Wingstop is not seeing the same consumer pullback that fast food chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks have experienced this year. Part of that success is because its traditional offering, chicken wings, is popular with watching live sports. “If you’re thinking about someone who has to make a decision on where to trim spending, the likelihood … Read more
An ad campaign targeting fast-food chains and a TikTok-viral appetizer helped Chili’s same-store sales climb nearly 15% in its latest quarter. But Kevin Hochman, CEO of parent company Brinker International, told CNBC that the chain’s strong performance is just a sign that customers are finally catching onto the chain’s two-year turnaround. Shares of Brinker have … Read more
McDonald’s is changing course on its artificial intelligence plans. The fast-food giant will end a test run of its AI drive-through technology partnership with IBM in more than 100 restaurants. The so-called Automated Order Taker will be shut off no later than July 26, according to a memo sent to franchisees late last week, obtained … Read more
Getty Images (L) | Reuters (R) Forget the drive-thru. Walmart wants diners to find a value meal in its grocery aisles. As fast food gets pricier, the nation’s largest grocer sees a sales opportunity. On a call with CNBC on Thursday, Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said some of the discounter’s sales growth … Read more
When a company performs well and I interview its CEO on CNBC, I consider the stock’s performance before fashioning my questions. When a chief executive is hitting it out of the park, the interview is going to be easy. My main objective is to find out if the great numbers are sustainable. Is there something … Read more
A food delivery messenger carries a take-out bag outside a Sweetgreen in Manhattan, New York City, on Sept. 14, 2023. Jeenah Moon | The Washington Post | Getty Images High-income consumers helped Chipotle Mexican Grill, Wingstop and Sweetgreen report strong sales this quarter, bucking the broader consumer slowdown that’s been hurting other eateries. As a … Read more
It’s finally here: the long-predicted consumer pullback. Starbucks announced a surprise drop in same-store sales for its latest quarter, sending its shares down 17% on Wednesday. Pizza Hut and KFC also reported shrinking same-store sales. And even stalwart McDonald’s said it has adopted a “street-fighting mentality” to compete for value-minded diners. For months, economists have … Read more
Earnings season is giving analysts plenty to chew on as they learn more about the impact of macro challenges on companies. Though Wall Street is watching short-term stock moves spurred by quarterly results, the top analysts have their eyes on companies’ long-term prospects. Bearing that in mind, here are three stocks favored by the Street’s … Read more
CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday walked investors through next week on Wall Street. It’s a week jam-packed with notable events, including earnings from Apple, Amazon and Eli Lilly. He also advised investors to pay attention to Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting and Friday’s employment figures from the Department of Labor. “We have to run such a … Read more
A food delivery messenger carries a take out bag outside aSweetgreen in Manhattan on September 14, 2023. Jeenah Moon | The Washington Post | Getty Images A highly popular group of weight loss and diabetes drugs is decreasing some consumers’ appetites — and also how much they spend on food. Most people taking those medications, … Read more
