After a punishing year for many restaurant stocks, a seismic shift is underway. As inflation-weary diners become more selective, value and experience are trumping category labels, driving a surprising resurgence in casual dining while challenging the fast-casual model.
While growth often requires investment, a sustained negative free cash flow can signal deep-seated issues. We examine three well-known companies where the cash burn warrants a cautious approach from investors.
The traditional rulebook for dining during economic stress is obsolete. As a K-shaped recovery widens the gap between income groups, fast-food giants are struggling with deep discounts while casual dining chains unexpectedly thrive by redefining value.
SoundHound AI expands its real-world footprint with a nationwide rollout of voice AI at Five Guys and partners with Bridgepointe Technologies to target the enterprise market, signaling a dual-path growth strategy.
As the restaurant industry navigates post-2025 challenges of traffic recovery and margin pressure, the franchise model emerges as a defensive cornerstone for investors, offering scalability and predictable cash flows.
The drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew debuts a monthly rotating menu of featured beverages, starting with five options for February including a new Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cold Brew, as it leverages its strong rewards membership to boost visit frequency.
