New York, Feb 13, 2026, 05:27 EST — Premarket.
- Shares of Dutch Bros jumped roughly 13% before the bell, as the coffee chain reported higher Q4 profits and laid out its goals for 2026.
- The company is looking at revenue in the $2.0 billion to $2.03 billion range for 2026, and it’s planning to open no fewer than 181 system shops.
- Management pointed to higher coffee costs weighing on margins, at least in the short term.
Dutch Bros Inc shares surged 13% to $57.44 in Friday’s premarket, bouncing back after the drive-thru coffee company posted a higher fourth-quarter profit and outlined growth goals for 2026. The stock had dropped 5% on Thursday, finishing the session at $50.82. (Public)
Right now, results are crucial for Dutch Bros as it continues pouring money into new locations. Investors haven’t hesitated to hit restaurant stocks when foot traffic falters or expenses rise. With this being a growth stock, guidance grabs the spotlight.
Dutch Bros reported a 29.4% jump in fourth-quarter revenue to $443.6 million, according to its SEC filing. Net income surged as well, coming in at $29.2 million versus $6.4 million a year ago. Same-shop sales systemwide, which exclude the impact of new locations, were up 7.7% for the quarter, and transactions increased 5.4%. (SEC)
Christine Barone, the chief executive, labeled 2025 “a record-breaking year” and described a “well-defined path of sustainable, profitable growth” for the company. Chief financial officer Josh Guenser echoed that upbeat tone, saying their confidence in hitting 2,029 shops by 2029 “has never been higher,” and spotlighted record average unit volumes—annual sales per shop—as a key metric. (Business Wire)
The company told analysts on its earnings call it’s looking for 2026 revenue to land between $2.0 billion and $2.03 billion, counting on at least 181 system shop openings. That includes flipping 20 Clutch Coffee Bar sites in the Carolinas. Guenser flagged a cost squeeze in the first quarter — a hit of about 200 basis points, or two percentage points — mostly from pricier coffee and the new food menu. Coffee price shifts, he noted, usually hit the numbers with a lag of two to three quarters. (The Motley Fool)
Investors want to see Dutch Bros rely on transaction growth—not just price hikes. The company, meanwhile, is signaling that it wants the market to look through a choppy cost outlook heading into early 2026.
The setup isn’t all upside. Should coffee prices remain elevated for longer, or if new locations start underperforming as the chain expands further, margins might feel the squeeze—especially with capital spending still running high.
The stock faces a quick macro hurdle: January consumer price figures from the U.S. Labor Department arrive at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday, a release known to shift rate forecasts—and high-growth stocks along with them. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
