BJ's Restaurants indicates growth fueled by traffic and upholds 2% comparable sales forecast through 2025.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 31 2025
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Should l Buy BJRI?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Management Performance: BJ's Restaurants reported its fifth consecutive quarter of sales and traffic growth, with a 0.5% increase in same-store sales for Q3 and a projected full-year top line guidance of approximately 2%. CEO Lyle Tick highlighted the success of the Pizookie Meal Deal in driving guest frequency and value perception.
Financial Results: The company generated $330 million in sales, a 1.4% increase year-over-year, with restaurant-level operating margins at 12.5% and EBITDA margins at 6.4%. They also announced a significant increase in share repurchase authorization to $65 million to $80 million for 2025.
Outlook and Guidance: BJ's maintained its 2025 comp sales guidance of approximately 2% and projected Q4 comp sales growth of 2% to 2.5%. Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of traffic gains and the effectiveness of their strategic initiatives.
Risks and Concerns: Challenges include food cost inflation, particularly in beef and seafood, and pressures on labor and benefit expenses. Analysts raised concerns about the sustainability of traffic growth and the ability to drive check growth as frequency increases.
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Analyst Views on BJRI
Wall Street analysts forecast BJRI stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 40.320
Low
38.00
Averages
42.97
High
50.00
Current: 40.320
Low
38.00
Averages
42.97
High
50.00
About BJRI
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is a full-service restaurant brand. The Company’s restaurants feature a menu with approximately 100 menu items designed to offer various items, including slow roasted entrees, such as prime rib, EnLIGHTened Entrees, such as its Cherry Chipotle Glazed Salmon, its original signature deep-dish pizza, and the Pizookie dessert. It also offers its craft beers, which are produced at four in-house brewing facilities, two standalone brewpubs and by independent third-party brewers using its proprietary recipes. It is a national restaurant chain, which owns and operates approximately 218 restaurants located in 31 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Tax Season Gains: JPMorgan analysts highlight that Costco is poised to benefit the most in the upcoming tax season, as consumers are expected to receive larger refunds, particularly compared to BJ's Wholesale and Walmart's Sam's Club.
- Market Performance Insight: Costco's stock has risen about 15% year-to-date in 2026, recovering from a 6% decline in 2025, indicating strong potential for recovery driven by tax stimulus.
- Consumer Demographic Advantage: With a membership base skewed towards mid- to high-end consumers, analysts believe Costco is well-positioned to attract shoppers during the tax season, especially with its strong performance in big-ticket merchandise.
- Overall Retail Impact: JPMorgan estimates that last year's tax law changes could lead to over a 1% increase in core retail sales in 2026, with the impact being particularly pronounced during the tax refund season, further solidifying Costco's market position.
See More
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- Mizuho Upgrades Applied Materials: Mizuho upgrades Applied Materials (AMAT) to Outperform from Neutral, raising the price target to $370, reflecting confidence in the semiconductor company's accelerating growth, which is expected to boost its stock price.
- Jefferies Downgrades BJ's Wholesale: Jefferies downgrades BJ's Wholesale from Buy to Hold, citing slower growth and increased risks in competitive markets, which may lead to underperformance and affect investor sentiment.
- Morgan Stanley Upgrades Johnson & Johnson: Morgan Stanley upgrades Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to Overweight with a price target increase to $252, based on expectations of new product contributions and a higher P/E ratio, likely driving future earnings growth.
- Barclays Initiates TPG as Overweight: Barclays initiates TPG with an Overweight rating, highlighting its strong positioning for medium-term growth in a recovering capital markets environment, which is expected to attract more investor interest.
See More
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- Management Participation: BJ's Restaurants' management team will participate in a fireside discussion at the 28th Annual ICR Conference on January 12, 2026, highlighting the company's commitment to investor relations, which is expected to bolster market confidence.
- Investor Engagement: During the conference, the company will meet with institutional investors to deepen their understanding of the BJ's brand and its market strategies, potentially enhancing shareholder value.
- Live Webcast: The discussion will be available via a live webcast on the company's 'Investors' page, providing transparency and attracting broader investor attention, thereby enhancing the brand's image.
- Brand History: Since its founding in 1978, BJ's Restaurants has operated over 200 locations across 31 states, continuously attracting customers and strengthening its competitive position through high-quality ingredients and unique dining experiences.
See More
BJ's Launches Butterfinger® Pizookie® Dessert Celebrating 100-Year Legacy
- New Product Launch: BJ's Restaurant introduces the Butterfinger® Pizookie®, a dessert that combines a freshly baked chocolate cookie, vanilla ice cream, and Butterfinger® pieces, aimed at attracting customers and enhancing brand visibility.
- Market Collaboration: The partnership with Butterfinger® not only continues its 100-year brand legacy but also attracts younger consumers through innovative dessert experiences, thereby strengthening market competitiveness.
- Brand Influence: With nearly 40 years of history, the Pizookie® is BJ's signature dessert, and the launch of this new item aims to further solidify its leadership position in the dessert market and draw more customers.
- Consumer Experience: The introduction of the new dessert not only enriches BJ's menu but also enhances customer dining satisfaction by providing a unique taste experience, which is expected to drive sales growth.
See More
BJ's Launches Butterfinger® Pizookie®, Leading Dessert Innovation
- Dessert Innovation: BJ's Restaurant introduces the new Butterfinger® Pizookie®, combining a classic chocolate cookie, vanilla ice cream, and Butterfinger® pieces, aimed at attracting customers and enhancing brand appeal.
- Market Response: The launch of this dessert signifies BJ's further innovation in the dessert market, expected to draw more customers and strengthen its competitive position.
- Brand Collaboration: The partnership with Butterfinger® not only elevates the Pizookie®'s visibility but also leverages Butterfinger®'s 100-year legacy, enhancing consumer brand loyalty.
- Business Expansion: With over 200 locations nationwide, the introduction of this new product is anticipated to boost overall sales, further solidifying BJ's position in the casual dining market.
See More
Recent Analyst Insights Influence the Narrative for BJ’s Restaurants
Analyst Sentiment: BJ's Restaurants' stock price target has slightly increased from $38.14 to $38.88, reflecting a mix of optimism about new leadership and caution regarding industry challenges.
Bullish and Bearish Perspectives: Freedom Capital initiated a Buy rating with a $44 target, citing potential from new leadership and margin expansion, while Citi lowered its target to $38, expressing concerns over near-term sales trends.
Leadership and Financial Strategy: Todd Wilson has been appointed as CFO, expected to enhance BJ's financial strategy, while the company has increased its equity buyback authorization to $675 million, demonstrating commitment to shareholder returns.
Fiscal Projections and Risks: BJ's projects 2% growth in comparable restaurant sales for fiscal 2025, but faces risks from slow digital adoption and rising competition costs that could impact long-term profitability.
See More
