-- Chipotle Stock Could Benefit from the Company's 'Conservative' 2026 Targets [Major Indexes Slide as Tech Stocks Tumble][Palantir Stock Soars on Strong Earnings, Outlook][Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government] [Where Are Gold and Silver Prices Headed Next?]- Top StoriesShares of Chipotle have lost about a third of their value over the past 12 months.Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesClose### Key Takeaways- Some analysts say the company, which has seen its shares fall over the past 12 months, is se ...

Core Insights - Yum China reported a 3% increase in same-store sales and a 7% growth in system sales for the fourth quarter of 2025, with operating profit rising by 25% [1][5] - For the full year 2025, operating profit rose by 11%, and diluted EPS increased by 8%, or 14% when excluding mark-to-market and foreign exchange impacts [1][3] Fourth Quarter Highlights - Total revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 9% year-over-year to $2.8 billion, or a 7% increase excluding foreign exchange [5][7] - The company opened a record 587 net new stores in the fourth quarter, with 36% opened by franchisees [5][7] - Operating profit for the fourth quarter was $187 million, with an operating profit margin of 6.6%, an increase of 80 basis points year-over-year [5][7] Full Year Highlights - Total revenues for the full year reached $11.8 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, also a 4% increase excluding foreign exchange [5][7] - The company opened 1,706 net new stores in 2025, with 31% opened by franchisees, bringing the total store count to 18,101 [5][7] - Operating profit for the full year was $1.3 billion, with an operating profit margin of 10.9%, up 60 basis points year-over-year [5][7] Capital Returns to Shareholders - Yum China plans to return $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2026, which includes a 21% increase in cash dividends to $0.29 per share [11][9] - In 2025, the company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through $353 million in cash dividends and $1.14 billion in share repurchases [11][9] KFC Performance - KFC's system sales grew by 8% year-over-year, with same-store sales increasing by 3% [12][10] - Delivery sales for KFC grew by 34% year-over-year, contributing approximately 53% of total company sales [12][10] - Operating profit for KFC in the fourth quarter was $223 million, with an operating profit margin of 10.5%, an increase of 60 basis points year-over-year [12][10] Pizza Hut Performance - Pizza Hut's system sales grew by 6% year-over-year, with same-store sales increasing by 1% [18][13] - Delivery sales for Pizza Hut grew by 33% year-over-year, contributing approximately 54% of total company sales [18][13] - Operating profit for Pizza Hut in the fourth quarter was $20 million, with an operating profit margin of 3.7%, an increase of 110 basis points year-over-year [18][13] Future Outlook - The company targets to exceed 20,000 stores by 2026 and aims for more than 30,000 stores by 2030, utilizing an equity-and-franchise hybrid model [6][16] - Yum China remains committed to executing its RGM 3.0 strategy, focusing on innovation and operational efficiency [6][16]

If you liked your Costco stock, you can keep your Costco stock -- even after last night's report.Costco Wholesale (COST 3.05%) slid 2.6% through 10:05 a.m. ET Thursday after reporting same-store sales (SSS) for November and Q1 last night -- and yet, the news wasn't bad. For the four weeks ended Nov. 30, Costco grew its net sales 8.1% to $23.6 billion. Sales for the 12 weeks preceding that date were $66 billion, up 8.2%. And sales for the entire first fiscal quarter 2026 were $72 billion -- also up 8.2%. Cos ...

Core Insights - Domino's Pizza Inc. has maintained its full-year 2025 guidance after reporting third-quarter earnings and sales that exceeded expectations, driven by successful promotional campaigns and expanding margins [1] Financial Performance - TD Cowen analysts have maintained a Buy rating but adjusted the price forecast from $510 to $500, reflecting a balanced view on the company's commitment to achieving over 3% same-store sales (SSS) in 2026 while acknowledging a general softening of fourth-quarter trends [2] - U.S. same-store sales grew by 5.2% in the third quarter, primarily driven by increased traffic, with carry-out SSS rising by 8.3% and delivery increasing by 2.5% [3][8] - TD Cowen's financial model projects 2025 revenue of $4,921.9 million, a slight decrease from the previous estimate of $4,938.3 million, and forecasts 2026 revenues of $5,174.4 million, down from $5,193.3 million [5] - BTIG analysts reiterated their Buy rating with a $530 price forecast, anticipating continued market share gains and positive comparable store sales despite broader consumer weakness [7] Earnings Estimates - TD Cowen raised its 2025 EPS forecast to $17.45 from $17.35 and its 2026 EPS estimate to $19.49 from $19.39 [6] - BTIG has modestly raised its fiscal year 2025 EPS estimate to $17.47 from $17.38 and its fiscal year 2026 EPS forecast to $19.25 from $18.93 [11] Market Trends - BTIG anticipates that domestic comparable store sales for the fourth quarter may be slightly lower than the third quarter, potentially resulting in a modest miss against targets [9] - The firm estimates that GLP-1 drug usage may be reducing industry sales by 50-100 basis points this year, particularly among lower-income consumers [10]

