As the Q2 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the modern fast food industry, including Portillo's (NASDAQ: PTLO) and its peers.
Modern fast food is a relatively newer category representing a middle ground between traditional fast food and sit-down restaurants. These establishments feature an expanded menu selection priced above traditional fast food options, often incorporating fresher and cleaner ingredients to serve customers prioritizing quality. These eateries are capitalizing on the perception that your drive-through burger and fries joint is detrimental to your health because of inferior ingredients.
The 6 modern fast food stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
While some modern fast food stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 2.9% since the latest earnings results.
Portillo's (NASDAQ: PTLO)
Begun as a Chicago hot dog stand in 1963, Portillo’s (NASDAQ: PTLO) is a casual restaurant chain that serves Chicago-style hot dogs and beef sandwiches as well as fries and shakes.
Portillo's reported revenues of $199 million, up 5.6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
“Q2 was highlighted by resilient underlying sales performance despite difficult promotional comparisons, as well as taking decisive actions to simplify the business to better support our priority of running great restaurants,” said Brett Patterson, Portillo's Chief Executive Officer.
Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 10.7% since reporting and currently trades at $4.17.
Is now the time to buy Portillo's? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q2: Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK)
Started as a hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park, Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK) is a fast-food restaurant known for its burgers and milkshakes.
Shake Shack reported revenues of $417.6 million, up 17.2% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $63.15.
Is now the time to buy Shake Shack? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG)
Founded in 2007 by three Georgetown University alum, Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) is a casual quick service chain known for its healthy salads and bowls.
Sweetgreen reported revenues of $192.7 million, up 3.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Sweetgreen delivered the slowest revenue growth among its peers. Interestingly, the stock is up 16% since the results and currently trades at $6.81.
Read our full analysis of Sweetgreen’s results here.
CAVA (NYSE: CAVA)
Starting from a single Washington, D.C. location, CAVA (NYSE: CAVA) operates a fast-casual restaurant chain offering customizable Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
CAVA reported revenues of $368.4 million, up 31.3% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ same-store sales estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
CAVA pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 6.7% since reporting and currently trades at $56.73.
Read our full, actionable report on CAVA here, it’s free.
Chipotle (NYSE: CMG)
Born from a desire to offer quick meals with fresh, flavorful ingredients, Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) is a fast-food chain known for its healthy, Mexican-inspired cuisine and customizable dishes.
Chipotle reported revenues of $3.35 billion, up 9.3% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ same-store sales estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is up 5.7% since reporting and currently trades at $36.19.
Read our full, actionable report on Chipotle here, it’s free.
Market Update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
