Ringer Hut Q1 Operating Profit Jumps 51% to ¥599m as Champon Chain Sales Rise 2.9%

First-quarter net sales rose 2.9% to ¥11,439 million and operating profit surged 51.0% to ¥599 million as margins recovered across Ringer Hut's Nagasaki champon noodle chain and its Hama-katsu tonkatsu restaurants. Ordinary profit climbed 14.9% to ¥527 million and net profit attributable to owners advanced 6.7% to ¥342 million, though management left its full-year forecasts unchanged.

A Ringer Hut champon noodle restaurant storefront Ringer Hut Co., Ltd. · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Ringer Hut Co., Ltd. (TSE: 8200) reported consolidated first-quarter results for the three months to May 31, 2026 (Q1 of the fiscal year ending February 28, 2027) under Japanese GAAP. Net sales rose 2.9% year-on-year to ¥11,439 million from ¥11,117 million, while operating profit jumped 51.0% to ¥599 million from ¥397 million. Ordinary profit advanced 14.9% to ¥527 million from ¥459 million, and net profit attributable to owners of the parent rose 6.7% to ¥342 million from ¥321 million. Basic earnings per share improved to ¥13.23 from ¥12.40.

Margin recovery outpaces a modest top line

Ringer Hut operates the "Ringer Hut" chain, best known for Nagasaki-style champon and sara-udon noodles, alongside the "Hama-katsu" tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant brand. Sales growth of 2.9% was modest, but the standout was profitability: the operating margin widened to 5.2% from about 3.6% a year earlier as the company recovered ground on food and labour costs, lifting operating profit by more than half. The far slower rise in ordinary profit — up 14.9% versus operating profit's 51.0% — reflects a heavier drag from non-operating items than in the prior-year quarter.

Balance sheet

Total assets stood at ¥32,712 million at the end of the quarter, with net assets of ¥15,357 million and an equity ratio of 46.9%. Net assets per share were ¥592.65, leaving the restaurant operator on a stable financial footing as it works through its network of champon and tonkatsu outlets.

Dividend held at ¥13.00

Ringer Hut kept its dividend plan unchanged, guiding to an interim payout of ¥6.00 and a year-end payout of ¥7.00 for a full-year dividend of ¥13.00 per share, in line with the prior year.

Full-year guidance unchanged — why net profit is guided lower

Management left its FY2/2027 forecasts intact. For the full year it still expects net sales of ¥47,300 million (+4.9%), operating profit of ¥2,200 million (+55.1%), ordinary profit of ¥2,040 million (+27.6%) and net profit of ¥1,200 million (-30.5%), for EPS of ¥46.31. The half-year plan calls for sales of ¥23,170 million (+3.4%) and operating profit of ¥900 million (+13.9%). The apparent contradiction — sharply higher operating profit but a 30.5% fall in net profit — stems from the prior year having included a one-off gain that flattered the bottom line; on an operating and ordinary basis, both of which strip out that item, the company is guiding to firmly higher earnings.

Ringer Hut Co., Ltd. — Q1 FY2/2027 Key Financials (J-GAAP, consolidated)
MetricQ1 FY2/2027Q1 FY2/2026YoY
Net sales (¥m)11,43911,117+2.9%
Operating profit (¥m)599397+51.0%
Ordinary profit (¥m)527459+14.9%
Net profit (¥m)342321+6.7%
Basic EPS (¥)13.2312.40+6.7%
Total assets (¥m)32,712
Equity ratio46.9%
Annual dividend per share (¥)13.0013.00
FY2/2027 net sales guidance (¥m)47,300+4.9%
FY2/2027 operating profit guidance (¥m)2,200+55.1%
FY2/2027 net profit guidance (¥m)1,200-30.5%

JapanStockPulse provides informational content only and does not constitute investment advice. Figures are taken from the company's published earnings short report and may be subject to subsequent revision.