Jack in the Box stock faces a Zacks Strong Sell downgrade

Published on 10/06/2026 at 16:45 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Jack in the Box stock carries a Hold consensus at USD 17.22 among 18 analysts. Fiscal Q3 EPS beat estimates, but revenue fell 22.6 percent year over year.

JACK, US4663671091, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Jack in the Box stock (ISIN US4663671091) was trading at USD 12.47 on Nasdaq on October 6, 2026 at 10:43 a.m. ET, up 0.86 percent from the previous close. The immediate catalyst is a Zacks Research downgrade to Strong Sell, reported by MarketBeat on September 30, 2026.

Zacks downgrade meets Hold consensus

The downgrade moved the restaurant operator from Hold to Strong Sell in the cited Zacks report. That negative signal contrasts with the wider analyst view: MarketBeat reported a Hold consensus among 18 analysts, including three Buys, 12 Holds and three Sells, with an average 12-month target of USD 17.22.

That target sits 38.1 percent above the October 6 price of USD 12.47. The spread reflects a market weighing turnaround potential against the companys recent operating pressure.

Q3 revenue missed while EPS beat

Jack in the Box reported fiscal Q3 2026 adjusted operating EPS of USD 0.96, above the USD 0.88 consensus cited by MarketBeat. Revenue was USD 257.66 million, below the USD 264.60 million estimate and down 22.6 percent from the prior-year quarter, according to MarketBeat.

The companys fiscal Q3 earnings call added detail. According to Yahoo Finance, same-store sales declined 1.1 percent in fiscal Q3 2026, while restaurant-level margin fell to 17.6 percent from 17.9 percent. Adjusted EBITDA increased to USD 61.2 million from USD 57.1 million, showing that cost control partly offset weaker sales.

Debt and closures shape the turnaround

Management said fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance was USD 225 million to USD 230 million in the earnings call. The company also said total debt stood at USD 1.5 billion at the end of the quarter and net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 6.3 times, down from 6.9 times in the prior quarter.

For investors, the key tension is clear. The consensus target implies upside from USD 12.47, but the latest quarter combined a USD 0.08 adjusted EPS beat with a 22.6 percent revenue decline. That combination leaves execution, same-store sales and debt reduction as the measurable tests for the next report.

Jack in the Box stock trades near USD 12

Jack in the Box stock was trading at USD 12.47 on Nasdaq on October 6, 2026 at 10:43 a.m. ET, with a market capitalization of USD 237.8 million and a 52-week range of USD 8.91 to USD 23.86. Volume stood at 95,115 shares at that time.