Wingstop (NASDAQ:WING) Stock

Wingstop

Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop is a restaurant operator specializing in indulgent bone-in and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, fries, and, recently, chicken sandwiches. The firm's footprint has grown quickly since its inception, reaching north of 2,560 global stores at the end of 2024. With a 98% franchised model, Wingstop generates the lion share of its revenue from franchise royalties and advertising fees, with the remainder derived from a small footprint of company-owned stores.

Wingstop Inc

Wing Finance

WINGARC1ST INC by WINGARC1ST INC.

WINGS & THINGS INC by Wings & Things, Inc.

WING ON CO INTL LTD by Wing On Co. International Ltd.

Wing On Co International Ltd

WING TAI PROPERTIES LTD by WING TAI PROPERTIES LTD

Wing Tai Properties Ltd

Wing Yip Food Holdings Group Limited - American Depositary Shares

Wing Yip Food Holdings Group Ltd

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>14.2K</td>
<td>67.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>44.0K</td>
<td>14.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/09/25</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$112.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$382.5K</td>
<td>9.5K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$2.0 million</td>
<td>132</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$39.4K</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$445.5K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$35.1K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>549</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>466</td>
<td>429</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on May 2, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $285.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $843.0 per contract. There were 14251 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 67860 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding F (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on May 2, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $28.0 per contract. There were 44069 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14333 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 3 day(s) on May 2, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $47.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $94.0 per contract. There were 1030 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2646 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 10 day(s) on May 9, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $112.0K, with a price of $560.0 per contract. There were 3447 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2641 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 52 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2500 contract(s) at a $31.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $382.5K, with a price of $153.0 per contract. There were 9578 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WING (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 17 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 2000 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $2.0 million, with a price of $1000.0 per contract. There were 132 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2163 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EAT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 17 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 68 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.4K, with a price of $580.0 per contract. There were 23 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2138 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on May 2, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $445.5K, with a price of $297.0 per contract. There were 2444 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1630 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 262 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 46 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.1K, with a price of $765.0 per contract. There were 3791 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 549 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on May 2, 2025. This event was a transfer of 219 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.0K, with a price of $224.0 per contract. There were 466 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 429 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AMZN

SBUX

TSLA

WING

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

UBS analyst Dennis Geiger maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $300 to $255.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

UBS Maintains Neutral on Wingstop, Lowers Price Target to $255

Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho on Wednesday provided a preview of the first quarter for U.S. restaurants.
What Happened: U.S. restaurant companies faced a tough start to 2025, with weaker consumer sentiment, weather impacts and tariff uncertainties affecting performance, except for a few like Brinker International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>).
Although first-quarter softness was expected, risks remain on the downside due to macroeconomic and policy uncertainties, as reflected in Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44996394/chipotle-battles-slumping-sales-but-honey-chicken-boosts-hope-say-analysts">same-store sales growth miss and lowered guidance</a>.
These factors are likely to dominate investor attention during the earnings season, noted the analyst.
Despite no major changes in consumer intent for restaurant spending, recent adjustments to estimates reflect lower macroeconomic forecasts from GS economists, including slower GDP growth and a higher recession probability.
Restaurant sales trends are closely tied to consumer spending, and weaker macro conditions suggest lower comparable store-sales growth in the second half of 2025 and into 2026.
Inflation&#8217;s impact on margins is limited, and there&#8217;s a higher risk to global restaurant development plans, particularly in international markets, which could reduce long-term unit growth, the analyst said.
Economists predict a slowdown in U.S. GDP growth to 0.5% in 2025, down from 2.5% in 2024, with a 45% recession risk, up from 20% earlier in the year due to tightening financial conditions, foreign boycotts, and policy uncertainty.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44977669/pepsico-ceo-warns-of-tariffs-led-increase-in-supply-chain-costs-cuts-annual-profit-outlook">PepsiCo CEO Warns Of Tariffs Led &#8216;Increase In Supply Chain Costs,&#8217; Cuts Annual Profit Outlook</a>
The deceleration in consumer spending and macro headwinds are putting pressure on restaurant top-line growth, with varying impacts across different restaurant types.
Fast food restaurants show the lowest sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions, with higher resiliency compared to fast casual and full-service restaurants, which are more correlated with GDP and consumer discretionary spending.
Recent surveys show no significant shifts in consumer purchase intent for restaurants, with full-service restaurants seeing improvement compared to grocery stores, while limited-service restaurants have contracted in recent months.
What&#8217;s Next: Companies like Wendy&#8217;s Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), Bloomin&#8217; Brands Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLMN#NASDAQ">BLMN</a>), Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>), Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>), Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>), and Jack In The Box Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JACK#NASDAQ">JACK</a>) have higher lease-adjusted net leverage, with Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and Domino&#8217;s facing notable near-term debt maturities.
Slower same-store sales growth and higher build costs are expected to hurt franchisee profitability and reduce demand for new stores.
Many fast food chains anticipate slower unit expansion in 2025, with Jack in The Box planning major cutbacks and closures, while fast casual/casual dining brands remain mostly on track.
Potential U.S. tariffs may raise domestic build costs, while international growth faces challenges from weaker global demand and rising anti-U.S. brand sentiment.
U.S. tariff actions and foreign policy stances have damaged international perceptions of the U.S., raising concerns about reduced demand for American brands.
While it&#8217;s too soon to measure definitive consumer pullback, monitoring sentiment is increasingly important for U.S. brands abroad.
Morning Consult data shows a YTD decline in U.S. favorability across most tracked countries, particularly Canada, Western Europe and Mexico.
Despite rising anti-U.S. sentiment globally, current data indicates no strong link between U.S. tariffs and Chinese consumer attitudes toward U.S. brands.
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Photo: Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Restaurants

