Papa John's International, Inc. (PZZA)

Papa John's stock has experienced fluctuations over the past six months. There was a decline of 7.94% in the past month and 4.44% compared to the previous week as of early January 2026. North America same-store sales declined by 6% year-over-year in Q3 2024, while global system-wide sales decreased by 3%. In Q1 2025, global system-wide restaurant sales increased by 1% in constant currency, and Q2 2025 saw North America comparable sales grow by 1%. A false takeover report in November 2025 caused the stock to surge and then fall.

Demand for pizza exhibits seasonality, peaking in January and February due to football playoffs, and in October during National Pizza Month. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve also contribute to busy delivery seasons. Consumer preferences for pizza types can vary seasonally. The pizza market generally demonstrates resilience during economic slowdowns, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a surge in demand for pizza delivery.

Papa John's International, Inc. is a global pizza company operating and franchising pizza delivery and carryout restaurants. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with a co-headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the company emphasizes fresh ingredients and high-quality products. Its offerings include a variety of pizzas, sides, appetizers, desserts, and beverages, and it also supplies products to its restaurants.

Papa John's has a significant global presence with approximately 6,000 restaurants in around 50 countries and territories. The company has a notable presence in the US, UK, China, South Korea, and Chile. Operations are segmented into Domestic Company-owned restaurants, North America commissaries, North America franchising, and International operations.

Papa John's has been actively working on its brand reputation, launching a new creative platform and campaign called 'Devoted to the Dough' in March 2025. The company is executing a "Back to Better 2.0" strategy under CEO Todd Penegor, focusing on menu clarity, product quality, and value pricing. Papa John's is also investing in technology, including a partnership with Google Cloud for an AI-driven omnichannel food ordering agent. The brand faced challenges in 2024, needing enhancement to clearly communicate why consumers should choose Papa John's.

Institutional investors hold a significant portion of Papa John's shares, reported at 86.8% or 99.1%. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and State Street Corp. Individual insiders hold approximately 0.814% of the shares, while individual investors account for 1.26% of the ownership.