-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:
We lower our 12-month target by $4 to $35, 19x our 2026 EPS estimate (down from 20x), a discount to its 26x five-year average justified by competitive headwinds in the pizza quick service restaurant (QSR) industry. We lower our 2026 EPS estimate to $1.83 from $1.94 and 2027's to $2.35 from $2.37. Following Q1 results that included a disappointing performance in North America comp growth (-6.4%), we are lowering our opinion to Hold from Buy. Our previous thesis rested upon the potential for PZZA to translate improvements in its loyalty program, menu, and sales channels into more sustainable comp growth. However, momentum seen in 1H 2025 has faded. In our view, the company's plan to close 300 North American store locations highlights competitive pressures from pizza QSR peers. As a result, PZZA's margin and free cash flow profile have deteriorated more than we thought. Our new Hold opinion contemplates comp momentum in international markets, which is offsetting North American underperformance.