General

BLMN

CAKE

JACK

SHAK

TXRH

US Restaurants Face Growth Hurdles As Macro Headwinds Mount, Says Analyst

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $315 to $260.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Wingstop, Lowers Price Target to $260

Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $265 to $242.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Wingstop, Lowers Price Target to $242

TD Cowen analyst Andrew M. Charles expects potential tariffs to impact <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants">new restaurant construction</a> costs more than ongoing operating expenses.
Since only 5% to 20% of cost of goods sold (COGS) typically comes from international sources, the overall COGS impact remains minimal. 
However, restaurants face steep tariffs on Chinese equipment (145%) and other materials like steel (25%) and potentially lumber, which together make up 40% to 50% of total new store construction costs.
Initial estimates indicate a 10% to 15% rise in build-out expenses. However, the projected effect on cash-on-cash returns appears manageable and unlikely to disrupt short- or medium-term development plans. 
Despite this, the analyst says returns would remain attractive. For example, a 40% cash-on-cash return could drop to 35% under current tariff pressures, still maintaining viability for expansion.
Sweetgreen Inc.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SG#NYSE">SG</a>) Infinite Kitchen concept faces elevated exposure to U.S.-China tariffs, as some of its proprietary components are sourced from China. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44897010/chipotle-to-open-first-mexico-restaurant-by-2026">Chipotle To Open First Mexico Restaurant By 2026</a>
While the company disclosed potential build cost increases in its 10-K following the February 4 tariff hike, current 145% tariffs on Chinese imports may drive capital expenditures significantly above the initial $450,000–$550,000 guidance.
The analyst estimates that Infinite Kitchen can boost cash-on-cash (CoC) returns by about 600 basis points in the base case scenario, assuming a $450,000 build cost and a 10% restaurant margin lift. 
Even with build costs climbing as high as $750,000, CoC returns could remain accretive, provided less than half of the component cost is exposed to Chinese tariffs.
A projected 12.5% rise in construction costs would delay free cash flow (FCF) break-even timelines by about a year for several restaurant chains not yet generating positive FCF. 
Companies like Sweetgreen, First Watch Restaurant Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FWRG#NASDAQ">FWRG</a>), and Kura Sushi would see setbacks if they maintain current development plans.
Analysts forecast FWRG reaching FCF profitability in 2029 instead of 2028, while KRUS could be delayed until 2033, up from 2032. 
Although Sweetgreen's target of 2030 remains unchanged, the potential profitability level would be significantly lower due to cost pressures.
Other restaurant operators such as Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BROS#NYSE">BROS</a>), Cava Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>), Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHAK#NYSE">SHAK</a>), and Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) are not expected to face meaningful impacts to their free cash flow forecasts from the projected increase in build costs, noted the analyst.
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</ul>
Photo: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

