5 Best Restaurant Stocks to Buy for Growth in 2026

3. Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING)

On March 12, Sara Senatore of Bank of America Securities reiterated her Buy rating on Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING), setting a price target of $356. This reflects an almost 90% upside from here on. Other analysts are similarly bullish on the stock, even though macroeconomic uncertainties remain. The most bullish analyst, Peter Saleh of BTIG, has a $400 price target on the stock.

According to TD Cowen’s report after WING’s Q4 earnings last month, same-store sales are likely to decline by 0.5% in 2026. It must be added, though, that TD Cowen is one of the most bearish analysts so far, out of the 33 analysts covering the stock. TD Cowen’s survey data shows that the company’s core customers are facing increasing pressure. The firm said that the potential benefits in 2026 from loyalty programs, smart kitchens, and the FIFA World Cup will not be enough to overcome the challenges impacting the brand’s main customer base.

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) is an operator and franchisor of restaurants under the Wingstop brand. The company operates its restaurants across the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, and the Netherlands. It was incorporated in 1994 and is based in Dallas, Texas.