Posted on 07/04/2011 1:19:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
We live in a backwards world where great things happen to bad people, bad things happen to good people, and where Sarah Palin is considered a legitimate presidential candidate. The greatest example of the inverse nature of our universe is the success, or lack of success found by restaurants around the world, particularly the United States. We live in a world where Noah’s Bagels nears bankruptcy while McDonalds thrives on our fatty flesh (and charging for sauce packets? GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.).
In a list published by The Street, twenty restaurant chains are at risk of going under. Some are on their way up, others on their way down, and some are just chilling out in mediocrity. The list was compiled using an Altman score which combines a bunch of different factors to measure the health of a company (and its investment quality). Over a 3.1, you’re all good; under a 1.8 and you’re screwed; anywhere in between is a glorious grey mass. It should be noted that a company filing for bankruptcy does not equal its’ speedy dismissal from this Earth. Marie Callender’s went bankrupt earlier this year, and while they’ll be closing many of their mediocre restaurants; I’m almost positive the one outside Six Flags Magic Mountain will remain open. Thank God, how else am I supposed to get free parking for Six Flags? Oh, and expensive pies.
Red Robin and Sonic are both on their way out of despair, which is a shame; there is nowhere more mediocre than a Sonic restaurant. It’s the kind of place people go to because they can’t come up with anything more interesting, or after they've already been to Carl’s Jr. four times that week. Red Robin is overpriced, and the service has always been “meh”. Seriously, charge me fifteen dollars for a burger without smiling? Screw you, bro.
Noah’s Bagels is also recovering, which is great; because I’d probably cry if the only decent bagel place in my area shut down. Domino’s Pizza is also considered a bankruptcy risk, although its’ stock has risen 85% over the past year. It remains 29% lower than it was pre-recession, but that’s partially because the pizza tasted like cardboard until about a year ago. Moral of the story: bad companies have a harder time selling their slop when no one has any money.
DineEquity, the restaurant group that owns Applebee’s and IHOP is also struggling mightily, although the almost-as-good-as-TGI-Fridays casual restaurant chain has experienced some growth recently due to a revitalization of the brand. IHOP has continued to struggle though, probably because the pancakes suck, and Denny’s is at least perceived as having a greater swath of options than a place that is dedicated 100% to pancakes, more or less.
Apparently not as many people are thinking Arby’s as the commercials claimed; the Wendy’s/Arby’s group is diverging, so that the company can focus on their namesake brand (Wendy’s). First step: Enough of the damned sea-salt french fries. My hamster loves them, but hey, he also licks a block of salt all day just to get his kicks. This is one company that is moving downwards right now, which seems to be the exception and not the rule on this list.
Denny’s is a weird one because while it has turned a profit four straight years, it has a negative Altman score. I’m obviously not a stock expert, but this seems weird to me. Apparently the chain has underperformed and taken heat for giving away too much food; all I know is that those grand slam breakfasts are freaking awesome -- as is the heartburn that follows.
Here’s a list of the twenty riskiest restaurant stocks, better head out to your favorite’s to hopefully push them back towards the black! The list goes from least risky to most risky:
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Sonic
Ruby Tuesday
J. Alexander’s
Carrols Restaurant Group
Einstein Noah Restaurant Group
O’Charley’s
Kona Grill
Ruth’s Hospitality Group
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Bravo Brio Restaurant Group
Domino’s Pizza
Rick’s Cabaret International
DineEquity
Morton’s Restaurant Group
Wendy's/Arby's
Granite City Food & Brewery
Denny’s
Good Times Restaurants
Cosi
Author working overtime to try to be clever. AND it shows.
The Rick’s Cabaret, that I know is for pole dancing, not food.
Obama’s fault.
“Rick’s Cabaret International”
I do not believe that Rick’s Cabaret International is technically a restaurant.
Morton’s Restaurant Group
Morton’s would be a tough one to lose.
Our family stopped at a Wendy’s yesterday and the tab came to $31! We would have spent about the same at a much nicer sit-down restaurant.
Travel more. Sure we are the kings of quick eats, but every country have their versions of quick eats. You have the traditional fish n chips in england, kebabs, falafel, chinese fast food, german brats. I mean sure, we have all the chain stores, but doesnt mean theyre good places to eat, just means theyre open everywhere. As for me, personally id rather eat at a non-chain fast food place if im eating that type of food, as they tend to be by far the best fast food.
Go to Fogo de Chao once and you will never go to Morton’s again.
Wendy's made a considerable improvement with their fries. Before they tasted like the OreIda fries that you left in the back of your freezer for three years and then decided to try to cook them anyway. Not so much nasty as tasting of fried cardboard. Now they are half way decent.
I never liked Lenny’s.
I like Wendy’s new fries...
Cincinnati...I hate them!
The only problem with that Red Robin is that you have to go to Patriot Place.
I’ve been there about 10 times and hated every minute of it. (I went because others wanted to see it}
Been following presidential politics since 1956...never seen anything like the media hit on Palin. Libs appear terrified of a beautiful, successful, married with kids, conservative woman.
Just terrified. Oh my, how they hate her.
We live in a backward world when we get our information from a web site called Pop Blend.
(Save your cheapest shots for those who lob them.)
I regard a little junk food as an indulgence for a little celebration, not a steady diet. My current favorite fast food burger is the Little Thickburger from Hardee's--I order no cheese, no catsup and easy on the mayo. This smaller burger is just right for your burger attack, and they put plenty of lettuce and tomato.
Yes...Wendy’s is way too expensive for what you get.
Interesting read to look at minimum investment for various franchises.
Subway/Blimpies at about $80k,..McDonalds at $200k,...KFC at $360k,...Jack in the Box at over $1.1mil.
http://www.franchisegenius.com/search.php?page=10&z_sortby=&sortdir=ASC
“Our family stopped at a Wendy’s yesterday and the tab came to $31! We would have spent about the same at a much nicer sit-down restaurant.”
Yea - their whole segment of the restaurant business is going to get squeezed out. We’ll wind up like much of Europe, with some very efficient fast-food places that Americans will use when they feel like splurging once a month or so, and some very upscale restaurants for the Chinese to eat at, when they visit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.