After trailing Tim Hortons throughout 2024 and 2025, Burger King has become RBI’s fastest-growing major North American brand for two straight quarters, even though Tim Hortons remains far more profitable.
Restaurant Brands International reported 8.5% comparable-sales growth at Burger King’s US business in Q2 2026, while Tim Hortons Canada grew just 0.1%, leaving the company’s revamped burger chain to offset near-stagnation at the segment that still produces about 40% of adjusted operating income.
The quarter continued the trend from Q1 2026 when Burger King US posted comparable sales 5.8% versus 1.5% at Tim Hortons Canada. The quarter prior, the coffee chain was at 2.8% vis-a-vis the burger chain’s 2.6%.
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Burger King’s US result accelerated from 1.5% growth a year earlier and more than doubled the roughly 3.5% expected by analysts. Tim Hortons Canada slowed from 3.6% and missed the 1.5% consensus estimate, according to Reuters.
Restaurant Brands reported Q2 revenue of $2.52 billion, up 4.5% from $2.41 billion a year earlier but slightly below the $2.53 billion expected by analysts. Adjusted operating income increased to $715 million from $668 million, while adjusted diluted earnings rose 12.9% to $1.07 per share.
Net income from continuing operations reached $665 million, compared with $264 million last year. The increase included a $73 million income-tax benefit, against an $87 million tax expense in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted net income increased 13.6% to $490 million.
Burger King generated $3.19 billion in system-wide sales, up from $2.95 billion, despite its restaurant count declining to 6,992 from 7,046. Segment adjusted operating income increased 13.2% to $137 million. Restaurant Brands has funded $194 million of the planned $550 million Royal Reset portion of its broader Burger King turnaround program.
Meanwhile, Tim Hortons produced $2.00 billion in system-wide sales, almost unchanged from $1.995 billion a year earlier. Adjusted operating income rose modestly to $287 million from $278 million.
The company’s other businesses produced mixed results. International comparable sales increased 5.5%, while international system-wide sales grew 10.7%. Popeyes US comparable sales fell 5.2%, extending the chicken chain’s recent weakness. Firehouse Subs posted 0.7% US comparable-sales growth, supported by 8.1% net restaurant growth.
Across Restaurant Brands, comparable sales increased 3.8%, up from 2.4% last year, while system-wide sales reached $12.70 billion, compared with $11.85 billion.
Restaurant Brands maintained its target of approximately 8% organic adjusted operating income growth for 2026. Second-quarter organic growth was 6.7%, although the first-half result remained above the target at 8.5%.
