Opened 102 restaurants in 2025 and expects to open 105 to 115 restaurants in 2026
Total Capital Expenditures in 2026 are expected to be $275 million to $325 million
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ARCO) (“Arcos Dorados” or the “Company”), Latin America’s largest restaurant chain and the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, today provided guidance for restaurant openings and total capital expenditures for 2026.
“Arcos Dorados remains committed to capturing the full potential of the McDonald’s brand in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last year, we opened 102 modern restaurants with a focus on exceeding guest expectations at each new location. This year, we will continue to pursue unit growth and the modernization of our existing restaurants with a heightened focus on optimizing our development process. Several initiatives are underway to enhance the return on our capital investments, and we look forward to providing additional detail as the year progresses,” said Luis Raganato, Arcos Dorados’ Chief Executive Officer.
2025 Actual and 2026 Guidance – Restaurant Openings and Capital Expenditures
Restaurant Openings
The Company opened 102 restaurants in 2025, including 88 free-standing units. There were 64 openings in Brazil, 23 in the South Latin American Division, and 15 in the North Latin American Division. The total included 73 company-operated locations.
For 2026, the Company expects to open 105 to 115 restaurants across its operating footprint.
Capital Expenditures
Total capital expenditures in 2025 are estimated to have been towards the low end of last year’s guidance range of $300 to $350 million.
For 2026, the Company projects total capital expenditures of $275 million to $325 million, including all openings, modernizations, optimizations and maintenance capital expenditures of the restaurant portfolio, as well as the Company’s investments in its information technology systems and capabilities. The Company expects to fund these investments with cash generated from operations and cash on hand.
Follow us on: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube
About Arcos Dorados
Arcos Dorados is the world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and sub-franchise McDonald’s restaurants in 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories. Arcos Dorados and its sub-franchisees together operate more than 2,500 restaurants and have more than 100,000 employees (as of 12/31/2025). The Company is committed to the development of the communities in which it operates by providing young people their first formal job opportunities and utilizing its Recipe for the Future to achieve a positive environmental impact. Arcos Dorados is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). To learn more about the Company, please visit the Investors section of our website: https://ir.arcosdorados.com/.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements about the Company’s business prospects, its ability to attract customers, its expectation for revenue generation, its return on investment, and its outlook and guidance for 2026. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in Arcos Dorados' business. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, Arcos Dorados' business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Arcos Dorados, which could result in Arcos Dorados' expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Arcos Dorados. Additional information relating to the uncertainties affecting Arcos Dorados' business is contained in its filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Arcos Dorados does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128770707/en/
Contacts
Investor Relations Contact
Dan Schleiniger
VP of Investor Relations
Arcos Dorados
daniel.schleiniger@mcd.com.uy
Media Contact
David Grinberg
VP of Corporate Communications
Arcos Dorados
david.grinberg@mcd.com.uy