Wingstop Inc. shares surged over 13% after the fast-food chain reported fourth-quarter earnings that significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The company posted adjusted earnings of $1.00 per share, well above the estimated $0.84, despite revenue coming in slightly below consensus at $175.7 million.

System-wide sales reached $1.3 billion, marking a 9.3% increase year-over-year, though domestic same-store sales declined 5.8%. The company achieved 124 net new restaurant openings during the quarter, expanding its global footprint to 3,056 locations. Digital sales accounted for 73.2% of system-wide sales, demonstrating the chain's successful digital transformation.

For fiscal year 2026, Wingstop projects flat to low-single digit domestic same-store sales growth with global unit expansion of 15-16%. The company's aggressive expansion strategy aims to reach more than 10,000 restaurants globally. Wingstop also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, maintaining its commitment to shareholder returns while pursuing aggressive growth.