Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.01 EPS

Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The restaurant operator reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.01, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $975.22 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $980.64 million. Bloomin’ Brands had a negative net margin of 1.46% and a positive return on equity of 33.92%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.38 earnings per share. Bloomin’ Brands updated its Q1 2026 guidance to 0.570-0.620 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance to 0.750-0.900 EPS.

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

• Q4 comps were flat while U.S. traffic grew +50 bps and Outback traffic rose +90 bps (its first positive traffic quarter since Q4 2021), with the company narrowing the gap vs. the casual-dining industry quarter-over-quarter.
• Management highlighted early success from a November 2025 steak lineup (strong guest satisfaction and reorder intent) plus a planned Q2 service-model change (peak server station reduced to 4 tables) and formal Steak Excellence certification to drive consistency and repeat visits.
• For fiscal 2026 the company plans ~$50M of turnaround investments (offset by ~$30M of non-guest-facing productivity for a net ~$20M), guides U.S. comps of +0.5%–+2.5%, adjusted EPS $0.75–$0.90, expects commodity inflation of 4.5%–5.5% and CapEx of $185M–$195M, and notes a Q1 weather headwind (~2.2% sales, ~$0.08 EPS) included in guidance.
• Q4 adjusted EPS was $0.26 (within guidance) while GAAP showed a $0.14 loss driven by ~$46M of adjustments (impairments and closures); the company materially reduced leverage in 2025 with total debt down to ~$787M and net debt of ~$728M.

Bloomin’ Brands Stock Performance

BLMN stock traded up $0.20 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $6.07. The company had a trading volume of 2,215,494 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,322,697. The firm has a market capitalization of $516.86 million, a PE ratio of -9.05 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $6.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.95. Bloomin’ Brands has a fifty-two week low of $5.68 and a fifty-two week high of $11.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.77.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Bloomin’ Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of Bloomin’ Brands by 83,825.0% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,357 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 3,353 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bloomin’ Brands by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,431 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,662 shares during the period. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Bloomin’ Brands during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $62,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Bloomin’ Brands by 178.1% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 10,378 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 6,646 shares during the period.

Key Headlines Impacting Bloomin’ Brands

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

• Positive Sentiment: Outback traffic turned positive for the first quarter in four years, evidence the company’s turnaround initiatives may be gaining traction. Bloomin’ Brands Posts Narrower Loss Amid Turnaround Efforts
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat estimates: reported $0.26 vs. consensus $0.25, showing profitability progress despite year-over-year compression from $0.38 prior. Bloomin’ Brands Q4 Earnings Snapshot / MarketBeat
• Positive Sentiment: Company guided Q1 2026 EPS of $0.570–$0.620, above the prior consensus of $0.550 — a near-term beat that may support near-term upside if execution holds. Bloomin’ Brands Announces 2025 Q4 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: FY 2026 EPS guidance updated to $0.750–$0.900 versus consensus ~ $0.830 — the range overlaps consensus (midpoint ~ in line/slightly below), leaving room for interpretation on full‑year momentum. Bloomin’ Brands FY 2026 Guidance / BusinessWire
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue showed modest year-over-year growth (+0.3% to $975.22M), indicating stabilization but not a strong top‑line rebound. Q4 Revenue / BusinessWire
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue missed the Street ($975.22M vs. $980.64M est.) and the company still reported a negative net margin, which keeps profitability concerns front-and-center for investors. Earnings Details / MarketBeat
• Negative Sentiment: Balance-sheet and liquidity metrics remain watch‑items (high debt-to-equity and low current/quick ratios highlighted by analysts), amplifying downside risk if cash flow recovery slows. BLMN Stock Snapshot / MarketBeat

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Bloomin’ Brands in a report on Monday, December 29th. Loop Capital set a $10.00 target price on shares of Bloomin’ Brands in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Zacks Research upgraded Bloomin’ Brands from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Bloomin’ Brands from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $7.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, November 7th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bloomin’ Brands presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $8.64.

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.