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Fast food stocks
Ready to invest in the restaurant industry? Consider these 9 stocks.
The best fast food stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.
9 fast food stocks to watch
We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the restaurant industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.
- McDonald’s Corporation (MCD)
- Yum! Brands (YUM)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)
- Restaurant Brands International (QSR)
- Domino’s Pizza (DPZ)
- Shake Shack (SHAK)
- The Wendy’s (WEN)
- Jack In The Box (JACK)
- Papa Johns International (PZZA)
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Take a deeper dive into fast food stocks
If you're interested in investing in the restaurant industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.1. McDonald’s Corporation (MCD)
McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises McDonald's restaurants in the United States and internationally. Its restaurants offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and nuggets, wraps, fries, salads, oatmeal, shakes, desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, bakery items, soft drinks, coffee, and beverages and other beverages, as well as breakfast menu, including biscuit and bagel sandwiches, breakfast burritos, hotcakes, and other sandwiches. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 40,031 restaurants.
McDonald’s Corporation stock opened the day at $246.43 after a previous close of $246.88. The latest price was $252.95 (25-minute delay). McDonald’s Corporation is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD23.8 billion and employs 100,000 staff.
- Market capitalization: $183,333,699,584
- P/E ratio: 26.1774
- PEG ratio: 3.6948
2. Yum! Brands (YUM)
YUM! Brands, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. It operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division.
Yum! Brands stock opened the day at $116.43 after a previous close of $116.01. The latest price was $116.95 (25-minute delay). Yum! Brands is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$6.6 billion and employs 36,000 staff.
- Market capitalization: $33,281,490,944
- P/E ratio: 21.22
- PEG ratio: 2.1852
3. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. As of February 15, 2022, it owned and operated approximately 3,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and rest of Europe.
Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened the day at $1,302.08 after a previous close of $1,307.26. The latest price was $1,306.80 (25-minute delay). Chipotle Mexican Grill is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$7.8 billion and employs 100,000 staff.
- Market capitalization: $36,541,263,872
- P/E ratio: 54.3436
- PEG ratio: 1.2927
4. Restaurant Brands International (QSR)
Restaurant Brands International Inc. operates as quick service restaurant company in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS).
Restaurant Brands International stock opened the day at $64.27 after a previous close of $63.75. The latest price was $64.32 (25-minute delay). Restaurant Brands International is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$5.9 billion and employs 5,700 staff.
- Market capitalization: $22,662,283,264
- P/E ratio: 18.5741
- PEG ratio: 2.388
5. Domino’s Pizza (DPZ)
Domino's Pizza, Inc. , through its subsidiaries, operates as a pizza company in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: U. S.
Domino’s Pizza stock opened the day at $476.25 after a previous close of $474.55. The latest price was $477.56 (25-minute delay). Domino’s Pizza is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$4.4 billion and employs 7,400 staff.
- Market capitalization: $14,293,323,776
- P/E ratio: 30.4095
- PEG ratio: 2.7656
6. Shake Shack (SHAK)
Shake Shack Inc. owns, operates, and licenses Shake Shack restaurants (Shacks) in the United States and internationally. Its Shacks offers hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, crinkle cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer, wine, and other products.
Shake Shack stock opened the day at $105.36 after a previous close of $104.37. The latest price was $106.06 (25-minute delay). Shake Shack is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$788 million and employs 9,695 staff.
- Market capitalization: $1,663,308,160
- PEG ratio: 2.55
7. The Wendy’s (WEN)
The Wendy's Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a quick-service restaurant company. It operates through three segments: Wendy's U. S. , Wendy's International, and Global Real Estate & Development.
The Wendy’s stock opened the day at $22.86 after a previous close of $22.75. The latest price was $23.01 (25-minute delay). The Wendy’s is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.5 billion and employs 4,833 staff.
- Market capitalization: $4,044,983,296
- P/E ratio: 21.4545
- PEG ratio: 1.9221
8. Jack In The Box (JACK)
Jack in the Box Inc. operates and franchises Jack in the Box quick-service restaurants. As of November 23, 2021, it operated and franchised approximately 2,200 Jack in the Box quick-service restaurants in 21 states and Guam.
Jack In The Box stock opened the day at $109.00 after a previous close of $110.05. The latest price was $108.86 (25-minute delay). Jack In The Box is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.2 billion and employs 2,605 staff.
- Market capitalization: $1,179,838,848
- P/E ratio: 9.6655
- PEG ratio: 0.4829
9. Papa Johns International (PZZA)
Papa John's International, Inc. operates and franchises pizza delivery and carryout restaurants under the Papa John's trademark in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Domestic Company-Owned Restaurants, North America Commissaries, North America Franchising, and International Operations.
Papa Johns International stock opened the day at $103.00 after a previous close of $103.08. The latest price was $104.45 (25-minute delay). Papa Johns International is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2.1 billion and employs 14,000 staff.
- Market capitalization: $3,099,838,208
- PEG ratio: 1.6578
How to buy fast food stocks
Sign up with an online broker or platform to invest in one or more of these fast food stocks.
- Compare share trading platforms. Use our comparison table to narrow down top brokers by fees and bonuses.
- Open and fund your brokerage account. You’ll need personal and financial details, like your contact and bank information.
- Search for the stock you're interested in. Find the stock by name or ticker symbol, like MCD or YUM.
- Decide on how many to buy. Some brokers will allow you to purchase fractional shares, while others require you to purchase whole shares.
- Choose an order type. Invest in the fast food stocks now with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until the stock reaches your desired price.
- Buy the stock. Tap or click the Buy button on your brokerage account. Once you’ve invested in the restaurant industry, track how your stock performs to decide when it’s time to sell.
Bottom line
While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in fast food stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — fast food stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the restaurant industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.More guides on Finder
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