Core Insights - The experiential economy, which thrived post-pandemic, is showing signs of decline as recent data and earnings reports raise concerns about consumer spending and demand [2][20]. Economic Indicators - The labor market is deteriorating, with an average of less than 30,000 net new jobs per month from June to August, and a recent report indicating an average loss of 11,250 jobs per week in October [3][4]. - Inflation is rising, with the consumer price index increasing from 2.3% in April to 3% in September, leading to uncertainty about future Federal Reserve rate cuts [5][6]. Company Performance - Major players in the experiential economy, such as Chipotle, Cava, and Sweet Green, reported disappointing earnings, with younger customers reducing dining out frequency [8]. - Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have seen stock declines of 20% and 16% respectively, despite Royal Caribbean raising its full-year earnings forecast [9][10]. - Live Nation's stock dropped over 10% following a miss in earnings, attributed to weaker concert business and profitability from Ticketmaster [11][12]. - Disney's stock fell nearly 8% after reporting a topline miss and a bottom line beat, indicating challenges in its domestic experiences business [15][16]. Market Sentiment - Investor confidence in the experiential economy is waning, with companies no longer receiving the benefit of the doubt despite management's optimistic outlooks [10][11]. - The overall sentiment is increasingly negative, with concerns about the sustainability of the experiential economy amid weaker macro data and disappointing earnings reports [20][21].

President Donald Trump has signed a funding bill into law, which effectively ended the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. This measure will fund the government’s operations through the end of January. The ending of the shutdown was seen as a prospect for beaten-down restaurant operator Sweetgreen (SG). Citi Research analyst Jon Tower believes there is a chance the stock could skyrocket. Tower believes that with low expectations surrounding SG stock, signs of improving sales data followin ...

Core Insights - First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. will participate in the Stephens Annual Investment Conference on November 18, 2025, to engage with institutional investors and host a fireside chat [1] - The fireside chat will be available for live streaming and will be archived on the company's investor relations website [2] Company Overview - First Watch is recognized as the leading Daytime Dining concept, specializing in made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch with a focus on fresh ingredients [3] - The company follows a "Follow the Sun" culinary philosophy, rotating its chef-driven menu five times a year to highlight seasonal flavors and offering popular dishes such as Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Million Dollar Bacon [3] - First Watch has raised over $1.7 million through donations linked to children's meals served, supporting various community organizations [3] - The company has received numerous accolades, including being voted 2025's 1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards and recognized as the 1 Most Loved Workplace in America for 2024 and 2025 [3] - First Watch operates more than 620 restaurants across 32 states, emphasizing quality, hospitality, and community engagement [3]

You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Restaurant menu prices are coming back down to Earth, a new State of Local Commerce study published by DoorDash says. According to the report, the delivery app’s Restaurant Price Index shows that menu price inflation started off 2024 at nearly 6% and steadied by Q2 2025. By September 2025, year-over-year inflation had slowed to 3.2%.  DoorDash typically uses the price of a cheeseburger as a micro-indicator of menu p ...

Core Insights - Rave Restaurant Group, Inc. (RAVE) shares have increased by 20.6% since the release of Q1 fiscal 2026 results, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 0.8% gain during the same period [1] - The company reported solid year-over-year growth in key financial metrics, with revenue rising 5.3% to $3.2 million and net income increasing 22.6% to $0.6 million [2] - Segment performance showed divergence, with Pizza Inn franchise revenue increasing by 9.4%, while Pie Five franchise revenues declined by 22.7% [3] Financial Performance - Revenue for RAVE increased by 5.3% to $3.2 million from $3.1 million a year earlier, driven by stronger supplier incentives and higher domestic royalties at Pizza Inn [2] - Net income rose by 22.6% to $0.6 million, and diluted earnings per share improved to $0.05 from $0.04 [2] - Operating income jumped 23.5% to $0.8 million, aided by a reduction in general and administrative expenses [2] Segment Analysis - Pizza Inn franchise revenue increased by 9.4%, supported by higher domestic royalties and system-wide retail sales, with comparable store retail sales up 8.1% year over year [3] - Pie Five franchise revenues declined by 22.7%, impacted by a lower unit count and softer comparable sales, with comparable store retail sales down 9.1% [3][4] Key Business Metrics - RAVE marked its 22nd consecutive profitable quarter, with Pizza Inn as the primary growth driver [4] - Total domestic retail sales for Pizza Inn increased by 10.2% year over year, while Pie Five saw an 18.7% decline [4] - Adjusted EBITDA rose to $0.8 million, reflecting a 15.3% increase from the prior year's $0.7 million [5] Management Commentary - CEO Brandon Solano highlighted the success of the Pizza Inn "I$8" promotion and plans for further expansion in January 2026 [6] - CFO Jay Rooney emphasized strong expense discipline and robust same-store performance at Pizza Inn as key contributors to earnings growth [7] Influencing Factors - Pizza Inn's performance benefited from strong promotional execution and resilient customer demand for value offerings, with supplier and distributor incentive revenue increasing by 6.9% to $1.3 million [8] - Pie Five faced challenges from reduced store counts and declining customer traffic, with comparable store retail sales falling to $2.4 million from $2.6 million [9] Cost Trends - General and administrative expenses decreased by 2.9%, while franchise expenses rose by 4.2% due to higher advertising costs [10] - Credit-loss provisions shifted to a $4,000 expense from a recovery the prior year, but the overall impact was immaterial [10] Future Guidance - RAVE did not provide specific financial guidance for future quarters but indicated expectations for moderate unit growth at Pizza Inn and modest declines at Pie Five [11] Other Developments - No acquisitions, divestitures, or restructuring actions were reported during the quarter, and there were no notable corporate changes [12]

