NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNUT). Shareholders who purchased shares of DNUT during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/krispy-kreme-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=153452&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: February ...

In the world of coffee retailers, Starbucks Corp. NASDAQ: SBUX has long been the name to beat. As of the first quarter of 2025, the coffeehouse giant held just under 30% of market share, far ahead of its closest competitor, McDonald's Corp. NYSE: MCD, at under 21%. Indeed, few other companies focused on coffee have even made it into the top 15 for market share within the coffee industry. After Starbucks and McDonald's, the list is populated mainly by other restaurant companies.Get Starbucks alerts:Luckin Co ...

Core Insights - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed a new franchise agreement and secured a prime real estate location in Toronto, marking the third operational brand in a high-potential neighborhood [1][4] - The new location will feature iQ Food Co., a Toronto-based QSR known for its healthy and clean-eating dishes, and is expected to open in late Q3 2025 [1][10] - The company aims to expand iQ Food Co. significantly, with plans for 65 new locations across Canada, including 20 in Alberta, 25 in Ontario, and 20 in British Columbia [5][9] Expansion Strategy - The acquisition of iQ Food Co. was completed on September 18, 2024, when the brand operated four locations, and since then, the company has rapidly scaled the business [3][7] - The signing of the franchise agreement represents a 75% increase in unit count for iQ, with expectations to double system sales within 12 months of acquisition [7][9] - Happy Belly currently has 551 contractually committed retail franchise locations in various stages of planning, construction, and operation, with ongoing efforts to expand this pipeline into 2025 and 2026 [9][12] Market Position - iQ Food Co. has established itself as a leader in the premium healthy eating category, strategically located in urban and business districts, catering to health-conscious customers [7][10] - The brand is also expanding its catering services to reach a broader audience, enhancing brand awareness and customer loyalty [7][10] - The company emphasizes disciplined, organic expansion with a focus on key urban markets across Canada [7][9]

Group 1 - Darden Restaurants, Inc. is set to release its fourth-quarter financial results on June 20, with expected earnings of $2.96 per share, an increase from $2.65 per share in the same quarter last year [1] - The company projects quarterly revenue of $3.26 billion, up from $2.96 billion a year earlier [1] - In the third quarter, Darden reported revenue growth of 6.2% year-on-year to $3.158 billion, which was below the analyst consensus estimate of $3.215 billion [2] Group 2 - Analyst ratings for Darden Restaurants show varied opinions, with Wells Fargo maintaining an Equal-Weight rating and increasing the price target from $200 to $225 [5] - Evercore ISI Group maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $230 to $250 [5] - UBS maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $225 to $245, while Jefferies upgraded the stock from Underperform to Hold and raised the price target from $165 to $210 [5]

Core Viewpoint - Diversified Royalty Corp. has acquired the trademarks and certain intellectual property from Cheba Hut Franchising, Inc. for US$36 million, adding a ninth royalty stream to its portfolio, which is expected to enhance its revenue and tax position [1][4][10]. Acquisition Overview - The acquisition includes Cheba Hut's worldwide trademarks and certain intellectual property rights for a purchase price of US$36 million, funded through various financial instruments including an amended acquisition facility and new credit facilities [4][14][15]. - Following the acquisition, DIV licensed the Cheba Rights back to Cheba Hut for 50 years, with an initial royalty payment of US$4 million per annum, which will increase annually based on a fixed rate or U.S. CPI [5][6][8]. Financial Impact - The acquisition is projected to increase DIV's tax pools by approximately CAD$51 million, totaling around CAD$424 million, which can be depreciated over time to reduce cash taxes [6]. - The initial annual royalty revenue from Cheba Hut represents approximately 7% of DIV's pro-forma adjusted revenue [8][10]. Company Growth and Performance - Cheba Hut operates 77 fast casual, toasted sub sandwich restaurants in the U.S., with system sales of US$149 million and a same-store sales growth (SSSG) of 5% in 2024, forecasting over US$187 million in system sales for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 [7][8]. - The acquisition aligns with DIV's strategy of acquiring royalties from diverse, proven multi-location businesses, enhancing its revenue streams and market presence in the U.S. [10][11]. Dividend Policy - DIV's board has approved a 10% increase in its annualized dividend from CAD$0.25 to CAD$0.275 per share, effective July 1, 2025, with a pro-forma payout ratio estimated at approximately 94.9% [17][8]. Financing and Credit Facilities - DIV amended its Acquisition Facility to increase its size from CAD$50 million to CAD$70 million, extending the maturity date, which supports the funding of the acquisition without the need for equity raises [13][15]. - The financing structure includes a combination of cash on hand, drawn amounts from credit facilities, and secured loans, ensuring a robust financial strategy for the acquisition [14][15]. Strategic Partnerships - The partnership with Cheba Hut is viewed as beneficial, allowing Cheba Hut to maintain control over its operations while providing DIV with a stable revenue stream through royalties [10][12]. - The management of both companies expresses confidence in the long-term growth potential of Cheba Hut, indicating a strong alignment of interests [10][12].

