Papa John's International, Inc. (PZZA)

PZZA stock experienced a slump following downgrades and a Zacks Rank #5 rating in October 2025. B of A Securities downgraded PZZA from a "Buy" to a "Neutral" rating in October 2025. Stifel maintained a "Hold" rating on the stock while increasing its price target in August 2025. Deutsche Bank and Benchmark maintained a "Hold" and "Buy" rating respectively, raising their price targets in August 2025. Stephens & Co. maintained an "Overweight" rating, raising its price target in August 2025, with the company reporting a 1% same-store sales growth in the second quarter. In June 2025, takeover rumors caused Papa John's shares to initially jump, but the stock later dipped. Papa John's presented its 2025-2026 strategic roadmap at the Oppenheimer Conference in May 2025, raising its adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2025. In Q1 2025, North American comparable sales decreased by 2.7%, while international markets experienced a 3.2% growth, with Papa John's exceeding Wall Street's revenue expectations.

While specific details on demand seasonality for Papa John's are not explicitly provided, the fast-food and pizza industry often experiences seasonal fluctuations. Mentions of sales performance in the "back half of the year" and "fourth quarter" suggest these periods are significant. The company's focus on new product introductions and marketing efforts during specific quarters implies an awareness of varying consumer demand throughout the year.

Papa John's International, Inc. (PZZA) is an American pizza restaurant chain that operates and franchises pizza delivery and carryout restaurants globally. It operates in the Consumer Discretionary sector, offering pizzas, chicken wings, and desserts. The company also supplies its restaurants with essential ingredients and products, emphasizing its "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." slogan and the use of quality ingredients. Papa John's was the first national pizza delivery chain to remove artificial flavors and synthetic colors from its entire food menu.

Papa John's has a substantial international presence, with approximately 6,000 restaurants in around 50 countries and territories. Its operations are segmented into Domestic Company-owned restaurants, North America commissaries, North America franchising, and International operations. Key international markets include the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, and Chile. As of 2023, it was the fourth-largest pizza delivery chain in the United States and the third-largest globally.

Papa John's leverages its "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." mantra and launched the "Meet the Makers" campaign to highlight employee craftsmanship. The company also emphasizes ingredient quality, such as its "Six-Ingredient Dough." However, the brand faces ongoing reputational challenges tied to its former CEO. Additionally, as of June 2024, Papa John's has been identified as a "grassroots organic boycott target" by the BDS movement due to alleged support for "apartheid Israel."

Papa John's International, Inc. has significant institutional ownership, including major shareholders like BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF. Institutional ownership is reported to be around 98.09% by one source, while others indicate figures such as 53.94% or 25.79%. Individual investors hold approximately 1.26% of the company's stock, with public companies and individual investors collectively owning about 44.84%. Shaquille O'Neal was previously on the company's board and invested in some of its restaurants but chose not to seek re-election last year.