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Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (TXRH)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Traffic-led comp strength offset margin pressure from beef inflation; revenue beat but EPS missed modestly versus consensus. Q3 revenue was $1.436B (+12.8% YoY) vs S&P consensus $1.429B*, while diluted EPS was $1.25 vs $1.279*; restaurant margin fell 168 bps to 14.3% on 7.9% commodity inflation .
- Guidance: 2025 commodity inflation raised to ~6% (from 5% in Q2), tax rate lowered to ~14.5%; 2026 initial guide calls for ~7% commodity inflation, wage inflation 3–4%, and ~$400M capex .
- Demand remains resilient: Q3 company comps +6.1% (traffic +4.3%, check +1.8%); first five weeks of Q4 comps +5.4% with ~60 bps Halloween drag; 1.7% price taken at Q4 start, with no noticeable guest pushback noted .
- Key 2026 narrative risk: elevated beef costs persisting through cattle cycle; management characterizes it as cyclical but expects inflation to moderate after 2026. Strategic offsets include disciplined pricing, labor productivity, and tech rollout nearing 100% .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Robust demand: comps +6.1% with traffic +4.3% and check +1.8%; average weekly sales $157,325, to‑go ~$21,409 (13.6% mix) .
- Broad-based momentum and execution: labor % leveraged 18 bps YoY; other operating costs improved 40 bps; G&A at 3.8% of revenue with YoY dollar decline .
- Strategic progress: ~95% of restaurants on digital kitchen and upgraded guest management; retail presence (gift cards and CPG items) in 120,000+ outlets supports brand engagement .
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What Went Wrong
- Margin compression and EPS miss: restaurant margin % down 168 bps to 14.3% on 7.9% commodity inflation; diluted EPS down 0.8% YoY to $1.25 (below consensus) .
- Beef inflation higher than expected into H2; mix shift toward larger steaks added ~20–30 bps COGS headwind; EBITDA trailed consensus .
- Bubba’s 33 comps slowed to +1.8% vs Texas Roadhouse +6.3% (concept still expanding but sequentially softer) .
Financial Results
Headline P&L vs prior year and prior quarter (USD, per share, %, oldest → newest)
Consensus vs Actual – Q3 2025
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
KPI and Operating Detail (Q3 2025)
Brand/Concept Highlights (Q3 2025)
Quarterly Trend (oldest → newest)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our operators continued to drive strong traffic this quarter, which helped offset the impact of continued commodity inflation… we are committed to… maintaining our value proposition.” — Jerry Morgan, CEO .
- “Inflation in the third quarter was above our expectation due to higher‑than‑anticipated beef prices… updating full year 2025 commodity inflation guidance to approximately 6%… 2026 commodity inflation guidance at approximately 7%.” — Interim CFO Keith Humpich .
- “Approximately 95% of our restaurants are currently using a digital kitchen and upgraded guest management system. We expect the rollout… to be completed by year‑end.” — Jerry Morgan .
- “More of our guests… are getting a steak… recognizing the value of our steak offerings relative to what they can do at home.” — Michael Bailen (IR) .
Q&A Highlights
- Beef inflation/cycle: Management frames current beef inflation as cyclical (cattle cycle) vs structural; initial 2026 inflation ~7% with more pressure 1H than 2H .
- Pricing cadence and MP compensation: Conservative pricing approach; next price decision targeted for April (period 4). Restaurant margin $/store week still ~35% above 2019 despite recent pressure .
- Q4 to‑date trends: First five weeks comps +5.4%; Halloween shift was ~60 bps headwind; pricing ~3.1% with 50–60 bps negative mix yields ~2.5–2.6% check; traffic >3% .
- Capital allocation & acquisitions: 3 franchises acquired at Q4 start; 5 CA franchises to be acquired at beginning of 2026; ~35 new stores in 2026; capex ~$400M (ex-CA acquisition cost) .
- Other: Alcohol mix remains a negative headwind; mocktails and $5 beverage specials resonating; digital kitchen enhances throughput while maintaining ~54‑minute guest experience .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 results vs S&P Global consensus: revenue beat by ~$7M; EPS missed by ~$0.03; EBITDA modest miss; normalized net income slight miss (see table above). Mix shift toward larger steaks and higher‑than‑expected beef costs in late quarter drove margin pressure vs expectations .
- Forward estimates: Consensus for Q4 2025 EPS $1.542* and revenue ~$1.499B*; Q1 2026 EPS $1.734* and revenue ~$1.616B*. Target price consensus $189.68*; recommendation not provided in dataset. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Traffic remains the core differentiator; comps are traffic‑led and broad‑based, supporting potential leverage in labor/G&A if sales trends persist .
- The near‑term margin narrative is dominated by beef; 2025 inflation raised to ~6% and 2026 guide ~7% implies continued COGS pressure until the cattle cycle turns .
- Pricing remains measured; expect another decision in April. Management prioritizes value proposition and long‑term traffic health over chasing commodity spikes .
- 2026 growth accelerates: ~35 company opens plus franchise acquisitions (including CA) drive 5–6% store‑week growth; capex held around ~$400M, signaling disciplined expansion .
- Watch mix: ongoing shift to larger steaks boosts sales but pressures COGS % by ~20–30 bps; alcohol mix remains a headwind though partially offset by mocktails/soft beverages .
- Model implications: Trim near‑term margin/EPS on higher beef and mix; maintain or lift sales/traffic assumptions; incorporate 14‑week lap headwind (~10% EPS impact) into Q4 YoY modeling .
- Potential upside drivers: sustained traffic outperformance, full tech rollout benefits, and evidence of beef inflation moderation or favorable procurement in 2H26 .
Notes
- Restaurant margin is a non‑GAAP metric; see company reconciliation in the Q3 8‑K .
- Consensus and target price figures marked with an asterisk (*) are Values retrieved from S&P Global.