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Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:QSR) Stock, Option Chain

Restaurant Brands Intl

Restaurant Brands International is one of the largest restaurant companies in the world, with approximately $44 billion in 2024 systemwide sales across a footprint that spanned more than 32,000 restaurants and more than 100 countries. The firm generates revenue primarily from retail sales at its company-owned restaurants, royalty fees and lease income from franchised stores, and from its Tim Hortons supply chain operations. Formed in 2014 after 3G Capital's acquisition of Tim Hortons International, the RBI portfolio is split among Burger King (7,082 units), Tim Hortons (4,539 units), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (3,520 units), Firehouse Subs (1,345 units), and international franchise units of those banners (15,639) as of year-end 2024.

KFC-Photo by Tony Papageorge via Shutterstock

Education

Restaurants

TXRH

Having a state in a company name doesn&#39;t mean headquarters are located there. A look at companies headquartered away from their namesake.

Texas Fried Chicken? KFC Moves HQ, But It&#39;s Not The Only State-Named Brand To Relocate

Burger King

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News

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General

Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner maintains an Outperform rating on Restaurant Brands with a $77 price target. Analyst projects a 2.5% same-store sales growth for 2025, slightly under the company&#39;s target, with unit growth forecasted at 3.6%.

Burger King Parent Restaurant Brands Shows Signs Of Improvement Despite Pressures, Analysts Remain Bullish

Earnings

Guidance

Movers

Restaurant Brands International Inc reported a strong fourth-quarter FY24, with sales growing 26.2% year-over-year to $2.296 billion, surpassing estimates. Adjusted EPS of $0.81 exceeded expectations. 

Burger King Parent Restaurant Brands Q4: Earnings Beat, 26% Sales Jump, Popeyes Comps Dip And More

Restaurant Brands International Inc. Common Shares

Restaurant Brands International Inc

Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>) is making headlines for announcing that Kentucky Fried Chicken will soon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43818486/yum-brands-moves-kfcs-us-headquarters-to-texas-in-strategic-shift">be based in Texas.</a> 
While the company has Kentucky in its name, its not the first brand to be headquartered in a different state.
What Happened: Kentucky Fried Chicken, which was founded by Harland Sanders (aka Colonel Sanders) in the 1930s, will soon call Texas home. It joins several other companies moving their headquarters to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39804744/spacex-x-to-move-headquarters-from-california-to-texas-musk-calls-it-the-final-straw-criticizes-gov"> the southern state.</a>
Yum Brands announced the move in February. The company will have two brand headquarters in the U.S., one located in Plano, Texas, and the other in Irvine, California.
Kentucky Fried Chicken U.S. and Pizza Hut global headquarters will be located in Plano, Texas. KFC US is currently headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. KFC US corporate office employees in Kentucky and remote workers are being asked to move to Texas.
Taco Bell and Habit Burger &amp; Grill will be headquartered in Irvine, California. The KFC Foundation and Yum Brands corporate offices will remain in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the transition.
"These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders," Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs <a href="https://www.yum.com/wps/portal/yumbrands/Yumbrands/news/!ut/p/z1/jY9BC4JAFIR_SwevvmeiLt1ECFPJ9iDaXkJjWw11RTf9-0l1EUp6t3l8M8MAgwxYm4-VyFUl27ye9ZnZF0LDrY8xHkniWUi3RniI9o6BiQHpC8Af5yKwf_wrAFuPT4EtK2IS20g9z_QD6pjkZH-AlYwAmKhl8Z7rtoVJBLCe33jPe_3Rz-9SqW7YaajhNE26kFLUXL_KRsNvllIOCrIlCV2TZHi36jFyN0_Y713h/?urile=wcm:oid:54d63edb-2d60-4482-9134-ba1e69af9aac">said</a>. "Ultimately, bringing more of our people together on a consistent basis will maximize our unrivaled culture and talent as a competitive advantage. I'm confident this is another important step in growing our iconic restaurant brands globally."
Yum Brands has over 61,000 restaurants around the world in more than 155 countries with its various brands. The company has over 30,000 KFC locations in 150 countries, including 4,149 <a href="https://locations.kfc.com/">locations </a>in the United States.
The restaurant brand has 114 locations in Kentucky, which ranks 11th of the states. With 324 locations, Texas ranks second for KFC trailing only California (438).
Sanders <a href="https://global.kfc.com/our-history">ran </a>service stations in Nicholasville and Corbin, Kentucky and served his fried chicken to &nbsp;travelers using his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices. The Corbin location is the company's original and in 1952 the first KFC franchise location was opened in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43531677/yum-brands-stock-shines-after-q4-earnings-beat-fueled-by-taco-bell-and-kfc-growth-engines"> Yum! Brands Stock Shines After Q4 Earnings Beat, Fueled By Taco Bell and KFC Growth Engines</a>
Other Companies With Out-Of-State Headquarters: Kentucky Fried Chicken, which many people know as KFC, won't be the first company with a state in their title to be headquartered elsewhere.
Here are some other companies that have state names in their titles, but aren't headquartered there.
Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPX#NYSE">LPX</a>): Building materials manufacturer was founded in Portland, Oregon and originally a part of Georgia-Pacific. The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee today.
Alaska Airlines, a unit of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALK#NYSE">ALK</a>): Regional airline company was started as a dominant airline in Alaska and Alaska Air Group was founded in 1985 as the holding company for the brand.
AriZona Beverages: Best known for the AriZona Ice Tea brand and its famous 99-cent pricing in most locations, the company is not headquartered in Arizona. The company was founded in 1992 in New York and remains headquartered there today.
Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>): Restaurant company was founded in 1993 in Indiana and is now headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen: Restaurant company was founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1972, but is headquartered in Miami, Florida today. The company is owned by Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>).
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/10/41492239/mcdonalds-once-owned-90-of-chipotle-why-it-sold-stake-too-early-missed-73-billion-opportunity">McDonald&#8217;s Once Owned 90% Of Chipotle: Why It Sold Stake Too Early, Missed $73 Billion Opportunity</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Texas Fried Chicken? KFC Moves HQ, But It's Not The Only State-Named Brand To Relocate