Core Insights - Domino's Pizza reported earnings per share (EPS) of $4.08, exceeding the estimated $3.99, driven by popular menu items and promotions [2][6] - The company's revenue was $1.15 billion, falling short of the expected $1.54 billion, despite strong U.S. sales [2][6] - U.S. same-store sales increased by 5.2%, outperforming analyst predictions of approximately 4.3% [3][6] Financial Performance - EPS of $4.08 was achieved due to the popularity of stuffed crust pizza and successful promotions [2][6] - Revenue of $1.15 billion did not meet the expected $1.54 billion, indicating challenges in overall sales despite strong performance in specific areas [2][6] - U.S. same-store sales growth of 5.2% was attributed to the "Best Deal Ever" promotion and the success of new menu items [3] Growth Prospects - CFO Sandeep Reddy expressed optimism for achieving 3% U.S. comparable sales growth by 2026, supported by gains in the quick-service pizza category and partnerships [4] - International same-store sales growth is expected to be between 1% and 2% for the year [4] - The company opened 214 new stores, contributing to a 6.3% increase in global retail sales [5] Market Position - Domino's maintains a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 24.34 and a price-to-sales ratio of about 2.96, indicating a strong market position [5] - The company declared a dividend of $1.74, enhancing shareholder value [5] - Despite a negative debt-to-equity ratio of -1.29, Domino's continues to be a significant player in the quick-service pizza industry [5]

Core Insights - NRSInsights reported a 3.5% year-over-year increase in same-store sales for June 2025, following a 4.9% increase in May 2025 [5][11] - The NRS retail network includes approximately 36,600 active terminals across 31,700 independent retailers, primarily serving urban consumers [2][15] - The three-month rolling average of same-store sales increased by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, marking the highest growth in the past 12 months [11] Sales Performance - Same-store sales remained unchanged from May 2025, which had a 3.8% increase compared to April 2025 [6] - Units sold increased by 3.0% year-over-year, with a 0.7% increase compared to May 2025 [6] - Average prices for the top 500 items purchased rose by 2.7% year-over-year, a slight decrease from the 2.9% increase in May 2025 [6] Transaction Data - The number of baskets (transactions) per store was unchanged year-over-year, but increased by 0.6% compared to May 2025 [6] - NRS processed $2.1 billion in sales during June 2025, representing a 15% year-over-year increase across 140 million transactions [15] Market Trends - Categories such as modern oral nicotine, energy drinks, prepared cocktails, and chocolate showed significant growth, with chocolate alone increasing by 8% year-over-year [12] - Some traditionally seasonal categories, like sports drinks and frozen novelties, experienced growth compared to the previous month but declined compared to June 2024 [12] Comparative Analysis - Over the past twelve months, the U.S. Commerce Department's Advance Monthly Retail Trade data outpaced NRS's three-month moving average same-store sales by an average of 0.1% [9] - The NRSInsights data is based on approximately 220 million transactions processed through 22,600 stores for June 2025 comparisons [13]

Core Insights - NRSInsights reported a 4.3% year-over-year increase in same-store sales for April 2025, indicating strong consumer spending resilience [5][11] - The NRS retail network includes approximately 35,600 active terminals across 31,000 independent retailers, primarily serving urban consumers [2][16] Sales Performance - Same-store sales rose 0.6% month-over-month from March 2025, which had a 5.3% increase compared to February 2025 [5] - For the three months ending April 30, 2025, same-store sales increased 2.8% compared to the same period last year [5] - Units sold increased by 2.5% year-over-year but decreased by 0.8% compared to March 2025 [5] - The average price of the top 500 items purchased increased by 2.3% year-over-year, up from 2.1% in March 2025 [6] Transaction Metrics - The number of baskets (transactions) per store increased by 1.3% year-over-year and by 2.7% compared to March 2025 [5] - NRS processed $1.9 billion in sales during April 2025, representing a 17% year-over-year increase across 133 million transactions [16] Market Comparison - Over the past twelve months, NRS's three-month moving average same-store sales outperformed the U.S. Commerce Department's data by an average of 0.5% [9] - In March 2025, the U.S. Commerce Department's three-month rolling average increase exceeded that of NRS by 1.6% [9] Commentary on Trends - The increase in same-store sales was driven by strong performance in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories, with tequila and ready-to-drink cocktails showing significant growth [11][12] - Non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks and energy drinks led sales, while sports drinks saw a slight decline [12] - Candy sales remained flat overall, with chocolate sales increasing [12]

Core Insights - NRSInsights reported a year-over-year increase in same-store sales of 2.3% for March 2025, down from a 3.5% increase in February 2025 [6][12] - The NRS retail network includes approximately 35,200 active terminals across 30,700 independent retailers, primarily serving urban consumers [2][18] Sales Performance - Same-store sales increased by 5.3% compared to February 2025, which had a 6.1% increase from January 2025 [7] - For the three months ending March 31, 2025, same-store sales rose by 2.9% compared to the same period last year [7] - Units sold increased by 2.4% year-over-year, with a 4.9% increase compared to February 2025 [7] - Average prices for the top 500 items purchased rose by 2.1% year-over-year, slightly lower than the 2.3% increase in February 2025 [7] Transaction Metrics - Baskets (transactions) per store increased by 0.2% year-over-year and by 6.2% compared to February 2025 [7] - The NRS network processed $2.0 billion in sales during March 2025, representing a 16% year-over-year increase [18] Category Performance - Strong sales were noted in categories such as Energy Beverages, Soft Drinks, and Modern Oral Smokeless Tobacco, while Chocolates and Gum also showed positive growth [12][13] - Categories with decreased sales included Beer, Whiskey, and Salty Snacks, with notable declines in Tortilla Chips and Potato Chips [14] Comparative Analysis - Over the past twelve months, the NRS network's three-month moving average same-store sales outperformed the U.S. Commerce Department's data by an average of 0.8% [10] - In March, the U.S. Commerce Department's three-month rolling average increase exceeded that of the NRS network by 0.8% [10]

Core Insights - NRSInsights reported a year-over-year increase in same-store sales of 2.3% for March 2025, a decrease from the 3.5% increase in February 2025 [6][11] - The NRS retail network includes approximately 35,200 active terminals across 30,700 independent retailers, primarily serving urban consumers [2][17] - The data indicates a general cooling of inflationary pressures, with dollar sales increases being geographically widespread [11] Sales Performance - Same-store sales increased 5.3% compared to February 2025, while units sold increased 2.4% year-over-year [6][7] - For the three months ending March 31, 2025, same-store sales rose 2.9% compared to the same period last year [7][16] - Average prices for the top 500 items purchased increased by 2.1% year-over-year, slightly lower than the 2.3% increase in February 2025 [6][12] Transaction Metrics - Units sold increased by 4.9% compared to February 2025, while baskets (transactions) per store increased by 0.2% year-over-year [7][12] - Baskets per store saw a significant increase of 6.2% compared to the previous month [7][12] Category Performance - Strong sales were noted in categories such as Energy Beverages, Soft Drinks, and Modern Oral Smokeless Tobacco, while Chocolates also performed well [11][12] - Categories experiencing decreased sales included Beer, Whiskey, and various snacks, with notable exceptions like Tequila showing gains [12][13] Comparative Data - Over the past twelve months, the NRS network's three-month moving average same-store sales outpaced the U.S. Commerce Department's data by an average of 0.8% [9] - In March, the U.S. Commerce Department's three-month rolling average increase exceeded that of the NRS network by 0.8% [9] Transaction Volume - In March 2025, NRS' POS terminals processed $2.0 billion in sales, representing a 16% year-over-year increase across 134 million transactions [17]

Core Insights - Domino's Pizza, Inc. reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results with year-over-year increases in both revenue and earnings, but these figures fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] U.S. Same-Store Sales - U.S. retail sales grew by 2.3% in the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by net store expansion and a 0.4% rise in same-store sales, with carryout sales increasing by 3.2% while delivery sales declined by 1.4% [2] - Pricing adjustments contributed 2.3% to sales, with California experiencing high-single-digit price increases, and Uber transactions accounted for 2.7% of total sales during the quarter [2] - The model had predicted a 4% increase in U.S. same-store sales compared to the previous year [2] Sales Trends - The shift towards carryout, which typically has a lower average ticket than delivery, partially offset overall gains, with delivery accounting for 46% of total transactions and 57% of sales, while carryout made up 54% of transactions and 43% of sales [3] - For the full year, carryout sales increased by 6.2%, while delivery sales saw modest growth of 1.1% [3] International Same-Store Sales - International same-store sales, excluding foreign currency translation, rose by 2.7% compared to 0.1% in the prior-year quarter, with significant improvements in Asia, particularly in India and Europe [4] Company Guidance - Domino's aims to drive market share growth in 2025, expecting global retail sales growth to align with 2024 levels and U.S. same-store sales to meet its long-term target of 3% annual growth [5] - The company anticipates stronger performance in the latter half of the year due to initiatives like expanded aggregator partnerships and enhanced loyalty programs [5] Expansion Plans - Domino's plans to open more than 175 net U.S. locations while maintaining a disciplined international growth strategy, focusing on innovation, operational efficiency, and value-driven promotions [6]