After months of declines, shares of Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN) were rebounding in a big way on Wednesday. The cause: Longtime investor Nelson Peltz said he may soon push for changes at the slumping fast-food giant -- the kinds of changes that could drive the stock higher. It's already working, at least for the moment. As of 1:00 p.m. ET, Wendy's shares were up about 16.8% from Tuesday's closing price. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to b ...

Core Viewpoint - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:CMG) has experienced a 31% decline in share price over the past year, with flat performance year-to-date, prompting analysts to adjust their price targets and ratings [2]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Guggenheim reduced Chipotle's share price target from $37 to $36 while maintaining a Neutral rating, citing that the flat same-store sales growth guidance for 2026 was not reflected in the stock price [2]. - Telsey Advisory lowered its price target from $50 to $48 but kept an Outperform rating, highlighting that menu improvements and marketing initiatives contributed to beating fourth-quarter estimates [2]. Group 2: Market Sentiment and Expectations - Jim Cramer expressed optimism about Chipotle, noting that lowered expectations could lead to better-than-anticipated same-store sales numbers, and mentioned the effectiveness of promotional specials in attracting customers [2][3]. - The company is implementing four special promotions aimed at increasing customer traffic, which Cramer believes will positively impact sales [3].

You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Wingstop reported a second quarter in a row of declining same-store sales for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 27. But despite the 5.8% decline, driven mainly by macroeconomic consumer pressures, the fast-casual chain beat investor expectations and stocks soared on Wednesday.  Overall, in 2025, Wingstop reported 12% systemwide sales growth, offset by a 3% decline in same-store sales. The company is actively executing ...

Shares of Flanigan's Enterprises, Inc. (BDL) have lost 0.9% since the company reported its earnings for the quarter ended Dec. 27, 2025. This compares with the S&P 500 Index’s 1.7% decline over the same time frame. Over the past month, the stock slipped 0.2%, while the broader index fell 1.9%.BDL’s Earnings SnapshotFor the 13 weeks ended Dec. 27, 2025, total revenues rose 5.1% year over year to $52.6 million from $49.9 million in the prior-year period. Net income attributable to Flanigan’s surged to $0.9 mi ...

Activist investor Nelson Peltz said in an SEC filing on Wednesday that the fast-food chain Wendy’s stock is currently undervalued, sending its shares up about 15%.According to the filing, Peltz’s Trian Fund Management has spoken with possible financing sources, co‑investors, and strategic partners about potential deals including an acquisition or other major transactions that could give the firm control of the company.Back in 2022, Peltz had considered a potential takeover bid for the burger chain.Activist ...

Core Insights - The article highlights three companies with strong cash flow, dividends, value, and growth potential: Coca-Cola, Chevron, and McDonald's [1] Coca-Cola (KO) - Coca-Cola reported a 12% year-over-year revenue growth to $11.2 billion, with 10% of this growth attributed to organic sales volume [1] - The company maintains impressive operating margins around 33% and has a forward P/E ratio of 22, indicating potential for further appreciation [1] - Coca-Cola's strong brand recognition globally contributes to its consistent cash flows and growth [1] Chevron (CVX) - Chevron experienced a 12% revenue growth in the last quarter, with an EPS of $1.52 that exceeded estimates by over 5% [1] - The company has demonstrated resilience in maintaining margins despite fluctuations in commodity prices [1] - Chevron offers a dividend yield of over 4% and has a history of buybacks and dividend increases, making it attractive for long-term investors [1] McDonald's (MCD) - McDonald's achieved a 7% system-wide sales growth, driven by digital initiatives and menu innovation [1] - The company's strong global brand presence has allowed it to maintain market share and expand margins [1] - Despite a lower dividend yield compared to the other companies mentioned, McDonald's continues to raise its dividend due to increased cash flows [1]

