The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) is included in our list of the best restaurant stocks to buy now. Analysts Cautious on The Wendy’s Company (WEN) Amid Cost and Margin Pressures Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN) saw analyst pressure rising at the end of December, with RBC Capital reducing its price target from $9.00 to $8.50 on December 22, 2025, while reiterating a “Sector Perform” rating. The firm’s reduction in its price target reflects cost and margin risks heading into ...

In this articleSBUXDENNWENJACKPZZANDLSBLMNDRIAs the restaurant industry endured another difficult year, many chains opted to close underperforming locations as they try to turn around their businesses.Inflation-weary consumers have pulled back their restaurant spending, choosing to eat at home or chasing deals when they go out for a meal. While some restaurants have won over reluctant diners, the industry has largely struggled with the sales slump. Traffic to restaurants open at least a year fell every mont ...

The market's latest bullish signal didn't come from AI, chips, or high-beta growth. It came from burgers, soda, and fried chicken. Over the past few sessions, Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) , McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD) , Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:YUM) and Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE:YUMC) have all flashed a Golden Cross — a technical pattern that often signals a shift in longer-term momentum.Track KO stock here.For each of these stocks, the 50-day SMA (simple moving average) has crossed above the 200-day SMA, making a ...

The fast-food burger sector has faced competitive challenges this year, which has led to several chain operators closing restaurant locations. Economic issues such as low profit margins, decreased sales, and high operating costs are driving restaurant chains to close underperforming locations to improve their financial health. Wendy's will close 300 locations Wendy's in November revealed that it will close about 300 underperforming locations by the end of this year. Another major burger chain, Hardee' ...

Group 1 - Beyond Meat held its IPO in 2019, initially experiencing strong demand for its plant-based meat alternatives, but the current situation is troubling for investors [1] - The company produces a variety of meat-free products, including burgers, sausages, and nuggets, claiming they are beneficial for health and the environment, but taste remains a critical concern for consumers [2] - In 2019, Beyond Meat's consumer segment sales surged by 185% compared to 2018, while food service sales increased by 312%, leading to a positive reception of the IPO [3] Group 2 - By 2020, issues began to surface as foodservice sales declined domestically and internationally, despite continued retail sales growth [4] - In 2022, overall sales growth was minimal at just 0.4%, indicating a significant slowdown after previous years of double and triple-digit growth, suggesting the end of the initial excitement around the brand [5] - In 2023, sales plummeted by 18%, with declines across all divisions, particularly in the crucial domestic market, indicating worsening business conditions [6]

Summary of Shake Shack Conference Call Company Overview - Shake Shack is in a growth mode, focusing on strategic investments in marketing and restaurant openings to drive revenue and traffic [4][5][6] - The company plans to open 45 to 50 new restaurants this year, the highest number in a single year, with a target of 60 openings next year [5][6] Financial Performance - Shake Shack reported $173 million in EBITDA last year and is guiding for $213 million this year, reflecting a $40 million increase [11] - The company has maintained a disciplined pricing strategy, taking significantly less price increase compared to competitors [11][12] Operational Improvements - Shake Shack has improved operational efficiency by redeploying labor to high-volume periods, resulting in a reduction of service times by over a minute [12] - Team member retention has improved, with average turnover increasing from 90 days to 180 days [12] Marketing Strategy - The company is investing 2.5% to 2.7% of revenue in marketing, which is lower than many competitors, but is focused on targeted, digital marketing strategies in top markets [8][20] - App traffic has increased by 50%, and app downloads have doubled, which will support the upcoming loyalty platform [26] Menu Innovation - Shake Shack emphasizes high-quality ingredients and is committed to menu innovation while maintaining operational efficiency [16][17] - The company is exploring new culinary experiences and has introduced limited-time offers (LTOs) to drive excitement [18] Value Proposition - Shake Shack's pricing strategy remains below industry averages, with single-digit discounts compared to over 40% in the QSR industry [24] - The company aims to attract a broader customer base while maintaining its premium positioning [25] Regional Performance - Strong performance is noted in regions like Florida, Texas, and the Midwest, with new marketing strategies driving growth [30][31] - Shake Shack is evolving its development strategy to focus on high-growth areas outside of New York [31] Supply Chain and Equipment Innovations - The company is working on supply chain improvements and has initiated competitive sourcing to enhance quality and reduce risks [34] - New kitchen equipment is being tested to improve efficiency and service quality [36] International Expansion - Shake Shack is selective in its international partnerships, focusing on quality and customization to fit local markets [41][42] - The introduction of smaller format units is aimed at improving scalability in restrictive real estate markets [43] Conclusion - Shake Shack is strategically positioned for growth with a focus on operational efficiency, targeted marketing, and menu innovation while maintaining a strong value proposition in a competitive landscape [4][5][11][12][20][24][25]

Core Insights - McDonald's Corporation, valued at $217.1 billion, operates over 38,000 restaurants globally, making it the largest quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain in the world [1][2] Financial Performance - McDonald's stock has seen a 4.9% decline from its all-time high of $326.32 reached on March 10, and has underperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained 4% in the same period [3] - Year-to-date, McDonald's stock has increased by 7.1% and 4.8% over the past 52 weeks, while the Dow has gained 10.7% and 5.3% respectively [4] - Following the release of mixed Q3 results, McDonald's stock rose by 2.2%. The company reported a 6% increase in systemwide sales on a constant currency basis and an 8% increase including forex impact, with comparable sales growing by 3.6% [5] - McDonald's topline grew 3% year-over-year to $7.1 billion, exceeding market expectations by 15 basis points, although adjusted EPS fell by 31 basis points to $3.22, missing consensus estimates by 3.9% [5] Competitive Position - McDonald's has significantly outperformed its peer Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has seen a 44.6% decline year-to-date and a 46.1% drop over the past year [6]

Core Insights - Shake Shack's stock has declined over 40% since its peak in July, primarily due to slower-than-expected growth reported in Q2 2025, with same-store sales growth dropping to 1.8% from 4% year-over-year [1][8] - The company has shown signs of recovery in Q3 2025, with same-store sales growth accelerating to 4.9% and revenue reaching $367.4 million, a 16% increase year-over-year [8] - Analysts suggest that the current dip in Shake Shack's stock presents a buying opportunity, with a forward EV/EBITDA multiple of 23x deemed justifiable given the company's growth prospects [9] Company Overview - Shake Shack originated as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in 2004 and has since expanded to over 630 locations globally, with 405 in the US and 225 in international markets [3] - The menu includes a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and milkshakes, catering to diverse customer preferences [2] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 results showed strong revenue but disappointing same-store sales growth, leading to a significant stock price drop [1] - In contrast, Q3 2025 results indicated a recovery, with revenue exceeding forecasts and a non-GAAP EPS of 36 cents, beating expectations by 5 cents [8] Analyst Sentiment - Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump highlights Shake Shack's strong near-term growth prospects, suggesting that recent concerns over slowing comparable sales growth are overblown [9] - The stock currently has a Hold consensus rating, with 7 Buys, 11 Holds, and 2 Sells, and an average target price indicating a potential 32% gain over the next year [9]

Group 1 - Eggs Up Grill plans to expand its franchise presence in metro Atlanta, offering more than 25 territories for new franchise development, in addition to the 15 locations already operating in Georgia [1] - The CEO of Eggs Up Grill highlighted Atlanta as a unique opportunity to strengthen the brand's presence in a well-loved state, emphasizing the potential for entrepreneurs to invest in a proven business model with strong financial performance [2] - The brand has experienced significant growth, with a 40% increase in average restaurant volumes since 2019 and 19 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth, indicating robust customer demand [3] Group 2 - The average unit volume for Eggs Up Grill locations exceeds $1.5 million, with a menu that includes a variety of breakfast and lunch items, and an average check remaining under $15 [3] - Franchisee Antwan Aiken expressed confidence in the brand's strong economics and community focus, noting the supportive franchisee community as a key factor in their success [4]

Core Insights - FAT Brands Inc. reported a quarterly loss of $3.39 per share, which was worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $2.43, marking an earnings surprise of -39.51% [1] - The company's revenues for the quarter ended September 2025 were $140.01 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.94% and down from $143.37 million a year ago [2] - FAT Brands has not surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters and has seen its shares decline approximately 71.4% year-to-date [3] Financial Performance - The quarterly loss of $3.39 per share compares to a loss of $2.74 per share a year ago, indicating a worsening financial situation [1] - The company has topped consensus revenue estimates only twice in the last four quarters, highlighting inconsistent revenue performance [2] Future Outlook - The earnings outlook for FAT Brands is currently unfavorable, with a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting expected underperformance in the near future [6] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$3.16 on revenues of $138.5 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$12.67 on revenues of $567.36 million [7] Industry Context - The Retail - Restaurants industry, to which FAT Brands belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 13% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a challenging environment [8] - The performance of FAT Brands may be influenced by the overall industry outlook, as research shows that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [8]