Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING) Given New $185.00 Price Target at Citigroup

Key Points

• Citigroup lowered Wingstop’s price target to $185 from $191 while maintaining a “buy” rating, implying 27.24% upside from the prior close. Analysts overall have a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average target of $221.54.
• Wingstop’s latest quarterly results beat expectations on earnings, with EPS of $1.08 versus the $1.02 consensus, while revenue rose 5.4% year over year to $185.13 million despite missing revenue estimates.
• Weak domestic sales remain the main risk: same-store sales declined 5.4%, and management expects a roughly 6.5%–7.0% domestic decline in 2026. However, the company continues expanding, opening 76 net new restaurants during the quarter.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by Citigroup from $191.00 to $185.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the restaurant operator's stock. Citigroup's target price would indicate a potential upside of 27.24% from the company's previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Wingstop in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Wingstop from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Wingstop from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Piper Sandler set a $173.00 target price on shares of Wingstop in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of Wingstop in a research report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wingstop presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $221.54.

Wingstop Stock Up 4.9%

NASDAQ:WING traded up $6.82 on Thursday, hitting $145.39. The stock had a trading volume of 1,918,050 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,206,102. The stock has a market cap of $3.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.53, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $113.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $165.89. Wingstop has a 1-year low of $95.82 and a 1-year high of $302.80.

Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The restaurant operator reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.06. Wingstop had a net margin of 16.15% and a negative return on equity of 16.31%. The business had revenue of $185.13 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $192.89 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.09 EPS. The business's revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Wingstop will post 4.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wingstop

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Allworth Financial LP purchased a new stake in Wingstop in the second quarter valued at $34,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Wingstop in the second quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Wingstop by 161.2% in the third quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 350 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wingstop in the second quarter valued at approximately $62,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its position in shares of Wingstop by 141.8% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 370 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the last quarter.

Key Stories Impacting Wingstop

Here are the key news stories impacting Wingstop this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings exceeded expectations: Third-quarter adjusted earnings were $1.08 per share, above the $1.02 consensus estimate. Revenue rose 5.3% year over year to $185.1 million, while net income increased 2.2% to $29.1 million. Wingstop Surpasses Q3 Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Continued unit growth supports the long-term story: Wingstop opened 76 net new restaurants during the quarter, bringing its system total to 3,331 locations. Management also sees substantial international potential, including as many as 1,000 restaurants in India. Wingstop's Sluggish U.S. Sales Have It Betting Big on India
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains broad: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $170, RBC lifted its target to $175, and DA Davidson, Stephens and BTIG reaffirmed bullish ratings with targets ranging from $180 to $265. The company also declared a $0.33 quarterly dividend and repurchased shares. RBC Raises Wingstop Price Target
• Neutral Sentiment: Early stabilization signals are encouraging but unproven: Domestic same-store sales declined 5.4%, an improvement from the prior quarter’s decline, while digital sales represented 73.7% of systemwide sales. Management is reworking marketing, restaurant operations and Club Wingstop to rebuild traffic.
• Negative Sentiment: Sales outlook remains the key risk: Wingstop expects 2026 domestic same-store sales to fall approximately 6.5% to 7.0%, raising concerns about franchisee economics and slowing development appetite. TD Cowen maintained a hold rating with a $120 target, while BNP Paribas Exane cut its target to $182 from $203. Wingstop Franchisee Appetite Risks

Wingstop Company Profile

Wingstop Inc is a franchised restaurant company specializing in cooked-to-order chicken wings and related menu items. Its offerings include classic and boneless wings prepared with a range of flavors, along with chicken sandwiches, tenders, fries, seasoned fries, dips, sides and beverages. The company emphasizes made-to-order food, a digital ordering experience and a menu centered on customizable chicken meals.

Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop has expanded from a single restaurant into a global brand operated primarily through franchised locations.

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