Analyst Ratings February 19, 2026

Guggenheim Lifts Wingstop Target to $315, Cites Tech Rollouts and Loyalty Program

Analyst raises 2026 profit forecasts after Q4 results; peers also bump targets amid signs of sales stabilization

By Avery Klein WING
Guggenheim Lifts Wingstop Target to $315, Cites Tech Rollouts and Loyalty Program
WING

Guggenheim raised its price objective on Wingstop to $315 from $300 while keeping a Buy rating, reflecting higher 2026 EBITDA and EPS estimates after the company's fourth-quarter 2025 results. The new target implies about 13% upside from a quoted share price of $279.08, though InvestingPro data indicates the stock may be trading slightly above its fair value. Analysts point to technology initiatives and a loyalty program as potential drivers for a return to flat or positive comparable sales in 2026.

Key Points

  • Guggenheim raised Wingstop's price target to $315 from $300 and maintained a Buy rating after Q4 2025 results.
  • The firm increased its 2026 EBITDA and EPS estimates; Wingstop reported 15.56% revenue growth over the last twelve months.
  • Management expects new technology initiatives and a loyalty program to help return comparable sales to flat or positive in 2026, which could support valuation above 30 times EV/EBITDA.

Guggenheim on Wednesday increased its price target for Wingstop to $315 from $300 and reaffirmed a Buy rating on the fast-casual chicken chain. The firm raised its 2026 EBITDA and earnings-per-share forecasts after reviewing Wingstop's fourth-quarter 2025 performance.

The revised target equates to roughly a 13% upside relative to a cited share price of $279.08. Data from InvestingPro included with the report suggests the stock may be trading slightly above its Fair Value.

Guggenheim's estimate upgrades follow company results that showed solid top-line momentum over the last year, with revenue rising 15.56% on a trailing-12-month basis. Despite that growth, the chain reported a decline in same-store sales in the fourth quarter - a drop the company described as 6% in one disclosure and recorded as -5.8% in another metric, which compared favorably to a consensus estimate of -6.7%.

Management is projecting that 2026 will see a return to flat or positive comparable sales as several initiatives take hold. The company highlighted new technology investments and the rollout of a loyalty program as key elements that should help stabilize traffic and check trends. Guggenheim noted that achieving flat comparable sales for the full year would likely result in positive same-store sales during the second half of 2026.

On valuation, Guggenheim indicated that such an improvement in sales momentum and profitability would be consistent with the shares trading at a multiple north of 30 times enterprise value to EBITDA.


Other broker reactions to Wingstop's fourth-quarter results have also been constructive. Truist Securities raised its price target to $375 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing better-than-expected same-store sales and adjusted EBITDA along with upbeat guidance for 2026. Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated an Outperform rating and assigned a $350 target, noting that stabilizing macroeconomic conditions could bolster the company's longer-term growth prospects toward 2026.

Collectively, these analyst moves followed Wingstop's fourth-quarter earnings beat, despite a slight revenue miss. The reported same-store sales trajectory for the quarter - reported at -5.8% and outperforming the -6.7% consensus - has factored into the more optimistic forecasts and target revisions.


Key takeaways:

  • Guggenheim raised its Wingstop price target to $315 from $300 and boosted 2026 EBITDA and EPS estimates after Q4 2025 results.
  • Company revenue grew 15.56% over the past twelve months, but same-store sales showed a decline in the fourth quarter (reported as a 6% decline and also recorded at -5.8%).
  • Management expects technology initiatives and a loyalty program rollout to drive a return to flat or positive comparable sales in 2026, which Guggenheim said could justify an EV/EBITDA multiple above 30 times if achieved.

Analyst landscape:

  • Truist lifted its price target to $375 and kept a Buy rating following the quarter.
  • Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated an Outperform rating with a $350 target, citing macro stabilization as supportive of the chain's 2026 growth strategy.

The information presented reflects the companies' reported figures and analyst commentary. Where figures are presented in differing forms in filings and consensus comparisons, both are noted to reflect the data as reported.

Risks

  • Same-store sales weakened in the fourth quarter, reported as a 6% decline and also recorded at -5.8%, indicating continued near-term traffic pressures in the restaurant sector.
  • If technology rollouts and the loyalty program do not drive the expected sales recovery, Wingstop's valuation multiple target above 30 times EV/EBITDA may be difficult to sustain.
  • Analyst outlooks and price targets vary across brokers, creating uncertainty around consensus valuation and near-term investor expectations.

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