Investors might want to bet on Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and ...

Core Viewpoint - Shake Shack (SHAK) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive outlook for the company's stock price [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, influencing their buying and selling actions, which in turn affects stock prices [4]. Shake Shack's Earnings Outlook - The recent upgrade for Shake Shack reflects an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to drive stock appreciation [5]. - Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Shake Shack, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 3.2% over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Shake Shack's upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Brett Schulman, Cava co-founder and CEO, joins ‘Money Movers’ to react to a weaker-than-expected retail sales number, and to share his outlook on the consumer and inflation. ...

Core Insights - Dutch Bros Inc. (BROS) is experiencing rapid expansion supported by strategic investments in real estate, development, and construction [1][3] - The company reported a 29% year-over-year increase in total revenues for Q1 2025, reaching $355.2 million, driven by new shop openings and improved productivity [2][9] - Dutch Bros aims to open at least 160 new shops in 2025 and targets a total of 2,029 shops by 2029, supported by a total addressable market of 7,000 shops [4][9] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Dutch Bros achieved a system same-shop sales growth of 4.7%, alongside steady transaction gains [2][9] - Earnings estimates for 2025 remain unchanged at 61 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 24.5% [11] - The stock has increased by 35.2% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 0.1% [8] Expansion Strategy - The company is focusing on long-term growth through disciplined development and a strong real estate pipeline [3][4] - Dutch Bros opened 30 new shops in Q1 2025 and plans to increase the opening rate in the second half of the year [3] - The company's disciplined approach to development and strong unit economics are expected to support long-term value creation [5] Market Position - Dutch Bros is trading at a premium with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 6.64X, significantly above the industry average of 4.04X [14]

Core Insights - CAVA Group has demonstrated strong traffic growth of 7.5% in Q1 2025, leading to a same-restaurant sales increase of 10.8% despite economic uncertainties [1][11] - The company's premium menu items, such as steak and pita chips, are performing well across various income levels, indicating strong brand value [2][3] - CAVA has maintained its full-year guidance for same-restaurant sales growth at 6-8%, opting not to raise prices further to retain customer loyalty [4][11] Traffic and Sales Performance - CAVA's traffic growth is consistent across all geographies and dayparts, with no signs of weakness, even in the lunchtime segment [2][3] - The company is experiencing strong demand for premium add-ons, reinforcing its value proposition in a challenging consumer environment [3][11] Economic Strategies - To mitigate cost pressures, CAVA is implementing productivity improvements and expanding digital tools, which support sustained traffic growth [5] - The company appears well-positioned to navigate macroeconomic challenges through strategic pricing and operational excellence [6] Competitive Landscape - Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is also maintaining strong customer traffic, with positive same-store sales expected [7] - Sweetgreen (SG) has faced softer sales in urban markets but remains optimistic about regaining momentum through innovation [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - CAVA's shares have declined by 36.4% over the past six months, contrasting with a 0.6% rise in the industry [9] - The company has a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 6.57, which is above the industry average, indicating a premium valuation [12] Earnings Estimates - Analysts have revised the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAVA's earnings per share upward by 5.5% in the past 30 days, projecting a year-over-year growth of 38.1% [14]