This marks the entry into the Asia-Pacific region for the brand, through a development and franchise agreement between a subsidiary of the parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies, and RFG. RFG is the owner of popular brands Gloria Jeans Coffees, Donut King, Brumby's Bakery, Beefy's Pies and Crust Pizza.&nbsp;

Reported Earlier, Restaurant Brands International Launches Firehouse Subs In Australia, Targeting 165 Locations In 10 Years

Restaurant Brands Now Owns Nearly 100% Of Burger King China Business; Plans To Engage Advisors To Identify A New Local Partner To Inject Primary Capital Into The Business

Restaurant Brands Says Subsidiary Acquired From TFI Asia And Pangaea Two Acquisition All Their Equity Interests In Burger King China For $158M In All-cash Transaction

Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner reiterated an Outperform rating on Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/qsr/analyst-ratings">price forecast of $77.00.</a>
Management <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43656323/burger-king-parent-restaurant-brands-posts-q4-beat-on-robust-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">expects EBIT growth for 2025</a> to align with the long-term target of over 8%. Key expectations include segment G&amp;A between $650 million and $670 million, approximately 19% TH-distribution margins, an ~$58 million benefit from the expiration of BK-US corporate advertising expenses, and a ~$19 million headwind due to BK China.
Adjusting the model, the analyst projects 2025E same-store sales (SSS) growth of +2.5%, which is slightly below the company&#8217;s annual target of 3%+.
There are several variables at play, and while management did not give a precise SSS forecast for 2025E, they indicated that the first quarter will likely be the weakest of the year, impacted by a 100 basis points leap-day headwind, before easier comparisons come into play.
The analyst anticipates +1.8% growth in the first quarter of FY25, followed by an average of +2.8% for the second through fourth quarters.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43666608/kroger-names-pepsico-executive-as-finance-head" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grocery Giant Kroger Picks PepsiCo Executive David Kennerley As Finance Head</a>
QSR intends to offer an official unit growth forecast for 2025E once it reaches an agreement with its BK-China franchisee. For the time being, the analyst projects 2025E unit growth at +3.6%, slightly higher than the +3.4% growth seen in 2024.
EPS of $0.81 exceeded the Street&#8217;s estimate of $0.79, and EBITDA also came in higher at $688 million, surpassing the expected $683 million. Profits from TH, BK, and FHS were better than expected, noted the analyst.
The analyst has adjusted &#8217;25E/&#8217; 26E EPS to $3.61/$3.97 (from $3.64/$4.03) and EBITDA to $2.96 billion/ $3.17 billion from $2.99 billion/$3.19 billion.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Logan Reich reiterated the Outperform rating on the shares with a price forecast of $80.00.
QSR&#8217;s fourth-quarter report highlighted signs of improving trends, although expectations from the buy-side had risen before the results were released, noted the analyst.
On a positive note, same-store sales exceeded expectations across all segments, with the exception of TH, which was only 20 basis points below, likely better than anticipated, considering McDonald&#8217;s Corp&#8216;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43592025" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier comments this week.</a>
International performance stood out with a 190 basis point increase. Management remains confident in achieving long-term algorithmic AOI growth of over 8% in &#8217;25, despite challenges from FX and BK China.
On the downside, there was limited commentary on BK US trends for the first quarter, which is expected to remain a concern due to heightened competitive pressures, noted the analyst.
Price Action: QSR shares are trading higher by 0.31% at $66.04 at the last check Thursday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43698996/fast-food-chain-wendys-stocks-dip-despite-q4-beat-as-outlook-disappoints" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wendy&#8217;s Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations, Accelerated Growth Investments And Dividend Cut On The Menu</a></li>
</ul>

Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintains Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $85 to $83.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Restaurant Brands Intl, Lowers Price Target to $83

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $83 to $80.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Restaurant Brands Intl, Lowers Price Target to $80

TD Securities analyst Andrew Charles reiterates Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a Buy and maintains $70 price target.

TD Securities Reiterates Buy on Restaurant Brands Intl, Maintains $70 Price Target

Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) shares are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading higher in premarket</a> on Wednesday.
The company reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 26.2% year-on-year to $2.296 billion, beating the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43651950/restaurant-brands-international-inc-reports-full-year-and-fourth-quarter-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of $2.274 billion</a>.
Consolidated comparable sales increased 2.5%, and net restaurants grew 3.4% versus the prior year. Consolidated system-wide sales increased 5.6%.
Comparable sales for Tim Hortons rose 2.2%, Burger King increased 1.1%, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen slipped 0.2%. Revenue for Burger King rose 8.6%, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen increased 10.4%.
Adjusted EPS of $0.81 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus estimate of $0.79.</a>
General and administrative expenses remained flat year over year. The operating income for the quarter climbed 35.6% to $635 million.
Restaurant Brands held $1.3 billion in cash and equivalents as of December-end. Net cash provided by operating activities for twelve months totaled $1.5 billion.
Restaurant Brands&#8217; Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.62 per common share, payable on April 4 to shareholders and unitholders of record on March 21.
&#8220;I am proud of our performance this year, reflecting the strong foundations we&#8217;re building across our businesses and the dedication of our teams and franchisees who are executing the fundamentals of quality, service, and convenience with excellence,&#8221; said CEO Josh Kobza.
Outlook: Restaurant Brands expects FY25 segment general and administrative expenses, excluding RH, of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">$650 million &#8211; $670 million.</a>
Restaurant Brands&nbsp;continues to expect&nbsp;to achieve, on average, from 2024 to&nbsp;2028,&nbsp;comparable sales of 3%+, net restaurant growth of 5%+, and system-wide sales growth of 8%+.
Price Action: QSR shares traded higher by 3.29% at $69.10 in premarket at the last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43635736/coty-faces-challenges-as-category-weakness-lies-ahead-say-analysts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coty Faces Challenges As Category Weakness Lies Ahead, Say Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Savvapanf on Shutterstock.

Restaurant Brands International shares are trading higher following better-than-expected Q4 financial results.

RBI Q4 Global Comparable Sales Grew 2.5%

Earnings Beats

Restaurant Brands Intl Q4 2024 Adj. EPS $0.81 Beats $0.79 Estimate, Sales $2.296B Beat $2.274B Estimate

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Earnings Scheduled For February 12, 2025

