Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher" rather than the traditional "buying low and selling high" approach, aiming for quicker profits [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Characteristics - Fast-moving trending stocks can be difficult to enter at the right time, as they may lose momentum if future growth does not justify their high valuations [2] - Investing in bargain stocks that have recently shown price momentum can be a safer strategy, with tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score aiding in identifying such stocks [3] Group 2: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL) Analysis - CBRL has shown a price increase of 10.1% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [4] - The stock has gained 51.5% over the past 12 weeks, demonstrating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [5] - CBRL has a Momentum Score of A, suggesting it is an opportune time to invest in the stock [6] - An upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has contributed to CBRL earning a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), which is associated with strong momentum effects [7] - CBRL is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.42, indicating it is relatively undervalued, as investors pay only 42 cents for each dollar of sales [7] Group 3: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides CBRL, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, suggesting further investment opportunities [8] - Various Zacks Premium Screens are available to help identify winning stock picks based on different investing styles [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Income from operations increased by 14.9% in Q2, excluding foreign currency impact, primarily due to higher US franchise royalties and fees, gross margin dollar growth within supply chain, and lower G&A expenses [15][17] - Global retail sales grew by 5.6% in Q2, with US retail sales increasing by 5.1%, driven by same-store sales and net store growth [17][19] - Same-store sales accelerated to 3.4% for the quarter, supported by the launch of Parmesan stuffed crust pizza [17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Delivery business saw a positive growth of 1.5%, while carryout business grew by 5.8%, marking the highest average carryout orders in history [18][36] - The addition of Parmesan stuffed crust contributed to an average ticket increase of 1.4% due to its higher price point [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International retail sales grew by 6% in Q2, with same-store sales at 2.4%, driven by strong performance in Asia, particularly India, and the Americas [19][51] - The company added 30 net new stores in the US, bringing the total to 7,061 [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its "Hungry for More" strategy, emphasizing product innovation, value, and operational excellence to drive sales and market share [6][9] - The rollout of DoorDash is expected to significantly enhance sales in the second half of the year, with marketing efforts planned to increase awareness [11][35] - The company aims to maintain a strong franchisee network, with a focus on both large and small franchisees to ensure diverse operational strengths [92][96] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging macro environment but expressed confidence in sustaining growth, citing strong franchisee economics and a robust advertising budget [15][21] - The company expects US same-store sales growth to be around 3% for the year, with potential for higher growth in the second half due to ongoing initiatives [21][32] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 316,000 shares for a total of $150 million in Q2, with $614 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization [20] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining competitive pricing strategies to drive value for customers while ensuring franchisee profitability [102][104] Q&A Session Summary Question: Acceleration in same-store sales and sustainability of growth - Management discussed the historical performance and competitive advantages that support confidence in sustaining 3% plus same-store sales growth despite market challenges [24][30] Question: US sales outlook for the back half of the year - Management reiterated confidence in initiatives like DoorDash and loyalty programs to drive sales growth in the second half [32][36] Question: Market share gains in international markets - Management highlighted strong performance in India and Canada, attributing success to the "Hungry for More" strategy [50][54] Question: International unit development and long-term growth - Management expressed confidence in significant growth plans for India and China, with expectations for continued expansion [57][60] Question: Margins and pricing strategy - Management emphasized a focus on driving profit dollars for franchisees while maintaining competitive pricing below inflation [99][104]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Income from operations increased by 14.9% in Q2, excluding foreign currency impact, primarily due to higher US franchise royalties and fees, gross margin dollar growth within supply chain, and lower G&A expenses [15][16] - Global retail sales grew by 5.6% in Q2, with US retail sales increasing by 5.1%, driven by same-store sales and net store growth [16][18] - Same-store sales accelerated to 3.4% for the quarter, supported by the launch of Parmesan stuffed crust pizza, which drove positive transaction counts [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Delivery business saw a positive growth of 1.5%, while carryout business experienced a significant increase of 5.8%, marking the highest average carryout orders in history [17][35] - The addition of stuffed crust pizza contributed to an average ticket increase, benefiting from a 1.4% pricing adjustment [17][116] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International retail sales grew by 6%, excluding foreign currency impact, driven by net store growth of 148 and same-store sales growth of 2.4% [18][21] - Strength was noted in Asia, particularly in India, and in the Americas region, driven by Canada and Mexico [18][51] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its "Hungry for More" strategy, emphasizing product innovation, value, and operational excellence to drive sales and market share [5][6][8] - The rollout of DoorDash is expected to be a significant driver for US comp sales in the second half of the year, with marketing efforts planned to increase awareness [11][34] - The company aims to maintain a strong franchisee network, with a focus on both larger and smaller franchisees to ensure diverse economic strength [92][96] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging macro environment but expressed confidence in sustaining growth, citing strong franchisee economics and a robust advertising budget [15][19] - The company expects US comp sales to be around 3% for the year, with potential for higher growth in the second half due to ongoing initiatives [20][21] - International same-store sales growth is projected to be 1% to 2%, influenced by global macroeconomic uncertainties [21][66] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 316,000 shares at an average price of $475, totaling $150 million in Q2, with $614 million remaining on the share repurchase authorization [19] - The launch of Parmesan stuffed crust pizza has been well-received, with customer feedback exceeding expectations, indicating a potential long-term market share catalyst [7][116] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about sustaining 3% plus comp growth - Management highlighted the strength of their franchisee economics, supply chain pricing, and advertising budget as key factors that will help sustain growth beyond the current year [26][27] Question: Insights on US sales outlook for the second half - Management discussed ongoing initiatives like the "Best Deal Ever" promotion and the expected impact of DoorDash, indicating confidence in positive trends for both delivery and carryout [33][35] Question: Discussion on DoorDash as a growth vehicle - Management expressed optimism about DoorDash's potential, noting that it is expected to significantly contribute to sales growth in the coming years [39][43] Question: International market share gains - Management pointed to strong performance in India and Canada, emphasizing the successful adoption of the "Hungry for More" strategy across international markets [50][53] Question: International unit development and growth outlook - Management indicated confidence in significant growth in India and China, with plans for substantial store openings in those markets [58][60] Question: Insights on margins and pricing strategy - Management reiterated their commitment to driving profit dollars for franchisees while maintaining competitive pricing, which may be below inflation [102][105]

Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurants are global hot spots. “Celebrities are sometimes very spoiled. They’re also looking for good, healthy food,” the chef said. https://t.co/hFg7Ls52wl ...

Core Viewpoint - Potbelly Corporation is set to release its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 6, 2025, after market close, followed by a conference call for investors to discuss the results [2][3]. Financial Results Announcement - Potbelly will report its financial results for the fiscal second quarter 2025 on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, after market close [2]. - A conference call is scheduled for the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, hosted by President and CEO Bob Wright and CFO Steve Cirulis [2][3]. Conference Call Details - Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 [3] - Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time [3] - Dial-In Numbers: 844-676-5533 (U.S. & Canada), 412-634-6942 (International) [3] - The call will be webcast live on the company's corporate website, with an audio replay available until August 13, 2025 [3]. Company Overview - Potbelly Corporation has been serving customers with warm, toasty sandwiches and other fresh menu items for over 40 years, emphasizing Fresh, Fast & Friendly service [4]. - The company has expanded to over 440 shops across the United States, including more than 90 franchised locations [4].

Financial Performance - Domino's Pizza shares surged after reporting better same-store sales growth than expected for the second quarter [1] Market Trends - The pizza chain reported better same-store sales growth than expected [1]

Industry Trend - Restaurants are adopting robots and drones to improve the speed and quality of food deliveries [1]

Core Insights - Domino's Pizza, Inc. reported a global retail sales growth of 5.6% in Q2 2025, with U.S. same-store sales growth at 3.4% and international same-store sales growth at 2.4% [1][4] - The company achieved a net store growth of 178, with 30 openings in the U.S. and 148 internationally [1][4] - Income from operations increased by 14.8%, reaching $225 million, while net income decreased by 7.7% to $131 million due to unfavorable changes in investment valuations and higher tax provisions [1][15] Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q2 2025 were $1.145 billion, a 4.3% increase from Q2 2024, driven by higher supply chain revenues and U.S. franchise royalties [4][15] - U.S. Company-owned store gross margin decreased by 2.0 percentage points to 15.6%, while supply chain gross margin increased by 0.5 percentage points to 11.8% [15] - Diluted earnings per share (EPS) fell to $3.81, a decrease of 5.5% compared to the previous year [15][25] Operational Highlights - The company had a total of 21,536 stores globally as of June 15, 2025, with 7,061 in the U.S. and 14,475 internationally [4][21] - The food basket pricing increased by 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year, impacting revenue and cost of sales [5][15] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.74 per share, payable on September 30, 2025 [6] Shareholder Returns - In Q2 2025, the company repurchased 315,696 shares for $150 million, with a total of 430,976 shares repurchased for $200 million in the first two fiscal quarters [7] - As of June 15, 2025, the remaining authorized amount for share repurchases was $614.3 million [7] Market Position - Domino's continues to leverage its strong market position with a significant advertising budget and a robust supply chain, aiming for long-term value creation for franchisees and shareholders [2][21] - The company has fully rolled out on the two largest aggregators and offers all major crust types, enhancing its competitive edge in the pizza QSR category [2]

Domino's Pizza, Inc. DPZ will release earnings results for the second quarter before the opening bell on Monday, July 21. Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables. Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period. Considering buying DPZ stock? Here's what analysts think: Analysts expect the pizza company to repor ...

Warren Buffett has one of the most impressive track records on Wall Street. His patient and value-oriented investment philosophy turned Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.16%) (BRK.B 0.10%) from a small textile mill into a trillion-dollar company. The stock has returned 20% annually since he took control six decades ago. Consequently, some investors make a habit out of tracking which stocks Buffett buys and sells on behalf of his company. For those readers, here are two interesting trades Buffett made during the f ...