On May 18, President Trump met with several leaders and executives from the restaurant industry. By now, we're all familiar with how a wide range of businesses have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and ensuing lockdown. And so, in the recent meeting with President Trump, restaurant executives have asked for more federal assistance. They highlighted that their sector is a depressed segment of the economy and businesses will need extra capital to stay afloat until customers come back.Amid the generally grim outlook for many specfiic sectors, the past two months have seen broader market indexes rallying. Now investors are wondering if the market has flown too close to the sun.In the short run, it isn't easy to predict what the market or any given stock mighty do. But if you are a long-term investor with a 2 to 3 year time horizon, then I believe the market offers plenty of opportunities.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 7 Excellent Penny Stocks Ready to Roar As part of our economy opens up, here are three restaurant stocks that may be able to bring healthy returns for shareholders: * Denny's (NASDAQ:DENN) * McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) * Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)On May 18, all three of these stocks saw strong bounces alongside the rest of the market. The next day, there was some profit-taking in all three names, potentially offering better entry points for long-term investors. I expect daily volatility to continue in the short run.All three companies have recently reported earnings that showed some rough fundamental metrics. And there may still be some choppy waters ahead.Moreover, these restaurant chains will have to follow different state or even national rules depending on the state or country where a restaurant is located. But they are all large and organized enough to be able to adapt to different operating procedures rather efficiently. Denny's (DENN)Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com The restaurant chain bills itself as "America's Diner" and many of its regular patrons would likely agree. As of late March, the group had a combined 1,695 franchised, licensed and company restaurants. 147 of those are outside of the continental U.S.On May 14, DENN released results for its first quarter ended March 25, 2020, and provided a business update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 17 cents was better than analysts' estimates, and despite the 36% YoY quarterly fall in revenue, the restaurant managed to post profits of $9 million. CEO John Miller said:"As restaurant operations were being limited to off-premise sales channels, we implemented streamlined menus, 'Dine-Thru' curbside service programs, and shareable family meal packs in a matter of days… [w]e have fortified our balance sheet, made disciplined cost savings decisions, and worked aggressively on multiple fronts to secure various forms of financial relief for our franchisees.Denny's has also made amendments in 400 stores and begun selling grocery items. Finally, the company has been "bolstering [its] sanitation protocols to transitioning to free contactless delivery and pick up services." Following the results, the shares popped higher.Year-to-date (YTD), DENN stock is down over 50%. On March 19, it hit a multi-year low at $4.50. Now it is hovering around $9.5.Its current trailing P/E of 5.4 and P/S ratio of 1.3 makes the casual-dining restaurant a long-term play for me, especially if the price falls toward $9 or even below. McDonald's (MCD)Source: 8th.creator / Shutterstock.com The group has more than 38,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, though its largest segment is the U.S. And on April 30, McDonald's reported first quarter 2020 results.CEO Chris Kempczinski commented that "McDonald's has seen a lot over our 65 years and I'm confident that the actions we're taking will enable us to emerge from this crisis in a position of competitive strength. But in Q1, global comparable sales declined 3.4%. Similarly, consolidated revenues decreased 6% (5% in constant currencies)."Approximately 75% of McDonald's restaurants remain open globally. Nonetheless earlier in April, management had already withdrawn its 2020 outlook.Over 90% of McDonald's restaurants are currently franchised. This gives it a significant competitive edge, as the initial franchise fees and continuous royalties mean high margins. It also collects rent from franchisees, as the company in fact owns most of these properties. Then it leases them out to the franchisees, often at significant markups. Put another way, the company is in the real estate business as much as food services.So far in 2020, MCD stock is down 9%. That decline is compared to a 4.8% drop in the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLY), which includes MCD as its third-largest holding at 6.55% of the portfolio, behind Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) at a whopping 23.9% and Home Depot (NYSE:HD) at 12.9% of the exchange-traded fund's assets.In Aug. 2019, MCD stock hit an all-time high of $221.93. The current price of about $179 means a trailing P/E ratio of 23.5 and P/S ratio of 6.6. On a fundamental basis, I'd be more comfortable with lower values in both metrics.The Golden Arches may not yet be able to go over $200 in the second half of 2020, but if you are a buy-and-hold investor, then you may consider investing in the shares, especially if there is a dip in price toward the $170 level or below. * 7 Excellent Penny Stocks Ready to Roar If you're looking for passive income, the burger chain's current dividend yield stands at 2.9%. Sshares are expected to go ex-dividend on May 29. However for now, McDonald's has paused its share buyback program. Starbucks (SBUX)Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com On April 28, the coffee chain released Q2 Fiscal 2020 results that said its quarterly global same-store sales fell 10%. Americas and U.S. comparable store sales declined 3%.On the other hand in the quarter, China comparable store sales were down 50%. Regular InvestorPlace may remember that novel coronavirus-related concerns had started rather earlier in the year for Starbucks as the virus had begun affecting operations in China.For the quarter, adjusted earnings per share came at 32 cents. Revenue was $6 billion, a decline of 5% from the prior year due to lost sales related to the viral pandemic.Management also warned that third-quarter results would take a larger hit from the COVID-19 outbreak, even though sales in China were recovering. In early April, the group had already withdrawn guidance for fiscal 2020.Starbucks opened 255 net new stores in the quarter, which means a 6% YoY unit growth. At the end of the period, it had 32,050 stores globally, of which 51% and 49% were company-operated and licensed, respectively.YTD, SBUX stock is down about 13%. In July 2019, SBUX stock hit an all-time high of $99.72. But on March 18, 2020, the shares saw a 52-week low of $50.02. They are currently around $76.Its trailing P/E ratio is 26.9 and P/S ratio is 3.4. Like McDonald's, I'd ideally like to see lower values in both metrics. Long-term investors may consider buying dips on SBUX stock, especially if it goes toward $70 or lower.Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation. As of this writing, Tezcan Gecgil did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post 3 Reliable Restaurant Stocks to Buy for Reopening Returns appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Poor capital allocation, unsatisfactory growth and narrowing moat are sell signals Continue reading...

Two iconic brands go head-to-head. Learn which is positioned for success after the COVID-19 pandemic.

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) was one of the business surprises of the COVID-19 pandemic, and not necessarily in a good way. Longbow analyst Alton Stump said things weren't much better in April with same-store sales down 15%, but over the first three weeks of May they've improved to negative 5%, and he thinks the fast-food giant will rebound more quickly than its rivals. McDonald's will benefit, because it's centered around the drive-thru window, which generates about 70% of its business.

In this article we will check out the progression of hedge fund sentiment towards McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and determine whether it is a good investment right now. We at Insider Monkey like to examine what billionaires and hedge funds think of a company before spending days of research on it. Given their 2 and 20 […]

Merck is going after COVID-19 from multiple angles, and McDonald's should benefit from rising restaurant visits.

These three companies are solid dividend payers that are at lower prices than they were earlier this year.

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) are two of the most iconic brands in America. Over the past decade, McDonald's and Coca-Cola generated total returns of about 265% and 140%, respectively, making them sound long-term investments. McDonald's and Coca-Cola are evolving to attract new consumers.

As businesses in the U.S. start to reopen, some McDonalds workers are worried the fast-food chain isn’t doing enough to protect them and their families. Their lawyers have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the burger giant is a “public nuisance.” It’s a strategy that’s been used in the past to try and shutter topless bars. The lawsuit isn’t seeking money, but wants to force McDonalds to supply adequate safety gear, such as face masks, as workers return to work. The employees claim that McDonald’s created unsafe workplace, posing a threat to community health. Workplace safety is typically under the jurisdiction of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration – or OSHA. But by focusing the lawsuit on the threat to the public, the employees are hoping to take their case outside of OSHA and into the courts. This comes as McDonald’s workers around the country have protested, demanding they be given safety gear at work. In Chicago, workers filed at least four complaints with OSHA, but - according to the lawsuit - the agency declined to inspect work sites. OSHA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

KFC is jumping into the chicken sandwich wars with a new chicken sandwich test.

As the rest of the restaurant industry reels from the impact of COVID-19, pizza chains are coming out on top.

On May 21, 2020, McDonald's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.25 per share of common stock payable on June 15, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2020.

Buying shares of Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) or McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is a way to invest in an American classic: the burger. McDonald's reached a peak in annual revenue in 2014, then saw sales slip amid competition from popular fast-casual chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill and competitors with more of an upscale burger like Five Guys.

It has been a difficult year for restaurant stocks to say the least. Thanks to the novel coronavirus, the sector has been absolutely walloped. Even with the market generally recovering strongly, most of the restaurant names remain down in the dumps. Dunkin' Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN) stock, however, is one exception.Source: JStone / Shutterstock.com Shares fell from $75 to $38 during the crash, but are back up to $65 now. And with good reason: Dunkin' should get back to its old highs as investors realize it is one of the best-positioned restaurants in this new economic environment. Why would that be? First, let me tell you a story.Because my youngest son was born in New York and spent the first eight years of his life there, he "grew up" with Dunkin' Donuts. Soon, he became one of the restaurant chain's biggest fans. Almost every weekend, we'd drive to the local Dunkin' shop to pick up a dozen doughnuts, along with a box of doughnut holes.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBut then we moved to California and left the East Coast Dunkin' behind. My son never really got over it. Every time I traveled to the East Coast for business, he'd ask me to bring back a doughnut or two, if I could. And if I couldn't, he'd ask me to at least take a photo of a Dunkin' Donuts shop and send it to him. * 7 Dow Jones Stocks to Buy With Fortress-Like Balance Sheets That's a powerful example of "brand value," and that's one of the traits that will enable Dunkin' Brands to thrive in the post-Covid-19 world. And that tradition will continue well into the next generation and beyond. Plenty of Room for Brand GrowthWhile many East Coasters, like my son, are huge fans of Dunkin' Donuts, much of the country isn't so familiar with Dunkin' yet. The company launched its initial public offering in 2011 in part to raise funds and enhance its public stature as part of a big expansion push across the United States. That is well under way now, as the company has found new franchisees outside of its core East Coast market.There's also a large overseas opportunity for Dunkin' Donuts. International revenues account for just 17% of the company's total sales at this point. However, this could grow a ton. As of year-end 2019, Dunkin' Donuts had more than 13,000 locations. Nearly 10,000 of those are in the United States, and the other 3,500 are international. Three thousand five hundred is an impressive number and shows the potential for the company to become a coffee and fast-food leader around the world, following in the footsteps of McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). Dunkin' Is a Natural Social-Distancing WinnerThe Canton, Massachusetts-based company's other main winning trait is a business model that relies heavily on "takeaway" purchases and mobile deliveries.Takeout orders represented 90% of the company's business even before the quarantines started. Unlike Starbucks, few people go to Dunkin' to hang out and enjoy the ambiance. Dunkin' has never marketed itself as a public space to linger with friends or get work done. So it loses little from switching to all takeout and delivery for the time being.On top of that, Dunkin' is actively finding new clients through delivery services. The company has added delivery alliances with GrubHub (NYSE:GRUB), UberEats (NYSE:UBER), DoorDash and Postmates. Put it all together, and the company has doubled its pre-coronavirus delivery capacity. The Verdict on DNKN StockDunkin' has a fantastic brand. And, unlike a McDonald's or Starbucks, it's not fully saturated yet. There are plenty of markets, both in the United States and overseas, for Dunkin' to tap in to.On top of that, Dunkin' has a unique advantage right now: Its brand is based around its products, but not its in-store experience. People like Dunkin's doughnuts and drinks (and the ice cream at Baskin-Robbins), not the look of its restaurants. Thus, Dunkin' can seamlessly switch to delivery and takeout only for some time, while many competitors lose much of their appeal without dine-in eating.So, I expect Dunkin' Brands to snap back quickly and thrive in the post-coronavirus world. Dunkin' was set to earn more than $3 per share before the virus hit. And the company has historically grown earnings at more than 10% a year thanks to its new-store growth and large share buyback.For a fast-growing franchisee restaurant chain, the market normally would pay at least 25x earnings, which would support a stock price up toward $80. As investors figure out that sales should be steady, and perhaps even increase as the new delivery options kick in, expect shares to continue moving higher.Eric Fry is an award-winning stock picker with numerous "10-bagger" calls -- in good markets AND bad. How? By finding potent global megatrends … before they take off. And when it comes to bear markets, you'll want to have his "blueprint" in hand before stocks go south. Eric does not own the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Dunkin' Brands Has the Perfect Recipe to Overcome Coronavirus Challenges appeared first on InvestorPlace.

These companies provide reliable dividend income for your retirement account even during tough economic times.

Wendy’s, McDonald’s and other quick-service restaurants are weathering the coronavirus pandemic better than many chains because they already conduct a large amount of sales for takeaway or drive thru, according to J.P. Morgan analyst John Ivankoe. They might have already appreciated too much for new investors now, however.

When looking at restaurant stocks, one could hardly find two more formidable fast-food empires than McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM). With almost 39,000 locations and over 50,000 locations, respectively, these mature businesses have moved beyond their high-growth phase.

Kentucky Fried Chicken on Tuesday will begin testing an overhauled sandwich featuring a bigger chicken filet and other modifications that could reignite last year's Great Chicken Sandwich Wars with rivals Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. Brands Inc, will sell the new version of its chicken sandwich for 26 days - or until supplies run out - at 15 locations in and around Orlando, Florida for $3.99. The larger chicken filet will come on a brioche bun with thick pickle slices and mayonnaise.

McDonald's (MCD) focuses on drive-thru, delivery & take-away amid the coronavirus pandemic to drive sales.