Five Guys in 2026: IPO Outlook + Backdoor Routes
No, Five Guys is not publicly traded. It’s privately owned, and the company says it does not currently plan to go public. For most retail investors, the realistic path is to watch for an IPO or look at public restaurant peers like MCD, QSR, and WEN.
Five Guys is one of the most recognizable burger chains in the U.S. and abroad, which is exactly why investors keep asking whether they can buy the stock. The brand is still expanding, still testing menu and packaging changes, and still making news — but it remains a private company, which makes direct retail ownership a non-starter today.
That gap between brand visibility and investability is what makes Five Guys interesting. It’s a large, founder-family-controlled restaurant business with more than 1,800 locations worldwide, roughly 50,000 employees, and no public ticker. Here’s what Five Guys does, whether it’s public, and the realistic ways investors can get exposure to the same theme.
What is Five Guys?
Five Guys is a fast-casual / quick-service restaurant chain built around burgers and fries. Its menu also includes hot dogs, sandwiches, milkshakes, and peanuts, with the company emphasizing fresh burgers, fresh-baked buns, and a simple menu. The business was founded in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell and their sons.
The company’s media fact sheet lists its headquarters at 1940 Duke St., 5th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. It says Five Guys has approximately 50,000 employees, more than 1,800 locations worldwide, and 1,500 units in development. It also says the company works with 30 potato growers in North America. I did not find an official current revenue figure in the company’s primary materials.