BROS

CAVA

FWRG

KRUS

Tariff Pressures Could Reshape Restaurant Buildout Economics, Says Analyst

BofA Securities analyst Sara Senatore provides an analysis for restaurant sector performance in the first <a href="https://trello.com/c/f3PFGoRF/331021-restaurants-q1-previewbofa">quarter</a>.
Restaurant demand showed mixed results due to weather and a calendar shift, said the analyst. 
Black Box industry data revealed a deceleration in same-store sales growth (SSSG) across all segments from January to February, but March saw improvement, excluding Fine Dining. 
Restaurant spending growth improved in March, with chain spending recovering from -7.5% in February to -3.5%.
Independent restaurants saw a rise in spending, from -2.7% in February to +1.3%. The rebound was attributed to better weather and the impact of the calendar shift in February. 
In the first quarter, prices for soybeans, wheat and soybean oil continued to deflate, though at a slower rate than in the fourth quarter of FY24. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44897010/chipotle-to-open-first-mexico-restaurant-by-2026">Chipotle To Open First Mexico Restaurant By 2026</a>
Coffee prices surged, increasing by 96.8% year-over-year, up from 56.8% in the fourth quarter. Beef inflation rose to 5.5%, compared to 1.3% in the previous quarter.
Cheese prices decreased by 1.8%, while dairy inflation slowed to 1.3%. Futures markets predict deflation in several commodities in the second quarter of 2025, but coffee, natural gas and beef are expected to see inflation, noted the analyst.
Restaurants index in the S&amp;P 500 is trading at 1.2x forward EPS, below its 5-year, 10-year and 15-year averages of 1.4x.
Industry data indicates a demand recovery in March after weak months in January and February. While consensus expectations for restaurants remain high, first-quarter results may fall short of estimates. 
Investors are focused on April trends and the potential impact of tariffs on consumer sentiment, traffic and COGS inflation.
So, keeping the above points in mind, the analyst has lowered the price targets for Bloomin&#8217; Brands Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLMN#NASDAQ">BLMN</a>), Dutch Bros Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BROS#NYSE">BROS</a>), Cheesecake Factory Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAKE#NASDAQ">CAKE</a>), Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRL#NASDAQ">CBRL</a>), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>), Krispy Kreme Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNUT#NASDAQ">DNUT</a>), Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>), Brinker International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>), Jack In The Box Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JACK#NASDAQ">JACK</a>), McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), Papa John&#8217;s International Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PZZA#NASDAQ">PZZA</a>), Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), Sweetgreen Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SG#NYSE">SG</a>), Shake Shack Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHAK#NYSE">SHAK</a>), Sysco Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYY#NYSE">SYY</a>), Texas Roadhouse Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>), Wendy&#8217;s Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>), Wingstop Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>), and Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>).
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Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rawpixel">Rawpixel.com</a> via Shutterstock

CBRL

DNUT

PZZA

Restaurant Sector Q1 Volatilty From Weather, Inflation — Analyst Lowers Price Targets

Baird analyst David Tarantino maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $375 to $350.

Baird Maintains Outperform on Wingstop, Lowers Price Target to $350

WIIM

Shares of dining and leisure stocks are trading lower as concerns over tariffs and inflation cloud consumer spending outlook.

Wingstop's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NYSE">WING</a>) short percent of float has risen 11.21% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.10 million shares sold short, which is 7.34% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.48 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Wingstop Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743790143_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Wingstop has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Wingstop's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Wingstop's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.07%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Peering Into Wingstop's Recent Short Interest

