Wingstop Inc. (WING): Stephen Mandel Remains Bullish on This Restaurant Company

We just covered Lone Pine’s Non-AI Strategy Falters: 10 Non-AI Stocks Weighing Down Stephen Mandel’s 2026 Returns and Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) ranks 2nd on this list.

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) is a relatively recent addition to the 13F portfolio of Lone Pine Capital. The fund first disclosed a stake in the company back in the first quarter of 2025, comprising just under 450,000 shares. This stake was sold off by the next quarter. A new position in the company was then opened in the third quarter of 2025, consisting of a little under 1.5 million shares. Filings for the fourth quarter of 2025 show that the fund owned 1.6 million shares in the firm, up slightly compared to filings for the previous quarter. The firm franchises and operates restaurants under the Wingstop brand.

Was Jim Cramer Right About Wingstop Inc. (WING)?

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) is aggressively expanding in international and domestic markets. In February, management reaffirmed a long-term vision of reaching 10,000 restaurants globally. With only 3,000 units currently open, institutional investors see a massive white space for growth. The Small Box model of the firm, high delivery/carryout mix, allows for some of the best cash-on-cash returns in the fast-casual industry, which top-tier funds have historically rewarded. Piper Sandler recently upgraded the stock to Overweight, signaling to the market that the risk-reward profile has become highly attractive for long-term holders at these lower levels.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of WING as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WING and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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