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Portillo's, Inc. (PTLO)
:PTLO
US Market
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Portillo's (PTLO) AI Stock Analysis

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PTLO

Portillo's

(NASDAQ:PTLO)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$7.50
▲(11.11% Upside)
Portillo's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and positive corporate events. However, bearish technical indicators and moderate valuation weigh on the score. The company's strategic initiatives and leadership changes are promising, but market challenges and inflationary pressures need to be addressed.
Positive Factors
Drive-thru Efficiency
Portillo’s has continued to make progress on speeding up drive-thru times, which currently stand at about 5 minutes 30 seconds following a renewed emphasis on employee training and optimized staffing.
Kiosk Implementation
Kiosks have bolstered comps since being fully deployed, with adoption rates approaching 30% of walk-in traffic and a 15% lift in average ticket.
Loyalty Program
Portillo’s new app-less loyalty program is expected to drive improved frequency following a shift to more targeted text-based offers.
Negative Factors
Cost Pressures
Restaurant-level margin contracted a greater-than-expected 110 basis points to 20.8% on higher commodity and labor costs.
Location Performance
Locations in Texas are lagging expectations, with continued underperformance in Houston and rapid densification of Dallas translating to lower average unit volumes.
Revenue Growth
Portillo’s second-quarter revenue growth of 4% was below expectations for a 7% to 8% increase, with weaker-than-expected new unit productivity accounting for roughly two-thirds of the sales shortfall.

Portillo's (PTLO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Portillo's Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPortillo's Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of fast casual and quick service restaurants in the United States. The company offers Chicago-style hot dogs and sausages, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, chopped salads, crinkle-cut French fries, homemade chocolate cakes, and chocolate cake shakes. As of March 10, 2022, it operated in 70 locations across nine states. The company also offers its products through its website. Portillo's Inc. was founded in 1963 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyPortillo's generates revenue primarily through the sale of food and beverages at its restaurant locations. The company's revenue streams include in-restaurant dining, takeout, and drive-thru services. Additionally, Portillo's leverages its brand reputation to engage in catering services, which constitute a significant part of its revenue, especially for events and large gatherings. The company also benefits from its online ordering platform, which facilitates delivery and pick-up services, further expanding its customer reach. Strategic location choices and a focus on high-traffic areas contribute to its earnings, along with seasonal promotions and limited-time menu offerings that drive customer engagement and sales. Portillo's does not currently have any significant partnerships that substantially affect its revenue model.

Portillo's Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Portillo's earnings call presented a balanced view of the company's performance. While revenue growth, loyalty program expansion, and operational improvements are positive highlights, challenges remain with new market performance, especially in Texas, and inflationary pressures on costs.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth
Portillo's reported revenues of $188.5 million, reflecting an increase of $6.6 million or 3.6% compared to last year.
Italian Beef Month Initiative
Successfully drove meaningful engagement and positive transactions with promotional offers for loyalty members.
Kiosk Usage
In-restaurant usage of kiosks now exceeds 33%, with clear benefits to average check and mix.
Loyalty Program Growth
Portillo's Perks program now boasts over 1.9 million members, demonstrating robust customer engagement.
Build Cost Reduction
Achieved significant savings in new restaurant build costs, reducing them to a range of $5.2 million to $5.5 million per restaurant.
Operational Improvements
AI-powered drive-thru technology expansion is underway with positive operator feedback.
Negative Updates
Texas Restaurant Performance
New noncomparable restaurants in Texas reported a slower start, impacting overall top-line revenue.
Negative Transaction Growth
Overall transactions were negative 1.4% for the quarter, although this was a 170-basis-point sequential improvement over Q1.
Commodity and Labor Costs
Faced with a 1.9% increase in commodity prices, particularly in beef, and labor costs increasing to 25.7% of revenues.
Cash from Operations Decline
Cash from operations decreased by 31.1% year-over-year to $28.7 million year-to-date.
Delayed Restaurant Openings
The opening of the Stafford, Texas restaurant was delayed due to local permitting challenges.
Company Guidance
During Portillo's second quarter 2025 earnings call, guidance was provided on several key metrics. The company reported restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA of $44.5 million with a margin of 23.6%. Same-restaurant sales increased by 0.7%, while transactions decreased by 1.4%, although this represented a 170-basis-point sequential improvement over Q1. Revenue growth was 3.6% year-over-year, amounting to $188.5 million, driven by a combination of non-comp restaurant openings and same-restaurant sales. The company raised menu prices by a total of 3.3% through incremental increases throughout the year. Portillo's plans to open 12 new restaurants in the latter half of 2025, with build costs for new locations expected to average between $5.2 million and $5.5 million. Despite challenges in Texas, the company remains committed to a revenue growth target of 5% to 7% for the year. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 26.8%, and the company expects the full-year rate to be approximately 25% to 27%. Overall, the guidance underscores a focus on growth and operational efficiency improvements, alongside efforts to manage inflationary pressures.

