3 Fast Food Stocks That Won't Give You Indigestion Right Now

Industry Overview - U.S. fast food chain sales increased by only 3.1% last year, lagging behind the 4.01% menu-price inflation rate and the 1.2% growth in food-at-home sales [3] - The fast food industry is facing challenges as chain sales have not kept pace with economic growth, indicating potential issues for the sector [2] Company Performance - Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, reported a 3% sales decline in Q1 2025 [4] - Chipotle experienced its worst quarterly numbers since the pandemic in the first three months of 2025 [4] - Krispy Kreme shares have dropped over 68% year-to-date due to losing its McDonald's distribution deal [10] - Cava Group shares were down 37% earlier in the year but have recovered to a negative 21% year-to-date [10] - Chipotle shares are down over 9% year-to-date, primarily due to weaker sales and profit growth [10] - Wendy's shares have slipped over 33% year-to-date, reflecting ongoing same-store sales weakness [10] Investment Opportunities - McDonald's is trading around $300 per share, with a target price of $345, supported by new value deals [11] - Shake Shack has gained 69.3% over the past three months, reporting $320.9 million for its most recent quarter, up 10.5% year-over-year [15][16] - Wingstop has seen its share price rise by 10% year-to-date and nearly 40% over the past three months, with 21 consecutive years of same-store sales growth [18][19] Consumer Sentiment - 78% of U.S. consumers view fast food as a "luxury," and about 50% consider it a budget buster due to lower household savings [5]