It's a battle of the stocks as Kraft Heinz Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NYSE">KHC</a>) and Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) prepare to release their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday</a>.
The technical indicators paint two very different pictures for these stocks, and both face crucial resistance levels as they approach their earnings reports.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kraft Heinz: Battling Bears &amp; Resistance</h2>
KHC stock has had a rough ride, down 19.09% over the past year and 4.39% year-to-date. Trading at $29.43, the stock is below its five, 20, and 50-day exponential moving averages, signaling a strong bearish trend. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="486" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131044/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.23-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-777117" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131044/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.23-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131044/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.23-PM-300x231.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
The eight-day and 20-day simple moving averages (SMAs) are at $29.14 and $29.27, respectively, with the stock trading above them, suggesting short-term strength. 
However, the stock's MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) of a negative 0.28 indicates bearish sentiment. KHC stock also trades below its 50-day SMA of $30.15 and its 200-day SMA of $33.34, with its RSI (relative strength index) of 48.56 hints at neutral conditions. 
Any dip in RSI from here towards oversold conditions under 30, could set the stage for a possible rebound if earnings surprise positively.
Wall Street expects fourth-quarter earnings of 78 cents per share and $6.67 billion in revenue, per <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43474912/coffee-prices-soar-over-100-near-historic-rally-as-inflation-percolates-through-supply-chain">Coffee Prices Soar Over 100%, Near Historic Rally As Inflation Percolates Through Supply Chain</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Restaurant Brands: Riding The Bullish Wave</h2>
Restaurant Brands, the parent company of Tim Hortons and Burger King, is enjoying a more bullish outlook. Trading at $66.13, QSR stock is above its five, 20, and 50-day exponential moving averages, indicating strong buying pressure.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="486" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131054/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.33-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-777118" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131054/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.33-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/11131054/Screenshot-2025-02-11-at-11.28.33-PM-300x231.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
The eight-day SMA of $63.58 and 20-day SMA of $62.25 signal further upward momentum, although the 200-day SMA at $69.00 presents resistance. 
With an RSI of 66.44, QSR is nearing overbought levels, signaling caution. 
Wall Street expects fourth-quarter earnings of 79 cents per share and $2.27 billion in revenue, per <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investor Takeaways</h2>
Kraft Heinz faces a fight against bearish trends, but a strong earnings report could spark a rebound. 
Restaurant Brands is riding high but may hit resistance—investors should watch for signs of a pullback before jumping in.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43616252/bill-ackman-calls-out-coca-cola-pepsi-over-obesity-crisis-ross-gerber-notes-he-owns-several-crap-food-companies">Bill Ackman Calls Out Coca-Cola, Pepsi Over Obesity Crisis — Ross Gerber Notes &#8216;He Owns Several Crap Food Companies&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Technicals

Previews

Kraft Heinz Vs. Restaurant Brands: The Technical Showdown Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Pershing Square Capital CEO Bill Ackman sparked controversy on social media platform X by criticizing the Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NYSE">PEP</a>) over their marketing practices, comparing them to tobacco companies and linking them to obesity and diabetes concerns.
What Happened: Ackman&#8217;s comments came in response to Cindy Crawford&#8216;s iconic 1992 Pepsi commercial, where he stated, &#8220;This is why we have an obesity crisis in America. She wouldn&#8217;t look like that if she actually drank Pepsi.&#8221; 
He questioned why class action lawyers haven&#8217;t pursued legal action against the beverage giants for what he considers misleading advertising.
Critics quickly pointed out potential contradictions in Ackman&#8217;s stance. Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), the parent company of Burger King, represents <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/08/40322250/bill-ackmans-third-largest-holding-faces-bearish-headwinds-despite-tim-hortons-boost">Pershing Square&#8217;s third-largest position</a>.
The firm also holds a significant stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>). Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, highlighted this apparent disconnect, noting that &#8220;He owns several crap food companies.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">He owns several crap food companies.
&mdash; Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1889079387225805090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43613306/ios-1831-released-with-critical-security-fix-apple-confirms-usb-restricted-mode-vulnerability-was-actively-exploited">iOS 18.3.1 Released With Critical Security Fix: Apple Confirms USB Restricted Mode Vulnerability Was Actively Exploited</a>
What Happened: The billionaire investor&#8217;s broader critique extends beyond advertising. Ackman previously argued that both companies have failed to adequately disclose health impacts and have suppressed criticism. He contends that their reported profitability doesn&#8217;t account for societal costs, particularly affecting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/01/30252254/is-bill-ackman-hypocrite-for-going-after-pepsico-coca-cola-warren-buffett-fan-highl">lower-income communities and children</a>.
In 2023, Christopher Bloomstran, CIO of Semper Augustus Investments, noted that Pershing&#8217;s top four holdings, which include Lowe&#8217;s Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>) and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLT#NYSE">HLT</a>), all distribute Coca-Cola and PepsiCo products. 
This observation further fueled debate about the consistency of Ackman&#8217;s position on beverage industry practices while maintaining investments in their distribution channels.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43613133/trumps-25-tarrifs-a-self-inflicted-wound-says-economist-amid-warnings-of-fewer-american-jobs-peter-schiff-says-youll-pay-more-for-cars-and-homes">Trump&#8217;s 25% Tariffs A &#8216;Self-Inflicted Wound,&#8217; Says Economist Amid Warnings Of Fewer American Jobs — Peter Schiff Says You&#8217;ll Pay More For Cars And Homes</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Social Media