Core Viewpoint - Nathan's Famous, Inc. has experienced a decline in stock performance following its earnings announcement, with shares down 9.9% since the release of quarterly results, contrasting with a 0.8% gain in the S&P 500 Index during the same period [1] Financial Performance - In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Nathan's Famous reported an 11.1% increase in revenues to $45.7 million, up from $41.1 million a year earlier, primarily driven by the Branded Product Program [2] - However, income from operations fell 22.1% to $7.5 million from $9.6 million, and net income decreased 13.8% to $5.2 million from $6 million, with diluted earnings per share dropping 14.3% to $1.26 from $1.47 [2] Segment Performance - The Branded Product Program saw revenues rise 18.4% to $29 million from $24.5 million, while product licensing revenue decreased 2.8% to $9.2 million from $9.5 million, and restaurant operations revenue increased 4.9% to $6.8 million from $6.5 million [3] - The Branded Product Program's operating loss was $1.1 million, compared to an operating income of $0.7 million a year earlier, due to a 26.9% increase in the cost of sales [4] Cost Pressures and Profitability - The cost of sales in the Branded Product Program rose significantly, driven by a 20% increase in the average cost per pound of hot dogs, leading to margin compression despite revenue growth [4] - Company-owned restaurants showed better profitability, with sales increasing 5.2% to $5.6 million, and operating income improving 11.9% to $1.9 million [5] Year-to-Date Performance - Year-to-date, the Branded Product Program revenue increased 14.7% to $58.1 million, with hot dog volume up 3% and average selling prices 10% higher, although the average cost per pound of hot dogs was about 16% higher [7] - Franchise-related revenues increased, with franchise restaurant sales rising 5.5% to $38.3 million [8] Management Insights - Management noted ongoing commodity inflation, particularly in beef markets, as a significant factor affecting margins, alongside broader economic factors like inflation and labor cost increases [9] - The importance of licensing partnerships and franchise expansion for long-term growth was emphasized, with the flagship Coney Island locations being key traffic drivers [10] Overall Results and Guidance - The stronger top-line performance was attributed to the Branded Product Program, but significant inflationary pressures on costs led to operating margin compression [11] - Nathan's Famous did not provide formal financial guidance for future periods, maintaining a cautious stance amid ongoing cost pressures and market uncertainties [12] Other Developments - The board declared quarterly dividends of $0.50 per share and a special cash dividend of $2.50 per share, payable in December 2025 [13]

Workers United has launched its strike today at more than 65 stores in over 40 cities after the two sides failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement. The timing is significant. It's Red Cup Day and one of Starbucks's busiest days of the holiday season.The union says more than a thousand workers are set to participate and it is willing to escape as escalate rather. The timing is open-ended. So, there is the potential here for this to stretch.Take a look at all of the unionized stores on this map. The ...

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently put under a microscope. Cramer called it an “early-stage turnaround story,” as he commented: “Alright, next, maybe the most controversial stock in the 500, it’s called Starbucks. This is an early-stage turnaround story under the leadership of the fantastic Brian Niccol. But many investors may have gotten impatient because they don’t recognize that these turnarounds usually take a long time… Starbucks has basically been range-boun ...

Welcome back. Starbucks workers in dozens of cities launching a strike today on one of the most important days of the year for the company. Kate Rogers has that story for us. Morning, Kate. Good morning, Sarah. Workers United has launched its strike today at more than 65 stores in over 40 cities after the two sides failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement. The timing is significant. It's Red Cup Day and one of Starbucks busiest days of the holiday season. The union says more than a thousand workers ...

Welcome back. Starbucks workers in dozens of cities launching a strike today on one of the most important days of the year for the company. Kate Rogers has that story for us. Morning, Kate. Good morning, Sarah. Workers United has launched its strike today at more than 65 stores in over 40 cities after the two sides failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement. The timing is significant. It's Red Cup Day and one of Starbucks busiest days of the holiday season. The union says more than a thousand workers ...