BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) AI Stock Analysis
BJRI AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchBJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) is a casual dining operator featuring a broad menu of pizzas, craft beers, and entrees across the United States. In FY2025, revenue grew 3.1% to $1.40B while net income reached $48.8M, up from -$3.6M in FY2021. The company holds $434.7M in total debt against $14.4M in cash, carrying a trailing P/E ratio of 31.8x.
- Market cap
- $1.26B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.43B
- P/E
- 31.8x fwd 23.8x
- 1Y return
- 90.4% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $75.43 27.0% vs last close
Bull case
- Annual net income expanded significantly from -$3.6M in FY2021 to $48.8M in FY2025 as gross margin improved to 15.5%.
- Consensus analyst projections forecast EPS to expand 14.7% in the next fiscal year to $2.72.
- The mean analyst price target of $75.43 indicates potential upside of 27.0% over the last close of $59.38.
Bear case
- Liquidity remains tight with a current ratio of 0.29 and $14.4M in cash compared to $434.7M in total debt.
- Quarterly earnings fell 11.3% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026.
- The trailing P/E ratio of 31.8x sits well above the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 18.0x.
What BJ's Restaurants does
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is a prominent operator of casual dining establishments across the United States, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. The company employs 22,230 people and provides a diverse menu including pizzas, craft beers, appetizers, entrees, pastas, sandwiches, specialty salads, and desserts. Emphasizing freshness, culinary innovation, and hospitality, the restaurant brand serves both local patrons and visitors seeking quality dining experiences. Beyond its restaurant operations, the company participates in community outreach programs and charitable initiatives in the regions it serves.
Growth and profitability
BJ's Restaurants increased annual revenue from $1.09B in FY2021 to $1.40B in FY2025, achieving a 5-year revenue CAGR of 12.4% from FY2020 to FY2025. Gross margin expanded from 11.9% in FY2021 to 15.5% in FY2025, while operating margin turned from -1.5% to 3.4% over the same timeframe. Net income improved to $48.8M in FY2025, delivering diluted EPS of $2.26 compared to -$0.21 in FY2021. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $1.43B with an operating margin of 5.0%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 6.4% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings fell 11.3%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, BJ's Restaurants held $14.4M in cash and short-term investments against $434.7M in total debt, resulting in net debt of $420.2M. Shareholders' equity was $397.4M, producing a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 0.29. Total assets stood at $991.8M. In FY2025, operating cash flow generated $110.5M and free cash flow was $40.9M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $69.6M in capital expenditures and $67.8M spent on share buybacks, contributing to a 6.0% reduction in share count over 5 years.
Valuation and performance
BJ's Restaurants trades at a trailing P/E of 31.8x and a forward P/E of 23.8x, both above the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers of 18.0x and 14.1x, respectively. The company carries an enterprise value of $1.73B with an EV/EBITDA multiple of 13.7x, compared to the peer median of 11.1x, and a price-to-sales ratio of 0.9x versus the peer median of 0.7x. Over the past year, the stock returned 90.4%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. However, its 5-year return of 58.4% trails the S&P 500 gain of 83.0%.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 5 Strong Buy and 4 Hold ratings, with zero Buy, Sell, or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $75.43, representing upside of 27.0% from the last close of $59.38 on October 16, 2026. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $1.46B and EPS of $2.37, representing 5.0% earnings growth. For the next fiscal year, 9 analysts project revenue of $1.52B and EPS of $2.72. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings date set for October 29, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- High leverage is reflected in a net debt balance of $420.2M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09.
- A low current ratio of 0.29 signals limited working capital cushion relative to short-term obligations.
- Elevated short interest stands at 12.0% of float, indicating substantial market skepticism.
- The trailing 12-month operating margin of 5.0% remains below the US-listed Consumer Cyclical peer median of 8.8%.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this BJRI AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: BJRI income statement, BJRI balance sheet, BJRI key metrics, BJRI analyst forecast, BJRI chart. See the BJRI stock overview for the latest quote and news.
BJRI AI stock analysis FAQ
Does BJ's Restaurants pay a dividend?
BJ's Restaurants does not currently pay a dividend. Capital returns to shareholders have instead occurred through share buybacks, which totaled $67.8M in FY2025.
What is BJ's Restaurants' debt load?
As of June 30, 2026, BJ's Restaurants had $434.7M in total debt and $14.4M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $420.2M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09.
When is the next earnings report for BJRI?
The company is scheduled to report its next earnings on October 29, 2026. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $2.37 on revenue of $1.46B.
How has the stock performed compared to the broader market?
Over the past year, BJRI gained 90.4%, beating the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, however, the stock rose 58.4%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.