U.S. stocks settled mixed on Monday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 400 points during the session as investors assessed President Donald Trump's tariff plans. However, the Nasdaq settled lower on Monday as shares of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 1.2% and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) lost 1.7%.
The S&amp;P 500 declined 5.8% in March, recording its biggest monthly decline since December 2022. The Nasdaq dipped 8.2%, while the Dow tumbled 4.2% last month.
Wall Street analysts make new stock picks on a daily basis. Unfortunately for investors, not all analysts have particularly impressive track records at predicting market movements. Even when it comes to one single stock, analyst ratings and price targets can vary widely, leaving investors confused about which analyst&#8217;s opinion to trust.
Benzinga&#8217;s Analyst Ratings API is a collection of the highest-quality stock ratings curated by the Benzinga news desk via direct partnerships with major sell-side banks. Benzinga displays overnight ratings changes on a daily basis three hours prior to the U.S. equity market opening. Data specialists at investment dashboard provider Toggle.ai recently uncovered that the analyst insights Benzinga Pro subscribers and Benzinga readers regularly receive can successfully be used as trading indicators to outperform the stock market.
Top Analyst Picks: Fortunately, any Benzinga reader can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. One of the ways traders can sort through Benzinga&#8217;s extensive database of analyst ratings is by analyst accuracy. Here&#8217;s a look at the most recent stock picks from each of the five most accurate Wall Street analysts, according to Benzinga <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock</a> Ratings.
Analyst: Leo Mariani
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Roth MKM</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 88%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Initiated coverage on Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOC#NYSE">SOC</a>) with a Buy rating and a price target of $30 on March 27. This analyst sees around 18% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 17, Sable Offshore posted a 2024 net loss of $617.3 million.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Jay McCanless
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Wedbush</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 87%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Reiterated an Outperform rating on Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RITM#NYSE">RITM</a>) with a price target of $14 on March 28. This analyst sees around 22% surge in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 6, Rithm Capital reported better-than-expected first-quarter EPS and sales.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Ann Hynes 
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Mizuho</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Neutral rating on Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHC#NASDAQ">ACHC</a>) and slashed the price target from $48 to $37 on March 25. This analyst sees around 21% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 6, Acadia Healthcare announced the pricing of $550 million senior notes due 2033.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Doug Anmuth
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: JP Morgan</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 85%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained an Overweight rating on Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) and increased the price target from $38 to $40 on March 27. This analyst sees around 22% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 26, Chewy reported a fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of 28 cents, up 55.6% year-over-year, compared to the consensus of 5 cents.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Zachary Fadem
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Wells Fargo</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 84%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Initiated coverage on Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with an Overweight rating and a price target of $270 on March 26. This analyst sees around 20% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 19, the company reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 27.4% year-on-year to $161.82 million, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $164.54 million..</li>
</ul>
Read More:
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44561974/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-apple-stock">How To Earn $500 A Month From Apple Stock</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

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Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
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<li>BMO Capital analyst Katja Jancic upgraded the rating for Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and raised the price target from $135 to $145. Steel Dynamics shares closed at $123.97 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STLD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Shane Brett upgraded KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised the price target from $748 to $870. KLA shares closed at $673.70 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KLAC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Andy Barish upgraded the rating for Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) from Hold to Buy and announced a $270 price target. Wingstop shares closed at $224.00 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WING/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying WING stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
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Photo: Shutterstock

Upgrades

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This Wingstop Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 3 Upgrades For Monday

Jefferies analyst Andy Barish upgrades Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) from Hold to Buy and announces $270 price target.

Jefferies Upgrades Wingstop to Buy, Announces $270 Price Target

Wingstop shares are trading higher after Wells Fargo initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and announced a price target of $270.

Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem initiates coverage on Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $270.

Initiation

Wells Fargo Initiates Coverage On Wingstop with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $270

Shares of restaurant companies are trading lower amid recession worries due to uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade policy. President Trump said there is a "period of transition."

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Wingstop.
Looking at options history for Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) we detected 18 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 38% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 61% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $1,514,937 and 11, calls, for a total amount of $387,554.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $195.0 and $280.0 for Wingstop, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Wingstop's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Wingstop's whale activity within a strike price range from $195.0 to $280.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Wingstop Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741377781_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$26.9</td>
<td>$23.7</td>
<td>$26.9</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$1.2M</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">450</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$44.7</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$110.4K</td>
<td align="right">287</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td align="right">126</td>
<td align="right">66</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$16.4</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$42.7K</td>
<td align="right">680</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WING</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$22.6</td>
<td>$20.7</td>
<td>$20.8</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$41.6K</td>
<td align="right">61</td>
<td align="right">275</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Wingstop</h3>
Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop is a restaurant operator specializing in indulgent bone-in and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, fries, and, recently, chicken sandwiches. The firm's footprint has grown quickly since its inception, reaching north of 2,560 global stores at the end of 2024. With a 98% franchised model, Wingstop generates the lion share of its revenue from franchise royalties and advertising fees, with the remainder derived from a small footprint of company-owned stores.
<h3>Wingstop's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 735,572, the WING's price is up by 1.89%, now at $222.41. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 54 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Wingstop</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $368.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for Wingstop, targeting a price of $375. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on Wingstop, maintaining a target price of $350. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Overweight rating for Wingstop, targeting a price of $315. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stephens &amp; Co. keeps a Overweight rating on Wingstop with a target price of $400. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Stephens &amp; Co. continues to hold a Overweight rating for Wingstop, targeting a price of $400. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Wingstop with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Wingstop

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Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $375 to $350.

Stifel Maintains Buy on Wingstop, Lowers Price Target to $350

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Jim Salera maintains Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $400 price target.

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