adjusted EBITDA
$7.70 mln


Analyst Coverage

The one available analyst rating on the shares is "hold"

The average consensus recommendation for the restaurants & bars peer group is "buy."

For questions concerning the data in this report, contact Estimates.Support@lseg.com. For any other questions or feedback, contact reuters.support@thomsonreuters.com.

(This story was created using Reuters automation and AI based on LSEG and company data. It was checked and edited by a Reuters journalist prior to publication.)