- The restaurant industry will run up against soft comps in January and February due to last year's winter storms which were much worse than normal.
- Restaurant same-store sales will rise just over 2% for the full year, according to an estimate from the co-founder of the NRN-MillerPulse tracking survey.
- Technomic sees a 3% growth in restaurant comps in 2015, while Fitch Ratings has an outlook for 2% to 3%.
- On the cost side, commodity prices for chicken, cheese, wheat, and pork are all expected to moderate. However, beef prices are seen increasing 4% to 8%.
- Minimum wage increases in many state kick in on January 1 which could impact the bottom line for many chains.
- Fresh IPOs, concept acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts care expected to be major themes in 2015, according to analysts.
- CEOs on the hot seat include Don Thompson at McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) and Nigel Travis at Dunkin' Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN).
- Restaurant stocks: CAKE, CBRL, CMG, DPZ, DRI, EAT, JACK, PNRA, RRGB, RT, SBUX, SONC, WEN, BWLD, THI, BDL, NATH, LUB, BKW, CHUY, BLMN, PZZA, TXRH, DENN, KKD, BBRG, DFRG, BOBE, RUTH, IRG, DIN, HABT, NDLS, PLKI, LOCO, YUM, KKD, BOBE, TAST, GTIM, FRSH, COSI, FRS, PBPB, FRGI, QSR.