PTLO Portillo's Inc.

BEARISH Impact: 7/10 8-K
Horizon days Filed May 5, 2026 Processed 1mo ago SEC 0001871509-26-000032
8-K Item 2.02: Earnings release
Latest settled — T+20d ⚠ clustered
PTLO ▼ -15.99% at T+20d
SHORT call ✓ call won +15.99% · α vs SPY +20.94% · entry $4.79 → $4.02
Next anchor: T+60d in 7w
Currently $4.44 · +7.21% from $4.79 entry (call sign-flipped)
Entry anchored
May 4, 03:59 PM ET
via Databento tick
T+1d
-6.17%
call +6.17% · α +7.55%
$4.49
settled 5w ago
T+5d
-13.90%
call +13.90% · α +15.88%
$4.12
settled 5w ago
T+20d
-15.99%
call +15.99% · α +20.94%
$4.02
settled 10d ago
T+60d
call — · α —
in 7w

Price Chart

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Executive Summary

Portillo's Q1 2026 revenue grew 3.5% to $182.6M, but operating income plunged 56.7% to $4.5M and the company swung to a net loss of $0.5M vs. net income of $4.0M a year ago. Same-restaurant sales remained negative at -0.1%, and the company maintained its flat Adjusted EBITDA guidance for FY2026. Additionally, CFO Michelle Hook departed effective immediately, adding leadership uncertainty. The combination of deteriorating profitability, negative comparable sales, and a key executive departure makes this a bearish filing.

Key Financial Metrics

Free Cash Flow
-$751.0K

Actionable Insight

The stock is likely to sell off on the combination of a GAAP net loss, CFO departure, and continued negative comparable sales. Watch for the CEO's strategic plan update and the CFO replacement announcement. The flat Adjusted EBITDA guidance for FY2026 provides no catalyst for upside. Monitor Q2 2026 for any improvement in same-restaurant sales trajectory.

Key Facts

  • Q1 2026 revenue $182.6M, +3.5% YoY, driven by new unit openings; same-restaurant sales -0.1%
  • Operating income fell 56.7% to $4.5M from $10.4M; net loss of $0.5M vs. net income of $4.0M
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined 13.0% to $18.5M; Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 19.1% from 20.8%
  • FY2026 guidance maintained: Adjusted EBITDA flat vs 2025, Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA margin 20.5%-21%, G&A $80-$82M
  • CFO Michelle Hook departed effective May 5, 2026; no successor named; search initiated
  • GAAP diluted EPS was -$0.01 vs. $0.05 in prior year; consensus was $0.01 (miss)
  • Total debt (short + long) stood at $346.8M vs. $19.96M cash; short-term debt increased to $104M from $90M

Financial Impact

Operating income decline of $5.9M (56.7%) and swing to net loss of $0.5M; Adjusted EBITDA down $2.8M (13.0%); same-restaurant sales negative for 4th consecutive quarter

revenueoperating incomenet incomeadjusted EBITDAsame-restaurant salesmargins

Risk Factors

  • CFO departure creates leadership vacuum and potential for further management instability
  • Same-restaurant sales have been negative for four consecutive quarters, indicating core business weakness
  • Operating margins continue to compress due to commodity inflation, labor costs, and new store pre-opening expenses
  • Short-term debt increased to $104M, reducing financial flexibility
  • FY2026 guidance of flat Adjusted EBITDA implies no near-term earnings growth catalyst

Market Snapshot

Exchange
Nasdaq
Sector
Retail-Eating Places
Analyst Consensus
50% bullish (20 analysts)

Documents Analyzed

This report is based on 7 SEC documents filed with EDGAR.

DocumentAccession Number
8-K Filing (Primary)0001871509-26-000032
Exhibit: exhibit992ptloq12026earn.htm0001871509-26-000032
Document: ptlo-20260505.htm0001871509-26-000032
Document: 0001871509-26-000032-index-headers.html0001871509-26-000032
Document: 0001871509-26-000032-index.html0001871509-26-000032
Document: 0001871509-26-000032.txt0001871509-26-000032
8-K Data (Synthetic)0001871509-26-000032
4 reports for PTLO
Performance horizon

Track record builds as more directional reports settle.

Filters
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Reports for PTLO — sortable, filterable
Type Now
May 5, 2026
5w ago
8-K
BEARISH ★ 7/10
$4.79 $4.02▲ +15.99%▲ +20.94%$4.44 (+7.21%)
May 5, 2026
5w ago
Press Release
BEARISH ★ 7/10
$4.79 $4.02▲ +15.99%▲ +20.94%$4.44 (+7.21%)
Apr 20, 2026
7w ago
Press Release
BULLISH ★ 7/10
$6.32 $3.93▼ −37.82%▼ −42.02%$4.44 (−29.75%)
Apr 17, 2026
8w ago
DEFA14A
NEUTRAL ★ 2/10
$6.32 $3.93▼ −37.82%▼ −42.02%$4.44 (−29.75%)
Showing 4 of 4

US Market Status

Market Closed — Opens Mon (48h 46m)

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