Core Insights - Wingstop reported fourth-quarter system-wide sales of $1.3 billion, a 9.3% increase compared to 2024, primarily due to the addition of 124 net new restaurants, although domestic same-store sales declined by 5.8% due to macroeconomic pressures [1][3] - The company ended 2025 with over 3,000 restaurants and system-wide sales exceeding $5 billion, despite a 3% decline in same-store sales [2][6] - Management emphasized the potential for scaling its franchised model and the successful rollout of the Smart Kitchen platform, which aims to enhance operational efficiency [3][8] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA rose approximately 10% in Q4 to $61.9 million, while adjusted earnings per diluted share increased by 5% to $1.00, despite a $0.18 impact from higher interest expenses related to a $500 million securitization [6][7] - The company returned over $250 million to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, with a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share declared for March 2026 [4][18] Growth and Expansion - Wingstop plans to launch a national loyalty program, "Club Wingstop," in Q2 2026, following a successful pilot that saw a 7% increase in frequency among enrolled guests [4][16] - The company aims for global unit growth of 15-16% in 2026, with guidance for domestic same-store sales to be flat to low single-digit growth [4][19] Operational Improvements - The Smart Kitchen rollout is complete, with management reporting that about 50% of restaurants are achieving 10-minute service times, and delivery times have improved by approximately 15% year-over-year [5][11] - The company is focusing on execution in 2026, implementing new operating standards and accountability measures to enhance performance [9][10] Marketing and Customer Engagement - Wingstop's new brand campaign, "Wingstop Is Here," aims to increase brand awareness and has shown early success with record high brand recall [13] - The digital customer base grew by 20% in 2025, with significant growth noted among higher-income households [14]

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks is facing pressure from a coalition of investors, including public-sector pension funds, urging shareholders to vote against the reelection of two directors due to ongoing labor relations issues [1][4]. Group 1: Labor Relations and Union Activities - The coalition's move targets lead independent director Jorgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford, chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, amid Starbucks' struggle to finalize a collective agreement with its unionized baristas [2]. - Over 3,800 baristas participated in a nationwide strike last year, marking the longest work stoppage in Starbucks' history, as the union demands better staffing, predictable schedules, and higher pay [3]. - Investors expressed concerns that a lack of constructive relations with the unionized workforce could hinder the company's turnaround efforts [4]. Group 2: Investor Concerns and Company Response - The investor group previously raised concerns about the board's decision to eliminate the Environmental, Partner, and Community Impact Committee without explanation [5]. - Starbucks stated that the responsibilities of the eliminated committee were reassigned to existing committees, with the full board taking on primary labor oversight [6].

Core Insights - Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ) is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on February 23, with earnings expectations showing a mixed performance in the past quarters, averaging a surprise of 1.1% [1] Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is $5.36 per share, reflecting a 9.6% growth from the prior-year quarter, with revenue expectations at $1.52 billion, indicating a 4.9% increase year-over-year [2] - The model predicts total U.S. store revenues to grow 3.3% to $485 million, while supply-chain revenues are expected to rise 6.4% to $931.8 million, and international franchise royalties and fees are projected to increase 5.8% to $104.1 million [5] Group 2: Factors Influencing Performance - Anticipated revenue growth is attributed to strong performance at existing stores, value-focused promotions, menu innovation, and expansion of locations, alongside gains from aggregators and improved digital platforms [3] - The Domino's Rewards program is crucial for customer engagement and repeat purchases in the U.S., with international operations, particularly in India and China, also contributing positively [4] Group 3: Challenges and Margin Outlook - Inflationary pressures in commodity and labor costs, along with a challenging macro environment, are expected to negatively impact performance, with gross margin projected at 38.7%, down from 39.2% in the previous year [6][9] Group 4: Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model indicates a likelihood of an earnings beat for Domino's, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +2.88% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [8][10]

Wingstop shares jumped after the fast-casual chain topped profit expectations, even as domestic same-store sales declined and revenue missed forecasts. ...