(Bloomberg) -- Shake Shack Inc. reported fourth-quarter sales that surpassed expectations, signaling that efforts to raise its profile and serve customers faster are paying off.

Same-store sales were up 4.3% in the quarter, the company said Monday in a preliminary update tied to the ICR investor conference. Analysts were expecting about 4%, the high end of an outlook the company had provided in October. Restaurant-level margins of 22.7% were higher than the 22% Shake Shack guided to and analysts were anticipating.

Shares rose as much as 2.2% in Monday in premarket trading in New York. The company’s shares rose 75% in 2024, compared to 6.8% for the S&P Small Cap 600 Index.

For 2025, Shake Shack forecasts revenue of as much as $1.5 billion and same-store sales growth of approximately 3%, both ahead of analysts expectations, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

Over the long term, the burger chain sees its footprint growing to more than 1,500 company-operated locations. The company currently has more than 550 locations, comprised of both company-operated and licensed restaurants.

Shake Shack is spending more on ads in a bid to generate hype as it expands, while also seeking to entice diners with limited-time offers such as a black truffle burger. 

The chain has also been working to boost restaurant-level margins, a measure of profitability. Chief Executive Officer Rob Lynch, who joined from Papa John’s International Inc. in May, has said the company is negotiating better prices with suppliers and rolling out productivity measures such as improved labor scheduling to reduce wait times.

Shake Shack is expected to release full fourth-quarter results in mid-February. 

(Updates shares and with details in the fourth and fifth paragraphs.)

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