Evie Liu
Stock in Domino's Pizza jumped on Friday after latest filings revealed that Berkshire Hathaway took a stake in the pizza chain in the third quarter.
Berkshire bought 1.3 million Domino's shares worth about $550 million on Sept. 30, according to the firm's quarterly filing made public on Thursday after the market closed. It was the company's only sizable new equity holding in the period.
Domino's shares shot up as much as 5.3% early Friday as the endorsement from Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett gave investors renewed confidence in the company's continued growth. By late morning, shares were trading 2% up for the day.
The stock has been under pressure since the summer as investors became concerned about softer demand for restaurants.
Many national chains, including McDonald's and Starbucks, reported weaker sales as consumers pulled back spending amid inflation-fueled high prices. Many restaurants have entered a value war, trying to win diners back via deals and promotions.
Domino's has more than 20,000 restaurants around the globe, the majority of which are run by franchisees who pay the company royalties and fees.
For the pizza chain's latest quarter ended in September, earnings-per-share beat Wall Street expectations by 15%, but total revenue disappointed.
U.S. same-store sales rose 3%, slightly below the consensus expectations of 3.6% according to FactSet. International same-store sales increased 0.8%, also missed expectations of 2.9%.
Moreover, the company cut projections for 2024's global retail sales growth to 6% from the previously expected 7%, and reduced the expected number of new stores to between 800 and 850.
In July, Domino's had already suspended the guidance for its goal to open more than 1,100 new stores in 2024, a plan the company announced last December as a key driver for growth.
Domino's shares tumbled 25% from recent peaks on June 24 to recent lows on Sep. 13. The stock has since recovered some losses, but still traded 18% below its previous highs, closing at $435.97 on Thursday.
Still, Domino's is outperforming many peers in the fast-food industry, many of which have been posting declining same-store sales this year. Although the growth plan has been dialed back due to macroeconomic pressures, it's still one of the most ambitious among peers.
The pizza chain began working with Uber Eats last year to boost sales in the delivery channel. It's also improved engagement with lower-frequency and carryout users through successful promotion campaigns and a new loyalty program.
In the third quarter, global sales across Domino's network increased 5.1% from the year-ago period, excluding the effects of changes in foreign-currency exchange rates. The company's total revenue was boosted by the same rate as a result.
Two thirds of analysts polled by FactSet have a Buy rating for the stock, with a consensus target price of $482, indicating a 8% upside from Friday's level.
Following Domino's latest earnings report in October, UBS analyst Dennis Geiger noted that the catalysts for the company's growth remain intact.
Evercore analyst David Palmer, who has an Outperform rating on the stock, predicts the 2024 guidance would imply roughly 3% growth in U.S. same-store sales in the current quarter.
For 2025, Domino's expects global retail sales growth to be in line with 2024. Palmer expects the pizza chain to expand its third-party delivery with DoorDash some time in early 2025, which should help it achieve its 2025 guidance.
In a November note, Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner named Domino's one of his top picks in the restaurant sector. Bittner sees a path for strong domestic share gains in 2025, as the company further promotes its renowned value deals, rolls out innovative products, and boosts sales through new e-commerce and third-party delivery partnerships.
"Industry dynamics remain very favorable toward Domino's outpacing competition," he wrote.
Domino's was a Barron's stock pick in July.
Write to Evie Liu at evie.liu@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 15, 2024 11:40 ET (16:40 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments