The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how traditional fast food stocks fared in Q4, starting with Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA).

Traditional fast-food restaurants are renowned for their speed and convenience, boasting menus filled with familiar and budget-friendly items. Their reputations for on-the-go consumption make them favored destinations for individuals and families needing a quick meal. This class of restaurants, however, is fighting the perception that their meals are unhealthy and made with inferior ingredients, a battle that's especially relevant today given the consumers increasing focus on health and wellness.

The 11 traditional fast food stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.2%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA)

Founded by the eclectic John “Papa John” Schnatter, Papa John’s (NASDAQ: PZZA) is a globally recognized pizza delivery and carryout chain known for “better ingredients” and “better pizza”.

Papa John's reported revenues of $498.2 million, down 6.1% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Papa John's delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 8.2% since reporting and currently trades at $31.05.

Read our full report on Papa John's here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ: DNUT)

Famous for its Original Glazed doughnuts and parent company of Insomnia Cookies, Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ: DNUT) is one of the most beloved and well-known fast-food chains in the world.

Krispy Kreme reported revenues of $392.4 million, down 2.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 21.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $3.65.

Is now the time to buy Krispy Kreme? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK)

Delighting customers since its inception in 1951, Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) is a distinctive fast-food chain known for its bold flavors, innovative menu items, and quirky marketing.

Jack in the Box reported revenues of $349.5 million, down 5.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4.8%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a miss of analysts’ same-store sales estimates.

Jack in the Box delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 31.5% since the results and currently trades at $15.09.

Read our full analysis of Jack in the Box’s results here.

Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN)

Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy’s (NASDAQ: WEN) is a renowned fast-food chain known for its fresh, never-frozen beef burgers, flavorful menu options, and commitment to quality.

Wendy's reported revenues of $543 million, down 5.5% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it logged full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a miss of analysts’ same-store sales estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $7.29.

Read our full, actionable report on Wendy's here, it’s free.

Domino's (NASDAQ: DPZ)

Founded by two brothers in Michigan, Domino’s (NYSE: DPZ) is a globally recognized pizza chain known for its creative marketing and fast delivery.

Domino's reported revenues of $1.54 billion, up 6.4% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 5.6% since reporting and currently trades at $406.00.

Read our full, actionable report on Domino's here, it’s free.

Market Update

In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.

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