Fast Food Chains Left With Multiple Hurdles [View article]
Adam, I know you are a self described political and economical conservative, but I urge you to look at the big picture what drives restaurant stock growth. In the long term it's same store sales growth, number of units in operation, ROIC and operating margin. In the short term it's same store sales trends.
Price is not everything and only part of the sales mix. In fact, low margined items generally depress profitability.
We are pasing by the so called comps cliff caused by the 2012 better weather blip and last week's upgrades were telling. I'd note that each of the group of concerns you noted above apply to all restaurants, not just the QSR subset.
McDonald's, I'm Not Lovin' Its Zero U.S. Sales Growth [View article]
Interesting $MCD comments from BigMac 99, above.
In response to Markos, your narrative highlights exactly why it is unfortunate that Mr. Market overvalues the same store sales metric. That is, the market moves in variance to fundamentals. Analysis of any retail sector investment, especially restaurants, requires much more than reading the same store sales weatherwave.
Biglari Holdings, Inc: Sardar Biglari - Bet The Jockey Part VII [View article]
Dana: CEO workship cults don't have a very long time working in this space....in a service business, it is the staff that delivers the value, not the CEO.
Moving on...seems like you are saying that because of the CBRL consolidation accounting, the $BH holdings have a "more reasonable valuation", even though they have no control of those earnings except via dividends or stockownership rights.
I'd recommend you keep the earnings metrics clean and simple, and not muddy the waters.
John A. Gordon Pacific Management Consulting Group http://bit.ly/m8ad9 chain restaurant analysis and advisory
Dunkin' Donuts: Are All The Analysts In Florida? [View article]
Stephen: interesting point, but the JPM sell side analyst that hosted the DNKN love fest IS actually based in Florida, Miami actually !
Otherwise, the fairly strong same store sales numbers that a weaker competitor, Krispy Kreme (KKD) and the positive US same store sales results released by Starbucks (SBUX) and Tim Horton's (THI) does seem, to support the case that lower average ticket 'beverage' concepts seem to be "hot", if there is average ticket upside via food attachment and new product new news.
John A. Gordon Pacific Management Consulting Group chain restaurant analysis and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Chipotle Mexican Grill: The High Multiples Are Justified [View article]
Alex: a few points:
(1) CMG is NOT getting a 70% return on each restaurant. The data table you included excludes CAPEX and G&A which brings down enterprise returns lower. Not your fault, but retail and restaurant companies make that same per store display error endlessly. Investors have to know that. (2) No forward lineal extrapolation model can possibly be accurate. In the restro space, market conditions, incomes, restaurant development and tastes and preferences change greatly. In my long restaurant analytical career, these lineal models never work out. (3) The 1.61 elasticity is a bit high, never seen it that high. Maybe 1.15. (4) When viewed over history, restaurant lifecycles are finite. Management capability to prolong the lifecycle can't be knowable at this point.
John A. Gordon Pacific Management Consulting Group chain restaurant analysis and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Should Denny's Adopt Marcato Capital's Plan For DineEquity? [View article]
I'm certainly dividend friendly, but ultimately the leverage ratio must relate to the long term fundamentals of the free cash flow going forward. Will the debt markets accept 5-5.5X for Denny's?
It is a mistake to assume that restaurant franchisor model free cash flow continues forever. The most important factor in that is franchisee cash flow and ability to gain credit. Does Denny's need to do anything to support franchisee future growth that could come out of free casdh flow? A: Yes....a dedicated loan pool for franchisee store reimages and remodels.
John A. Gordon, CFFA Pacific Management Consulting Group restaurant analysis and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Revisiting Darden Restaurants: A Look Inside Its Lousy Quarter [View article]
In the last earnings call, DRI signaled that it will be looking at its dividend level. It has to. It has a cash squeeze underway right now: profit declines, increasing CAPEX and debt service for new acquisitions. Let's watch this.
McDonald's Has A Cultural Clash And May Soon Get Help In Solving It [View article]
Interesting observations, but the beverage business and the breakfast/lunch/dinner business are inseparable. MCD has a same store sales problem and no doubt operations issues, but standalone McCafe's with no other products are economically and from a customer retail proposition unworkable.
John A. Gordon, CFFA chain restaurant analysi and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
I hope for the best for WEN. It has potential. But its operational execution couldn't have improved that quickly. Fundamentals improvements means same store sales gains, margin improvement, robust new product new news, new unit development, improving ROIC and company and franchisees together. That is not the case right now with WEN.
Article should have addressed same store sales trends, the forecast EBITDA trend movement and how WEN will come up with big CAPEX funds for itself and franchisees to remodel to its future vision.
John A. Gordon Pacific Management Consulting Group restaurant analysis and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
While I understand author's logic, the business fundamentals say something else entirely: the business is getting stronger. RONA has trended better since 2009 since their plan is working.
AFCE is one of the few restaurant standouts where many metrics are moving the right way. See my seekingalpha.com articles.
