Jack in the Box same-store sales of (6.7%)
Diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.75 and Operating EPS of $1.00
SAN DIEGO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) announced financial results for the first quarter ended January 18, 2026.
The Company completed the sale of Del Taco Holdings Inc. (“Del Taco”) on December 22, 2025. The Del Taco results are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented.
“Our results for the quarter were in line with our expectations. We remain focused on the fundamentals, simplifying the business, and delivering on our 'JACK on Track' commitments as we build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth,” said Lance Tucker, Jack in the Box Chief Executive Officer. “Initial guest response to our 75th anniversary celebrations has been encouraging, and while there is more work ahead, we believe the steps we are taking to drive a better and more consistent guest experience will lead to much improved performance as we move through the year.”
Jack in the Box Performance
Same-store sales decreased 6.7% in the first quarter, comprised of franchise same-store sales decline of 7.0% and company-owned same-store sales decline of 4.7%. Sales performance resulted from a decline in transactions and mix, partially offset by an increase in price. Systemwide sales for the first quarter decreased 7.1%.
Restaurant-Level Margin(1), a non-GAAP measure, was $21.3 million, or 16.1%, down from $31.0 million, or 23.2%, a year ago driven primarily by commodity cost inflation, the negative impact from rolling over prior year beverage benefit, and a change in the mix of restaurants, partially offset by increased price.
Franchise-Level Margin(1), a non-GAAP measure, was $84.1 million, or 38.6%, a decrease from $97.1 million, or 40.9%, a year ago. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales driving lower rent revenue and royalties and a decrease in the number of restaurants as part of the 'JACK on Track' closure program.
Jack in the Box net restaurant count decreased in the first quarter, with six restaurant openings and 14 restaurant closures.
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Jack in the Box Restaurant Counts:
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Total revenues decreased 5.8% to $349.5 million, compared to $371.1 million in the prior year quarter. The lower revenue is primarily the result of same-store sales declines, as well as a lower number of restaurants.
The SG&A expense for the first quarter was $37.0 million, a decrease of $4.1 million compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease was due primarily to the fluctuation of $3.8 million in the cash surrender value of our COLI policies. When excluding net COLI gains, G&A was 2.5% of systemwide sales.
Other operating expenses, net, were $8.1 million, an increase of $5.5 million compared to the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher professional fees associated with the proxy contest and a tax refund settlement, as well as increased costs for closed restaurants and cancellation of related projects. These costs were partially offset by gains from real estate sales.
Net earnings from continuing operations was $14.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. This is compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $31.0 million for the first quarter of the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA(3), a non-GAAP measure, was $68.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 compared with $88.8 million for the prior year quarter.
The income tax provision for continuing operations reflects an effective tax rate of 32.4% in the first quarter of 2026 as compared to 30.0% in the prior year. This was primarily due to the establishment of valuation allowance on cumulative interest deduction limitations from current and prior fiscal years and the nondeductible component of share-based compensation largely offset by a favorable state refund claim settlement. The non-GAAP operating EPS tax rate for the first quarter of 2026 was 31.2%, primarily due to the establishment of valuation allowance on current fiscal year’s interest deduction limitation.
First quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.75 in 2026, compared to $1.61 in the prior year quarter. Operating Earnings Per Share(2), a non-GAAP measure, was $1.00 in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 compared with $1.86 in the prior year quarter.
(1) Restaurant-Level Margin and Franchise-Level Margin are non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures are reconciled to earnings (loss) from operations, the most comparable GAAP measure, in the attachment to this release. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results."
(2) Operating Earnings Per Share represents the diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis, excluding certain adjustments. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results." Operating earnings per share may not add due to rounding.
(3) Adjusted EBITDA represents net earnings on a GAAP basis excluding certain adjustments. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results."
Del Taco Discontinued Operations
On October 15, 2025, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell Del Taco, which owns and operates the Company’s Del Taco restaurant operations, to Yadav Enterprises, Inc., a California corporation (“Buyer”) and Anil Yadav (“Buyer Guarantor”), which was completed on December 22, 2025. As a result of the sale, operating results for Del Taco are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. There were losses from discontinued operations, net of taxes of $16.8 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared with earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes of $2.7 million in the prior year quarter.
Capital Allocation
The Company did not repurchase any shares of our common stock in the first quarter. As of the end of the first quarter, there was $175.0 million remaining under the Board-authorized stock buyback program.
During the first quarter, the Company prepaid $105.0 million of the 2019-1 Class A-2-II Notes.
Guidance Updates
The Company reiterates its guidance and outlook provided on November 19, 2025, for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2026.
Jack in the Box Restaurant Count of 2,050 to 2,100This includes approximately 20 new restaurant openings and approximately 50 to 100 closures, most of which will be franchise restaurants
Same Store Sales of -1% to +1% vs. Fiscal Year 2025The company expects first-quarter results to remain pressured, with sequential improvement anticipated over the balance of fiscal year 2026
Company-Owned Restaurant Level Margin of 17 to 18%This includes mid-single-digit commodity inflation and low-single-digit wage inflation
Franchise Level Margin of $275 to $290 millionAs the company continues to execute its “Jack on Track” plan, which includes a block closure program and selling real estate, both of which influence Franchise Level Margin, visibility into timing is limited.
SG&A of $125 to $135 millionG&A, excluding selling and advertising, is expected to be approximately 2.5% of systemwide sales.
Depreciation and Amortization of $45 to $50 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $225 to $240 million
Capital Expenditures of $45 to $55 million, prioritizing sales-driving investments in technology
As previously mentioned, the company has discontinued its dividend and share repurchase program
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call for analysts and investors on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, beginning at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). The call will be webcast live via the Investors section of the Jack in the Box company website at http://investors.jackinthebox.com. A replay of the call will be available through the Jack in the Box Inc. corporate website for 21 days. The call can be accessed via phone by dialing (888) 596-4144 and using ID 7573961.
About Jack in the Box Inc.
Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), founded and headquartered in San Diego, California, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box®, one of the nation's largest hamburger chains with approximately 2,125 restaurants across 22 states. For more information, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com.
Category: Earnings
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goals,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate. These estimates and assumptions involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the success of new products, marketing initiatives and restaurant remodels and drive-thru enhancements; the impact of competition, unemployment, trends in consumer spending patterns and commodity costs; the Company’s ability to achieve and manage its planned growth, which is affected by the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites, the performance of new restaurants, risks relating to expansion into new markets and successful franchise development; the ability to attract, train and retain top-performing personnel, litigation risks; risks associated with disagreements with franchisees; supply chain disruption; food-safety incidents or negative publicity impacting the reputation of the Company's brand; increased regulatory and legal complexities, risks associated with the amount and terms of the securitized debt issued by certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries; stock market volatility; and the risks related to the Company’s ongoing proxy contest, potential changes in board composition or corporate strategy, and the associated costs and management distraction. These and other factors are discussed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and its periodic reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available online at http://investors.jackinthebox.com or in hard copy upon request. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as the result of new information or otherwise.
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JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) DATA
(Unaudited)
The following table presents certain income and expense items included in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings (loss) as a percentage of total revenues, unless otherwise indicated. Percentages may not add due to rounding.
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JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS TO GAAP RESULTS
(Unaudited)
To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP measures: Adjusted Net Income, Operating Earnings Per Share, Adjusted EBITDA, Restaurant-Level Margin and Franchise-Level Margin. Management believes that these measurements, when viewed with the Company's results of operations in accordance with GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations in the tables below, provide useful information about operating performance and period-over-period changes, and provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of the Company's core business without regard to potential distortions.
Operating Earnings Per Share
Operating Earnings Per Share represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding restructuring, integration and other, net COLI gains, pension and post-retirement benefit costs, impairment charges, gains on the sale of real estate to franchisees, excess tax shortfall from share-based compensation arrangements, and other tax-related impacts.
Operating Earnings Per Share should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. Management believes Operating Earnings Per Share provides investors with a meaningful supplement of the Company’s operating performance and period-over-period changes without regard to potential distortions.
Below is a reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income to the most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income. Also below is a reconciliation of Non-GAAP Operating Earnings Per Share to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations:
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Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA represents net earnings from continuing operations on a GAAP basis excluding income taxes, interest expense, net, other operating expenses, net, depreciation and amortization, amortization of cloud computing costs, amortization of favorable and unfavorable leases and subleases, net, amortization of franchise tenant improvement allowances and other, net COLI (gains)/losses, and pension and post-retirement benefit costs.
Adjusted EBITDA should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company's ongoing cash earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced.
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net earnings from continuing operations (in thousands):
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Restaurant-Level Margin
Restaurant-Level Margin is defined as company restaurant sales less restaurant operating costs (food and packaging, labor, and occupancy costs) and is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. Restaurant-Level Margin excludes revenues and expenses of our franchise operations and selling, general, and administrative expenses. Certain other costs are also excluded, such as depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs, other operating expenses, net, and losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants. As such, Restaurant-Level Margin is not indicative of the overall results of the Company and does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders because of the exclusion of corporate-level expenses. Restaurant-Level Margin should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company is presenting Restaurant-Level Margin because it believes that it provides a meaningful supplement to net earnings of the company's core business operating results, as well as a comparison to those of other similar companies. Management utilizes Restaurant-Level Margin as a key performance indicator to evaluate the profitability of company-operated restaurants. Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Restaurant-Level Margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, earnings from continuing operations (in thousands):
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Franchise-Level Margin
Franchise-Level Margin is defined as franchise revenues less franchise operating costs (occupancy expenses, advertising contributions, and franchise support and other costs) and is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with GAAP. Franchise-Level Margin excludes revenue and expenses of our company-operated restaurants and selling, general, and administrative expenses. Certain other costs are also excluded, such as depreciation and amortization, pre-opening, other operating expenses, net, and losses on the sale of company-operated restaurants. As such, Franchise-Level Margin is not indicative of the overall results of the Company and does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders because of the exclusion of corporate-level expenses. Franchise-Level Margin should be considered as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, analysis of results as reported under GAAP or other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company is presenting Franchise-Level Margin because it believes that it provides a meaningful supplement to net earnings of the Company's core business operating results, as well as a comparison to those of other similar companies. Management utilizes Franchise-Level Margin as a key performance indicator to evaluate the profitability of our franchise operations. Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Franchise-Level Margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, earnings from continuing operations (in thousands):
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APPENDIX B
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
QUARTERLY RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net earnings from continuing operations (in thousands):
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SOURCE Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants.