OPINIONFinancing

When chains go from sizzle to fizzle

Restaurant Rewind: Dutch Bros’ stock price dropped 37% in a day last week. It’s far from the only public restaurant chain to go from an investor darling to a source of Wall Street consternation in one trading day.

One of the downsides of being a public company is the fickleness of Wall Street. If investors so much as suspect a holding will fall short of expectations, they’ll mercilessly hammer down the value of a high-flying issue, even if the business fundamentals remain largely unchanged. They can fall in and out of love as easily as a teenager.

A case in point: Dutch Bros, the drive-thru coffee chain that lost 37% of its stock value in a single trading day because of a decline in comparable store sales for the first quarter.

In this week’s edition of Restaurant Rewind, the RB podcast that delves into the industry’s past for a deeper understanding of what’s happening today, host and RB Editor-at-Large Peter Romeo looks at two past instances of an investment darling going from sizzle to fizzle in a flash.  

The familiarity of those brands is a testament that restaurants are a business of peaks and valleys. But see for yourself by giving a listen.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Investors regain their taste for Sweetgreen

The Bottom Line: The salad chain’s stock rose 34% on Friday after sales and profitability were better than expected. The company’s shares are above its IPO price for the first time in two years.

Financing

Here's a business tool to keep restaurant executives employed after a tough Q1

Reality Check: The first three months of 2024 weren’t easy on restaurant chains, but spin-doctoring proved to be. Indeed, there must have been a run on shovels.

Food

The Taiwanese wheel cake may just become the next cronut

Behind the Menu: Money Cake opens in New York, tempting pastry fans with the waffle-cream puff hybrid.

Trending

More from our partners