Domino's Pizza stock falls on disappointing sales β and CEO thinks more chains will follow
Domino’s Pizza stock fell after the pizza chain reported disappointing U.S. same-store sales and lowered its full-year forecast.
CEO Russell Weiner remarked he expects more fast-food chains will report winter weather and weak consumer sentiment hurt their quarterly sales.
Domino’s also faced stiffer competition from rival pizza chains Papa John’s and Pizza Hut.
Domino’s Pizza stock closed down more than 8% on Monday after it reported weaker-than-expected U.S. same-store sales growth.
The chain’s domestic same-store sales rose just 0.9%, lower than the 2.3% bump expected by Wall Street analysts, based on StreetAccount estimates.
“We’re not happy with it,” CEO Russell Weiner told CNBC.
The pizza chain also lowered its full-year U.S. same-store sales forecast to low-single digit growth, down from its prior projection that U.S. same-store sales will rise 3%.
Weiner stated he expects more fast-food chains to report similar headwinds from winter weather and weak consumer sentiment, which took a dive in March due to spiking fuel prices caused by the Iran war.
“One of the terrible things about reporting first is you don’t get to hear about anybody else,” Weiner remarked.
Domino’s kicked off the earnings season for restaurant chains. Starbucks is on deck after the bell on Tuesday, and Chipotle Mexican Grill and Pizza Hut owner Yum Brands are expected to share their results on Wednesday. Rival Papa John’s will report its earnings next Thursday.
During the quarter, Domino’s also faced stiffer competition from rival pizza chains. Papa John’s and Pizza Hut both matched Domino’s $9.99 “Best Deal Ever” with promotions at the same price point. And Little Caesars undercut Domino’s $6.99 Mix & Match deal with a $5.99 version.
“People are seeing what we’re doing, and they’re sick of losing share, and they’re coming at it,” Weiner mentioned, adding that he still expects Papa John’s and Pizza Hut to report same-store sales declines for the quarter despite the novel promotions.
Looking ahead, Weiner expressed confidence that Domino’s will prove itself in the long run.
“Domino’s has got a bigger advertising budget than our second two competitors combined,” he stated. “And those competitors are both going up for sale, so we know things aren’t favorable there right now.”
Yum proclaimed in November that it was exploring strategic options for Pizza Hut, which could include a sale. And Papa John’s is reportedly in talks with Qatari-backed Irth Capital to go private. Both chains have also revealed plans to close hundreds of restaurants this year, which could further boost Domino’s dominant position in the pizza category.
And if either Pizza Hut or Papa John’s goes private, Weiner commented he expects that a fresh owner would shutter even more locations β a win for Domino’s. This also touches on aspects of investors.
Shares of Domino’s have lost nearly a third of their value over the last year. The company’s industry cap has fallen to roughly $11.2 billion.