What are the key issues facing McDonald's in 2026?The stock market has been volatile this year, including a swoon in March and April after the Trump administration announced tariffs. However, equities have bounced back, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.16%) up 16.1% through Dec. 12.Turning to individual stocks, it's a good time to review how they've done and what to look for in 2026. Turning to ubiquitous fast-food chain McDonald's (MCD +1.33%), it has been an eventful year.It's time to take a look back at how McD ...

This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: 7 Brew has hired Matthew Dunnigan as its chief financial officer, the company said in a Wednesday press release.  Dunnigan previously served as CFO at Restaurant Brands International, where he worked for over nine years, including over six in the CFO role, according to his LinkedIn profile. He left in 2024 for a stint at Equinox, a chain of fitne ...

I’m an equity analyst and founder of Goulart’s Restaurant Stocks, a research firm focused on the U.S. restaurant industry — from quick-service and fast casual to fine dining and niche concepts. I lead all thematic research and valuation efforts, applying advanced financial modeling, sector-specific KPIs, and strategic insights to uncover hidden value across public equities. In addition to restaurants, I cover consumer discretionary, food & beverage, casinos & gaming, and IPOs, with a particular focus on mic ...

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Going viral has always been a risky marketing strategy. In many ways, the bump a company gets from becoming a social media sensation works like the sales impact of appearing on "Shark Tank." Even companies that don't make a deal to a piece of their brand, usually see a short-term spike in interest and orders because of the television exposure. That can help with exposure a ...

Ark Restaurants Corp.’s (ARKR) investors have been experiencing some short-term losses from the stock lately, despite its bumpy ride over recent months. Shares of the owners and operators of restaurants and bars, fast food concepts and catering operations have lost 31.8% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 5.1% decline. It has also underperformed the sector and the S&P 500’s gains of 6% and 16.3%, respectively, in the same time frame.A key recent development for ARKR was the release of its f ...

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Wednesday 's key moments. 1. The S & P 500 is lower again on Wednesday and pacing to extend its three-day losing streak. Oracle tumbled about 5% after the Financial Times reported that its largest data center partner, Blue Owl Capital, will not provide funding for a $10 billion deal to build OpenAI's next facility in Michigan. "I am gunning for those who are doing these circular de ...

You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Doherty Enterprises Inc., one of the country’s largest franchisees, is adding Qdoba Mexican Eats to its portfolio with a new agreement to develop 27 restaurants in select New York and New Jersey markets throughout the next several years.  The agreement represents a strategic expansion for Doherty Enterprises, whose portfolio currently includes 158 restaurants across Applebee’s, Panera Bread, Wendy’s, Chevys Fresh M ...

Red Lobster’s 36-year-old CEO recently said he’s plotting the restaurant industry’s greatest comeback story ever. Now he’s handing out sage advice to other young leaders. In a recent How Leaders Lead With David Novak podcast episode, Damola Adamolekun said the key to success as a leader is being a better person. “Leadership is self-improvement,” Adamolekun said. “Understand yourself and what your strengths are and where you can be better. Because the stronger you are as a person, the more people are goi ...

Upgrades - Morgan Stanley upgraded Rollins (ROL) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $72, up from $58, citing the company as a "best-in-class" operator with durable demand drivers and structural tailwinds [2] - DA Davidson upgraded Guidewire (GWRE) to Buy from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $246, viewing the recent 20% pullback as an opportunity for investors seeking high-quality application software leaders [3] - Jefferies upgraded Procter & Gamble (PG) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $179, up from $156, noting a stabilizing consumer backdrop and easier comparisons entering 2026 [4] - Wells Fargo upgraded Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $195, up from $170, believing in the sustainability of comparable sales momentum [5] - RBC Capital upgraded Airbnb (ABNB) to Outperform from Sector Perform with a price target of $170, up from $145, highlighting an attractive brand monetization story in the evolving consumer AI landscape [6] Downgrades - Jefferies downgraded Constellation Brands (STZ) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $154, down from $170, due to prolonged fears among Hispanic consumers affecting top-line results [7] - JPMorgan downgraded CyberArk (CYBR) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $474, up from $443, following the announcement of its takeover by Palo Alto Networks expected to close in the first half of 2026 [7] - JPMorgan downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Underweight from Neutral with a price target of $75, down from $85, as the company faces headwinds from ongoing platform consolidation trends [7] - Jefferies downgraded Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $32, citing heavy debt, coffee price volatility, and a new financing structure [7] - Barclays downgraded MGM Resorts (MGM) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $38, down from $42, expressing mixed views on various gaming sectors and a negative outlook on Las Vegas [7]

Core Viewpoint - Domino's Pizza has shown strong performance in 2025, with shares increasing 9.3% from November lows, currently trading near $434, and analysts are optimistic about reaching $550 per share by 2026 [2][6]. Financial Performance - The consensus 12-month price target for Domino's is $496.65, indicating a potential upside of 14.5% from current levels, with 20 out of 34 analysts rating it a buy or strong buy [3]. - Quarterly earnings growth is projected at 30.1% year over year, with Domino's beating Q3 2025 estimates with an EPS of $4.08 compared to the $3.95 consensus [4][8]. Strategic Initiatives - CEO Russell Weiner has highlighted the "Hungry for MORE" strategy, focusing on market share and operational excellence, supported by over 21,700 stores in 90+ markets, primarily operating under a capital-light franchise model [5]. - The company's emphasis on digital ordering and delivery aligns with consumer trends towards personalization and convenience [5]. Valuation Insights - Currently trading at approximately 25x trailing earnings and 22x forward earnings, reaching $550 would imply a valuation of about 32x forward earnings, which is a premium but justifiable given the 30% annual earnings growth [6][7]. Growth Drivers - Continued earnings beats are expected, with Domino's having beaten estimates by 3.3% in Q3 2025, and prediction markets showing 100% confidence in this performance [8]. - U.S. same-store sales grew by 5.2% in Q3, with international sales up 1.7%, indicating strong sales momentum [8]. - The company added 214 net new stores in Q3, with significant room for international expansion as it has only penetrated 90 markets globally [8]. Market Positioning - The restaurant sector underperformed in 2024, but renewed investor interest has been noted in late 2025, positioning Domino's as a quality leader in the market [9]. - Institutional ownership stands at 92.4%, with significant stakes from Berkshire Hathaway and Frontier Capital, indicating strong backing from institutional investors [9].