Burger King’s U.S. comparable sales climbed in the third quarter as Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) posted slower global growth, while revenue and net income rose from a year earlier.
For the three months ended Sept. 30, 2026, global comparable sales increased 3.8%, down from 4% a year earlier. Burger King’s U.S. figure was 8.4%, compared with 3.2% in the prior-year quarter. System-wide sales across RBI’s franchised and company-run restaurants totaled $12.972 billion, up from $12.282 billion. Their growth on a constant-currency basis was 6.2%, versus 6.9% a year earlier.
RBI’s revenue rose to $2.525 billion from $2.449 billion. Net income from continuing operations reached $704 million, compared with $440 million, and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.54, up from $0.96. The company reported a $133 million income-tax benefit from continuing operations, after a $94 million tax expense in the year-earlier quarter.
The International segment’s comparable sales grew 3.9%, compared with 6.5% a year earlier. International system-wide sales reached $5.893 billion, up from $5.447 billion, with constant-currency growth of 9%. Tim Hortons comparable sales rose 1.5%, while Popeyes comparable sales fell 1.8%; Popeyes had declined 2.4% a year earlier.
RBI said higher system-wide sales, equipment sales to franchisees and commodity prices contributed to revenue growth. Adjusted Operating Income increased to $737 million from $702 million, with organic growth of 6.7%, down from 8.8% a year earlier. RBI attributed part of that increase to tariff refunds and higher system-wide sales, and said it expected organic Adjusted Operating Income growth of 8% in 2026.
More than 95% of RBI’s system-wide restaurants are franchised. The company says sales at franchised restaurants are franchisees’ revenue, not revenue recorded by RBI; system-wide sales also include company-run restaurants.
Dividends and share repurchases had returned $1.3 billion to shareholders year to date, RBI reported. Its board declared a fourth-quarter 2026 dividend of $0.65 per common share and partnership exchangeable unit, payable Jan. 5, 2027, to holders of record Dec. 22, 2026.