Portillo's Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Portillo's demonstrates strong financial health with robust revenue growth and improved profitability metrics, though there is room for improvement in operating efficiencies and capital expenditure management.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Portillo's exhibits strong revenue growth with a TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) increase of 6.0% from the previous year. The gross profit margin has improved to 42.8% from 38.8% in 2022, showing enhanced cost efficiency. Net profit margin stands at 3.9% TTM, which is a positive turn from previous losses, indicating better profitability management. However, the EBITDA margin at 13.0% suggests room for improving operating efficiencies compared to industry standards.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows a moderate Debt-to-Equity ratio of 1.50 TTM, indicating a balanced leverage position relative to equity. Return on Equity (ROE) has improved to 6.9% TTM, reflecting better utilization of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is 27.1% TTM, which suggests a stable capital structure but indicates potential risk if debt levels increase.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Operating cash flow to net income ratio of 3.48 TTM highlights strong cash generation relative to net profits. Free cash flow growth rate is negative at -17.6% TTM, mainly due to increased capital expenditures, which could impact cash reserves if not managed carefully. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.29 TTM, demonstrating some reliance on free cash flow to support net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue721.16M710.55M679.90M587.10M534.95M455.47M
Gross Profit308.37M168.11M275.17M132.51M142.08M121.94M
EBITDA93.72M94.79M79.85M61.50M52.78M81.22M
Net Income28.27M29.52M18.42M10.85M-54.00M-8.26M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.50B1.50B1.39B1.28B999.57M910.22M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments12.94M22.88M10.44M44.43M39.26M41.21M
Total Debt611.60M596.23M550.41M523.60M319.15M469.70M
Total Liabilities1.00B1.01B925.43M847.18M576.17M769.51M
Stockholders Equity406.88M401.06M322.38M256.34M171.26M140.71M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow8.12M9.85M-17.14M9.83M6.69M36.82M
Operating Cash Flow98.41M98.04M70.78M56.89M42.87M58.27M
Investing Cash Flow-90.22M-88.11M-87.84M-47.02M-36.26M-21.42M
Financing Cash Flow-8.45M2.51M-16.93M-4.71M-8.78M-18.05M

Portillo's Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price6.75
Price Trends
50DMA
9.35
Negative
100DMA
10.44
Negative
200DMA
11.21
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.69
Negative
RSI
28.34
Positive
STOCH
13.09
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PTLO, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 6.75 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 7.28, below the 50-day MA of 9.35, and below the 200-day MA of 11.21, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.69 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 28.34 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.09 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PTLO.

Portillo's Risk Analysis

Portillo's disclosed 46 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Portillo's reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Portillo's Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$3.04B18.8041.01%1.78%4.77%38.24%
67
Neutral
$508.60M14.937.36%3.62%17.67%
67
Neutral
$1.14B284.250.69%14.53%-83.26%
64
Neutral
$750.01M28.237.12%4.07%-1.24%
64
Neutral
$1.16B20.9912.90%1.89%2.84%-4.44%
61
Neutral
$17.97B12.87-5.30%2.97%1.26%-14.45%
60
Neutral
$1.55B21.25-20.16%3.81%-1.46%8.10%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PTLO
Portillo's
6.82
-5.29
-43.68%
BJRI
BJ's Restaurants
33.56
4.46
15.33%
CBRL
Cracker Barrel
52.81
17.45
49.35%
PZZA
Papa John's International
48.24
2.83
6.23%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
60.63
24.88
69.59%
FWRG
First Watch Restaurant Group
18.59
2.78
17.58%

Portillo's Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Portillo’s Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Aug 5, 2025

Portillo’s Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, showing a revenue increase of 3.6% to $188.5 million and a net income rise of 17.7% to $10 million compared to the same period in 2024. Despite a challenging traffic environment, the company managed to maintain strong earnings and plans to open 12 new restaurants in the second half of 2025, focusing on expanding in the Sunbelt region and introducing new restaurant formats to improve efficiency and consumer engagement.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Portillo’s Appoints Eugene Lee to Board of Directors
Positive
Jun 16, 2025

On June 16, 2025, Portillo’s announced the appointment of Eugene I. Lee, Jr., a seasoned leader in the restaurant industry, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Lee, who previously served as CEO of Darden Restaurants, is expected to bring valuable expertise in operations and growth strategy to Portillo’s. His appointment aligns with Portillo’s cooperation agreement and is supported by Engaged Capital, LLC, highlighting the company’s focus on continued growth and value creation for stakeholders.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Portillo’s Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting, Elects Directors
Neutral
Jun 13, 2025

On June 10, 2025, Portillo’s Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders where eight directors were elected to serve until the next annual meeting in 2026. Shareholders approved the compensation of the company’s Named Executive Officers and ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2025. A shareholder proposal regarding stockholders’ ability to call special meetings was rejected. The company had previously announced a cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital, LLC on April 28, 2025.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 04, 2025