Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Key Points

• Bloomin' Brands beat Q1 estimates with EPS $0.67 vs. $0.57 and revenue $1.06B vs. $1.04B, raised Q2 guidance to $0.27–$0.32 and FY26 EPS to $0.75–$0.90, fueling a ~41.9% intraday stock jump on heavy volume.
• Management is executing a multi‑quarter Outback turnaround—reporting the third consecutive quarter of improved guest metrics and rolling out initiatives like a new steak lineup, a 4‑table/server service model and expanded char‑grill capacity to drive traffic and trade‑ups.
• Risks remain: traffic weakness (U.S. comps +0.9% but traffic -1.8%; Outback down ~240 bps), commodity (~4.6%) and labor (~3.1%) inflation, very thin net margins (~0.2%) and elevated leverage (debt/equity ~2.34) could limit sustained improvement.

Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The restaurant operator reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.10, FiscalAI reports. Bloomin' Brands had a net margin of 0.21% and a return on equity of 26.26%. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.59 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Bloomin' Brands updated its FY 2026 guidance to 0.750-0.900 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance to 0.270-0.320 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Bloomin' Brands' conference call:

• Launched a multi‑quarter Outback turnaround centered on four platforms (dine‑in experience, brand relevancy, culture, restaurant investment) and reported the third consecutive quarter of year‑over‑year improvement in Outback guest metrics (trust, service, value, atmosphere, food, intent to return).
• Q1 revenue was $1.06B (+1%) and adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.67 (from $0.59), and management reiterated full‑year guidance, indicating financial progress despite headwinds.
• Management is rolling out operational initiatives at Outback—a new steak lineup with high satisfaction scores, a 4‑table/server service model, expanded char‑grill capacity, and updated Managing Partner compensation—to drive traffic, trade‑ups, and loyalty.
• Traffic weakness and cost pressures remain (U.S. comps +0.9% but traffic -1.8%; Outback traffic down ~240 bps) with an estimated ~240 bp weather headwind in Q1 and commodity inflation (~4.6%) and labor inflation (~3.1%) weighing on margins (Q1 adjusted operating margin 5.9% vs 6.1% LY).
• Capital and liquidity plans balance growth and deleveraging—capex guide $185–$195M, targeted $350–$400k refreshes per Outback through 2028, net debt $681M (lease‑adjusted leverage 3.8x)—and Q2 guidance targets comps +1–2% and adj EPS $0.27–$0.32.

Bloomin' Brands Trading Up 41.9%

Bloomin' Brands stock traded up $2.42 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $8.18. 9,126,016 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,713,384. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $5.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $6.54. Bloomin' Brands has a twelve month low of $5.19 and a twelve month high of $10.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $696.76 million, a PE ratio of 81.76, a PEG ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 1.10.

Key Bloomin' Brands News

Here are the key news stories impacting Bloomin' Brands this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 earnings and revenue beat — Bloomin' reported EPS of $0.67 vs. consensus $0.57 and revenue of $1.06B vs. $1.04B, with management citing improved Outback brand scores and progress on its turnaround. This outperformance and management commentary are the primary catalysts for the stock move higher. Bloomin’ Brands Announces 2026 Q1 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Q2 guidance raised — management set Q2 FY2026 EPS guidance of $0.270–$0.320 vs. the street at ~$0.220, which signals stronger near-term operating momentum and likely boosted sentiment among short-term traders and analysts. View Press Release / Slide Deck
• Neutral Sentiment: Full‑year FY2026 guidance range given — the company provided EPS guidance of $0.750–$0.900 (consensus ~0.830). The range encompasses the street view, so it’s not a clear beat or miss; it provides a framework but keeps execution risk in play. Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) Reports Q1 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/press roundup and market context — coverage summarizing the beat and market rallies (e.g., Benzinga’s roundup of big stocks moving higher) likely amplified volume and interest but doesn’t change fundamentals on its own. Davita, Bloomin' Brands, Compass And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Wednesday
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional coverage and materials — analyst previews and the company’s slide deck/conference call are available for investors digging into store trends, unit-level performance and margin drivers. MarketBeat Earnings Coverage and Materials
• Negative Sentiment: Structural risks remain — Bloomin' still shows thin net margins (around 0.2%) and elevated leverage (debt/equity ~2.34). Those fundamentals limit upside until sustained margin expansion and deleveraging are evident, leaving the stock vulnerable if same-store sales or traffic weaken.

Insider Activity

In other Bloomin' Brands news, Director Rohit Lal bought 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $5.69 per share, for a total transaction of $56,900.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 30,156 shares in the company, valued at approximately $171,587.64. This trade represents a 49.61% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.18% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bloomin' Brands

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BLMN. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in shares of Bloomin' Brands by 50.4% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 333,693 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $2,393,000 after buying an additional 111,801 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bloomin' Brands by 156.1% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 591,373 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $4,240,000 after acquiring an additional 360,450 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in Bloomin' Brands by 6.0% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 46,395 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 2,622 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Bloomin' Brands by 123.1% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,299,778 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $16,489,000 after purchasing an additional 1,268,988 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in Bloomin' Brands by 4.3% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,048,497 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $7,518,000 after purchasing an additional 43,329 shares in the last quarter.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Bloomin' Brands from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating and set a $6.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Bloomin' Brands in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on Bloomin' Brands from $6.75 to $7.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $7.86.

Bloomin' Brands Company Profile

Bloomin' Brands, Inc engages in the ownership, operation and franchising of casual dining restaurants worldwide. The company's portfolio includes five full-service restaurant chains: Outback Steakhouse, known for its Australian-inspired steakhouse concept; Carrabba's Italian Grill, offering Italian-American cuisine; Bonefish Grill, specializing in handcrafted seafood dishes; Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, focusing on premium steak and wine experiences; and Aussie Grill by Outback, featuring a streamlined menu of signature items.

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