DENN: Updating Our Stock Rating and EPS Projections

By Ryan D. Lavender Published on February 8, 2021 at 2:57 PM

With this note, we change our rating on Denny’s (DENN; $17.41) to Neutral (from Buy). This change reflects: (1) lowered EPS estimates for 2021E and 2022E, and (2) a reduced same-store sales forecast for Q1E 2021, despite what appears to be some meaningful help from a calendar-shift effect related to Denny’s 2020 being a 53-week fiscal year, and (3) being mindful of DENN shares’ run-up from their 52-week low of $4.50 (intraday March 19, 2020) to $17.41 as of this past Friday’s market close. (FYI, the stock is also up +18.6% year-to-date.)

YUM (Post-Call): U.S. Same-Store Sales Off to Double-Digit Start in Early 2021

By Ryan D. Lavender Published on February 4, 2021 at 3:00 PM

Earlier today, Yum Brands reported Q4 2020 adjusted EPS of $1.15, above our $1.01 forecast and sell-side consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of $1.01. We calculate that the Q4 adjusted tax rate was approximately 8.5%, much more favorable than our 21.0% estimate and consensus of 20.8%. We further calculate that relative to our tax-rate projection, the actual adjusted Q4 tax rate added about +15 cents to Q4 adjusted EPS. Excluding this factor, Q4 adjusted EPS would have been closer to $1.00.

WEN: The Groundhog Sees… Us Updating Our Wendy’s Forecasts

By Ryan D. Lavender Published on February 2, 2021 at 3:05 PM

With this note, we raise our full-Q1E Wendy’s U.S. same-store sales forecast by +300 basis points, to +10.0%. According to Consensus Metrix, sell-side consensus for Q1E as of this writing is at +7.3%.