A Long-Term Value Case For Wendy's, Part III [View article]
Very comprehensive review. While SOTP is interesting narrative, the real fundamental catalysts for WEN are (IMHO):
(1) getting the WEN quality value promise reinforced in the consumers mind. (2) remodeling stores and store experience platforms, both company owned and franchised. The franchise economics will be the most difficult because of the CAPEX required. (3) getting breakfast to work. (4) more new product new news. (5) the then resulting same store sales, restaurant margins, expanded and viable franchising. (6) consolidating its position before weaker competitors do so.
John A. Gordon Pacific Management Consulting Group restaurant analysis and advisory http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Analyzing Companies Is A Complex Affair: Don't Use EBITDA [View article]
Excellent article. Financial analysis becomes flawed when all relevant revenues and costs aren't considered. Overreliance on EBITDA causes distortions.
Carhops, Coneys, And Healthcare: Why I'm Short Sonic Drive-Ins, Part II [View article]
Thanks for the color above.
John A. Gordon
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
chain restaurant analysis and advisory
Fast Food Chains Left With Multiple Hurdles [View article]
Price is not everything and only part of the sales mix. In fact, low margined items generally depress profitability.
We are pasing by the so called comps cliff caused by the 2012 better weather blip and last week's upgrades were telling. I'd note that each of the group of concerns you noted above apply to all restaurants, not just the QSR subset.
John A. Gordon
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
restaurant earnings and economics expert
McDonald's, I'm Not Lovin' Its Zero U.S. Sales Growth [View article]
In response to Markos, your narrative highlights exactly why it is unfortunate that Mr. Market overvalues the same store sales metric. That is, the market moves in variance to fundamentals. Analysis of any retail sector investment, especially restaurants, requires much more than reading the same store sales weatherwave.
John A. Gordon
restaurant anlysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Biglari Holdings, Inc: Sardar Biglari - Bet The Jockey Part VII [View article]
Moving on...seems like you are saying that because of the CBRL consolidation accounting, the $BH holdings have a "more reasonable valuation", even though they have no control of those earnings except via dividends or stockownership rights.
I'd recommend you keep the earnings metrics clean and simple, and not muddy the waters.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
chain restaurant analysis and advisory
Dunkin' Donuts: Are All The Analysts In Florida? [View article]
Otherwise, the fairly strong same store sales numbers that a weaker competitor, Krispy Kreme (KKD) and the positive US same store sales results released by Starbucks (SBUX) and Tim Horton's (THI) does seem, to support the case that lower average ticket 'beverage' concepts seem to be "hot", if there is average ticket upside via food attachment and new product new news.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
chain restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Chipotle Mexican Grill: The High Multiples Are Justified [View article]
(1) CMG is NOT getting a 70% return on each restaurant. The data table you included excludes CAPEX and G&A which brings down enterprise returns lower. Not your fault, but retail and restaurant companies make that same per store display error endlessly. Investors have to know that.
(2) No forward lineal extrapolation model can possibly be accurate. In the restro space, market conditions, incomes, restaurant development and tastes and preferences change greatly. In my long restaurant analytical career, these lineal models never work out.
(3) The 1.61 elasticity is a bit high, never seen it that high. Maybe 1.15.
(4) When viewed over history, restaurant lifecycles are finite. Management capability to prolong the lifecycle can't be knowable at this point.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
chain restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Why I Will Swap These 2 Franchises [View article]
Should Denny's Adopt Marcato Capital's Plan For DineEquity? [View article]
It is a mistake to assume that restaurant franchisor model free cash flow continues forever. The most important factor in that is franchisee cash flow and ability to gain credit. Does Denny's need to do anything to support franchisee future growth that could come out of free casdh flow? A: Yes....a dedicated loan pool for franchisee store reimages and remodels.
John A. Gordon, CFFA
Pacific Management Consulting Group
restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Revisiting Darden Restaurants: A Look Inside Its Lousy Quarter [View article]
John A Gordon CFFA
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
McDonald's Has A Cultural Clash And May Soon Get Help In Solving It [View article]
John A. Gordon, CFFA
chain restaurant analysi and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Wendy's Continues To Execute Well [View article]
Article should have addressed same store sales trends, the forecast EBITDA trend movement and how WEN will come up with big CAPEX funds for itself and franchisees to remodel to its future vision.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Prepare To Short AFC Enterprises [View article]
AFCE is one of the few restaurant standouts where many metrics are moving the right way. See my seekingalpha.com articles.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
chain restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
http://bit.ly/Voq3vr
A Long-Term Value Case For Wendy's, Part III [View article]
(1) getting the WEN quality value promise reinforced in the consumers mind.
(2) remodeling stores and store experience platforms, both company owned and franchised. The franchise economics will be the most difficult because of the CAPEX required.
(3) getting breakfast to work.
(4) more new product new news.
(5) the then resulting same store sales, restaurant margins, expanded and viable franchising.
(6) consolidating its position before weaker competitors do so.
John A. Gordon
Pacific Management Consulting Group
restaurant analysis and advisory
http://bit.ly/m8ad9
Analyzing Companies Is A Complex Affair: Don't Use EBITDA [View article]
McDonald's: Are Analysts' Q3 Estimates Too Optimistic? [View article]
John A. Gordon
restaurant analysis and advisory
Pacific Management Consulting Group
http://bit.ly/m8ad9