Guzman y Gomez (ASX:GYG) shares were in focus on Friday 9 October 2026 after the Mexican-inspired fast-food chain reported an 18.8% rise in network sales to A$387.5 million for the September quarter. It was GYG’s first quarterly update since closing its US business, and the company also extended its on-market share buy-back to October 2027.
What GYG reported for Q1 FY27
According to its quarterly sales update, for the three months to 30 September:
- Network sales: A$387.5 million, up 18.8% from A$326.3 million
- Australia: A$363.0 million, up from A$305.5 million
- Asia: A$24.5 million, up from A$20.8 million
- Comparable sales growth: 7.1%, up from 4.0% a year earlier
- Restaurants: 286 in total, including 258 in Australia, up from 227
GYG opened three new Australian restaurants in the quarter, and 40 restaurants were trading 24/7 by the end of September.
The first quarter without the US
GYG closed its eight Chicago-area restaurants in May 2026, ending its US expansion. The US business is now reported as discontinued operations and is excluded from the quarterly figures.
That exit was costly. In its FY26 results, GYG reported a statutory loss of A$67.3 million from the discontinued US operations, including one-off impairments and closure costs. It said exit costs came in at the lower end of its guided US$30 million to US$40 million range.
The company keeps buying its own shares
GYG spent A$100 million on its on-market buy-back during FY26. In August, the board approved up to a further A$100 million.
On Friday, GYG lodged a buy-back notice extending the program’s end date from 23 October 2026 to 22 October 2027. This is not new money. It gives GYG another year to complete the up to A$100 million program already approved.
When a company buys back its own shares, the board is putting company cash into the stock. Maas Group, which has also been buying back shares after its Firmus-driven sell-off, is another example where the timing and pace of purchases are worth tracking through ASX notices.
FY27 outlook reaffirmed
GYG reaffirmed its FY27 guidance:
- Mid-single-digit comparable sales growth
- Underlying EBITDA of 6.7% to 6.9% of network sales, up from 6.2% in FY26
- 35 new Australian restaurants, with about 12 expected in the December quarter
What GYG investors should watch
- December quarter openings, with about 12 new restaurants planned
- Comparable sales, which ran at 7.1% in Q1, ahead of the mid-single-digit full-year guidance
- Buy-back notices, which show how quickly GYG is working through the program
- Director trades in Appendix 3Y notices
Bottom line
Guzman y Gomez delivered 18.8% network sales growth in its first quarter as an Australia and Asia business, reaffirmed its FY27 targets and gave itself another year to complete its up to A$100 million buy-back. The US exit is behind it, and the focus now is on whether Australian growth can keep this pace.
