DPZ Updating Our Rating on Domino’s
With this report, we upgrade our rating on the shares of Domino’s (DPZ) to Buy (from Neutral). Our upgrade is based on multiple factors, including: (1) we raise our Q2E U.S. same-store sales forecast by +190 basis points, to +8.6% — not only above sellside consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of +6.8%, but also the new “highon-the-sell-side” forecast, (2) this summer’s new U.S. product launch could prove to be a hit, (3) while we are not modeling a meaningful international sales rebound, it could happen as more countries come back on line with their operations (for example, as of late April, only about 70% of Domino’s France stores were back open), (4) Domino’s company-owned stores (which represent about 2% of the worldwide store base, but which we calculate generate approximately 10%-11% of worldwide operating profits) should see their operating margins helped by lower cheese costs over Q2E-Q4E, and (5) while we are not predicting another massive shutdown of stores/lockdown orders/etc. for 6-12 months from now, if COVID-19 issues lead to such a circumstance several months from now — particularly over winter 2020-21; winters are relatively friendlier to respiratory viruses — Domino’s delivery & carryout focused business model should be more resistant than nearly all other business models in the restaurant industry.