Group 1: Economic Impact on Consumers - Lower-income consumers are experiencing significant financial pressures, leading to a nearly double-digit decline in foot traffic at McDonald's [1] - High levels of inflation are affecting essential expenses such as rent, food, and childcare, which are particularly burdensome for low-income households [2] - The trend of lower-income Americans reducing spending is indicative of a "K-shaped economy," where wealthier individuals continue to thrive while those with fewer resources struggle [3] Group 2: Spending Trends Among Different Income Levels - Visits to McDonald's by affluent consumers have increased by nearly double digits, indicating a shift in spending patterns [4] - The buoyant stock market is a key factor enabling higher-income Americans to spend more, with 87% of households earning over $100,000 owning stocks compared to only 28% of those earning less than $50,000 [5] - Companies like Procter & Gamble are witnessing a widening gap in consumer behavior, where higher-income shoppers opt for larger, more economical product sizes, while lower-income consumers are constrained to smaller sizes [6]

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Papa Johns appointed its CFO and Executive Vice President, International Ravi Thanawala to the dual role of finance chief and president, North America, the pizza chain announced Tuesday in a press release and securities filing. Effective Tuesday, Thanawala will lead the Louisville, Kentucky-based company’s North American business as part of the president rol ...

Core Insights - Investors often focus on the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for stock valuation, but this metric has limitations and may not always reflect a company's true value [1][6] - The EV-to-EBITDA ratio is considered a more comprehensive valuation metric, as it accounts for a company's total value and provides a clearer picture of profitability [2][4] Valuation Metrics - The EV-to-EBITDA ratio is calculated by dividing a company's enterprise value (EV) by its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), offering a more complete valuation approach [4] - A lower EV-to-EBITDA ratio typically indicates that a stock may be undervalued, making it an attractive option for investors [5] Stock Recommendations - Stocks such as El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO), OppFi Inc. (OPFI), Edison International (EIX), ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC), and Zions Bancorporation (ZION) have been identified as having attractive EV-to-EBITDA ratios [3][11] - Each of these stocks meets specific screening criteria, including low EV-to-EBITDA ratios, P/E ratios below industry medians, and strong growth potential [8][10] Growth Projections - El Pollo Loco is expected to have a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.9% for 2025, with a recent upward revision of 4.4% in earnings estimates [12] - OppFi is projected to have a significant earnings growth rate of 65.3% for 2025, with a 10.6% upward revision in earnings estimates [13] - Edison International anticipates a 23.7% earnings growth rate for 2025, with a slight upward revision of 0.5% in estimates [14] - ScanSource expects a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 15.7% for fiscal 2026, with a 4% upward revision in estimates [15] - Zions Bancorporation has a projected earnings growth rate of 19% for 2025, with a 2.1% upward revision in estimates [16]

Canada-based MTY Food Group has engaged Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank to assess a potential sale, as reported by Reuters. MTY’s network comprises 7,061 units across North America and internationally, with 256 under company ownership and the rest run by franchisees. The company owns a portfolio of restaurant brands that includes Pinkberry and Cold Stone Creamery, and operates or franchises more than 80 chains such as Wetzel’s Pretzels, Papa Murphy’s and TacoTime. The Montreal-based company has refused to co ...

Core Insights - President Trump emphasized the need for McDonald's to enhance the Filet-O-Fish by adding more tartar sauce, reflecting his personal preferences and customer feedback [1] - Trump humorously claimed to be the first former McDonald's fry cook to become president, using this to contrast his experience with that of his political opponent, Kamala Harris [2][4] - The president expressed his loyalty to McDonald's, highlighting that he often chose the fast-food chain over expensive catering during his campaign [4] Economic Context - Trump addressed the issue of affordability, acknowledging that while some prices remain high, his administration has made progress in reducing costs for various food items [6][10] - He reported a 14% decrease in breakfast item prices over the past six months, with specific mentions of bread, dairy, and eggs, which have seen an 86% decline since March [11] - The president credited McDonald's for contributing to price reductions and portrayed the company as a partner in his vision for economic improvement [11][12] Market Performance - Trump noted that the stock market reached an all-time high 48 times in nine months, indicating a rebound in the economy under his leadership [11] - He expressed optimism about future economic prosperity, stating that the country is on a path to becoming "richer, stronger, prouder, and happier" [12][13]

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ARCO) is one of the best breakout stocks to invest in. On November 11, JPMorgan lowered its price target for the stock to $8.70 from $8.80, despite the company delivering strong third-quarter results while navigating challenging consumer dynamics. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO) Q3 Results Impress on Robust Growth in Argentina and Mexico Total revenue in the quarter rose 12.7% to $1.2 billion, in line with blended inflation. The revenue increase was driven by strong g ...

Core Insights - Yum China plans to accelerate store openings and enhance profitability, focusing on lower-tier cities [1][2] - KFC aims to increase its outlets by one-third to over 17,000 by 2028, with an expected operating profit exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) [1] - Pizza Hut plans to add over 600 new restaurants annually, targeting a total of more than 6,000 locations by 2028 [2] KFC Expansion - KFC's strategy includes flexible store formats and an accelerated franchise model to penetrate over 2,000 lower-tier cities [1] - The company targets a restaurant margin of 17.3% for KFC by 2028 [5] Pizza Hut Expansion - Pizza Hut's operating profit in China is expected to double from 2024 to 2029 [2] - The brand aims for a restaurant margin of at least 14.5% by 2028 [5] Technology and Supply Chain - Yum China plans to enhance its technology and supply-chain initiatives, including the use of AI for decision-making and coordination [3] - The company will collaborate with suppliers to create integrated supply-chain parks for operational synergies [3] Financial Targets - For 2025, Yum China targets a group restaurant margin of 16.2% to 16.3%, with free cash flow per share projected at $2.20 to $2.30 [4] - By 2028, the company aims for a total of over 25,000 stores and a group restaurant margin of at least 16.7% [5] Recent Performance - Pizza Hut recorded a same-store sales decline of 1% in Q3 2025, primarily due to a 6% drop in the US market [6]

Flash | 13 Nov 2025 08:45:59 ET │ 11 pages HDL saw LSD YoY growth of table-turn in Oct (vs largely flat in 3Q). Given seasonably cold weather in Nov-Dec (which is a peak season for hot pot) and a low comp base in 4Q, mgt sees "less pressure" on table-turn in 4Q25E. Considering a late CNY in 26E and therefore YoY longer CNY holiday period in 26E (which is positive for hot pot biz), mgt anticipates "positive momentum" of table-turn in 1Q26E. Per mgt, its GPM sequentially improved in 3Q25 vs 1H25 and its YoY O ...

This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Panera announced a strategic initiative intended to grow its systemwide sales to $7 billion by 2028. Panera had roughly $6 billion in systemwide sales as of 2024, based on Technomic estimations as reported by Restaurant Business. The plan, which was announced on Tuesday, is called Panera RISE and focuses on menu refreshes, improving its value proposition, servi ...

These three stocks look well-positioned to be winners next year.With 2025 beginning to wind down, it's time for investors to start looking toward what could be the best stocks to buy for next year. Here are three stocks that have real potential to outperform in 2026 and beyond.NvidiaWhere Nvidia (NVDA 1.91%) goes, the market is likely to follow. The maker of graphics processing units (GPUs) has grown to become the largest company in the world and is the poster child of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. ...