Markets

Bill Ackman Calls Out Coca-Cola, Pepsi Over Obesity Crisis — Ross Gerber Notes 'He Owns Several Crap Food Companies'

Americans' coffee addiction is about to get a lot more expensive. With 66% of the population drinking coffee daily and an average intake of 2-3 cups per person, the U.S. is the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/coffee">world&#8217;s largest coffee market. </a>
Yet, a fresh jolt of bad news is hitting consumers: coffee prices have surged to fresh records, surpassing levels last seen in 1977, and the rally isn&#8217;t slowing down.
Coffee has become the best-performing asset of 2025 so far, soaring 20% in just over a month—outpacing every major stock market index and even Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).
Arabica coffee futures have now climbed for 10 consecutive sessions through Feb. 4, nearing what could be the longest winning streak ever recorded. 
On Tuesday, Arabica coffee traded at $3.90 per pound, marking a staggering 100% increase from a year ago. This surge threatens to percolate through the entire supply chain, raising concerns that consumers could soon face skyrocketing inflation on their daily coffee cups. 
With demand unwavering and supply chains under pressure, is a $10 cup of coffee on the horizon? And which companies can benefit from it?
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: Coffee Price Skyrockets To Record Highs </h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="503" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26-1024x503.png" alt="" class="wp-image-765306" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26-1024x503.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26-300x147.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26-768x377.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26-1536x754.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/04122554/image-26.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Coffee Retail Prices Set To Surge Amid Market Disruption</h3>
&#8220;I have a prediction about coffee, and I wish I weren&#8217;t so confident about that,&#8221; said Bloomberg&#8217;s Javier Blas in a video published on X Monday. 
His outlook? Double-digit price hikes for a cup of coffee in the coming months. The main culprit behind the surge is a severe production shortfall in Brazil and Vietnam, the world's top two coffee producers, where bad weather and climate change have damaged crops. 
In its first estimate for the 2025/26 season, Brazil's government crop forecasting agency projected a 4.4% year-over-year decline in coffee output, hitting a three-year low of 51.81 million bags. 
Meanwhile, Blas warns that global stockpiles could fall to their second-lowest level in 65 years as supply struggles to keep pace with demand.
&#8220;Global stockpiles [of coffee] could fall at the second-lowest level in 65 years,&#8221; Blas said. 
According to Blas, the coffee supply chain has been in deficit for four consecutive years, with demand exceeding supply by 15 to 20 million bags annually, leading to a sharp drain in reserves. 
Adding to the crisis are geopolitical tensions tied to Donald Trump's trade tariffs, which have rattled markets. 
Colombia, the world's third-largest coffee producer, faces potential U.S. tariffs amid disputes over illegal migration, further tightening an already stretched coffee market. "Just the threat of tariffs is enough to scare the market," Blas stated. 
Bottom line, the expert forecasts a 20-25% increase in retail coffee prices within the next few months—making that morning cup significantly more expensive.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Coffee prices are surging and your daily cup is about to get much more expensive. <a href="https://twitter.com/JavierBlas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JavierBlas</a> explains why &#x1f3a5; <a href="https://t.co/OyBF01OsYB">pic.twitter.com/OyBF01OsYB</a>
&mdash; Bloomberg Opinion (@opinion) <a href="https://twitter.com/opinion/status/1886388355878768941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Higher Coffee Prices: Are You a Price Taker or a Price Setter?</h3>
The skyrocketing cost of coffee is set to reshape the industry, testing which companies can pass rising costs onto consumers and which will see their margins squeezed. 
As coffee futures surge to record highs, businesses from coffee chains to fast food giants are under pressure to adjust pricing strategies—or risk profitability declines.
Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) has recently been a standout performer, with shares rallying 27% since the December 2024 lows, reaching levels last seen in May 2023.
&#8220;[Starbucks] has introduced a new pricing architecture,&#8221; Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho said after the world&#8217;s largest coffee chain published quarterly results last week.
This might potentially indicate investor confidence in Starbucks&#8217; ability to raise prices without losing customers. With a loyal customer base and a premium brand, Starbucks might be positioned as a price setter in the coffee market.
McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) could struggle to pass on higher coffee costs. 
While not exclusively a coffee chain, McCafé is a significant revenue driver. Yet, McDonald&#8217;s core customer base is highly price-sensitive. Unlike Starbucks, McDonald&#8217;s might have less flexibility to raise coffee prices without impacting sales. Investors seem to agree—MCD shares have fallen nearly 10% since October 2024.
Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), the owner of Tim Hortons, one of the largest coffee chains in Canada, is another company feeling the heat. With shares down 25% since March 2024, the stock&#8217;s performance suggests concerns over its ability to manage higher input costs. Investors will be watching closely when QSR reports fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 12, 2025.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-coffee-stocks">Top Performing Coffee Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: il21/Shutterstock.com

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Coffee Prices Soar Over 100%, Near Historic Rally As Inflation Percolates Through Supply Chain

Guggenheim analyst Gregory Francfort upgrades Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) from Neutral to Buy and lowers the price target from $74 to $71.

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Guggenheim Upgrades Restaurant Brands Intl to Buy, Lowers Price Target to $71

Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintains Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $81 to $73.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Restaurant Brands Intl, Lowers Price Target to $73

A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tiktok">TikTok </a>post from an Ohio woman showing several weed buds found in her daughter's Burger King order has gone viral. The user, JannaBama, says she bought her daughter&#8217;s chicken fries at a drive-thru Sunday night at the Burger King in Hamilton. Once home, she unpacked the food order and found what looked like enough weed buds for several joints.
"I went to Burger King tonight. I got my kid some chicken fries,&#8221; she began on the video. &#8220;Listen, I need you guys to listen." She then held up the small empty bag where the chicken fries were packed and turned around to show the inside. "If you look in there, you can see some residue."
 &#8220;She got her chicken fries,&#8221; JannaBama said moving her camera down to show several cannabis buds in a plate. &#8220;Chicken fries with a side of, do you see that? You can&#8217;t say that on here… (TikTok). Mary Jane, from Burger King in Hamilton, Ohio.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok"> 
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<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@jannamichelle6/video/7458899714814250286" data-video-id="7458899714814250286" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@jannamichelle6" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jannamichelle6?refer=embed">@jannamichelle6</a>
Cannot make this up &#x1f633; !!! I didn't ask for a side of this @Burger King. <a title="ohio" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ohio?refer=embed">#ohio</a> <a title="sideorder" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sideorder?refer=embed">#sideorder</a> <a title="tiktokmademebuyit" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tiktokmademebuyit?refer=embed">#tiktokmademebuyit</a> 
 <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - JannaBama" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7458899700805192490?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; JannaBama</a> </section> </blockquote>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div>
</figure>
"Cannot make this up," said the post caption. "I didn't ask for a side of this."
As of mid-afternoon on Jan. 14, JannaBama's video has over 150,00 views with over 100,00 likes.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42965533/elon-musk-emerges-as-potential-tiktok-us-buyer-as-ban-deadline-looms-company-terms-it-pure-fiction">Elon Musk Emerges As Potential TikTok US Buyer As Ban Deadline Looms, Company Terms It &#8216;Pure Fiction&#8217;</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Authorities Respond</h1>
&#8220;We contacted the Franchisee of this restaurant immediately upon learning of this incident and can confirm that the employee in question has been terminated,&#8221; a Burger King spokesperson told local media outlets.&nbsp;&#8220;We were very disappointed to learn of the incident and do not take incidents that put our guests in danger lightly.&#8221;
Hamilton police Sgt. Brian Ungerbuehler <a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/01/14/burger-king-worker-fired-after-woman-finds-marijuana-with-childs-food/77694524007/">told</a> Cincinnati.com in an email that while no formal reports were made to the department, its officers are "actively investigating," the incident, adding that more information will be released once it becomes available.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">TikTok&#8217;s Woes Are Far Worse Than Burger King&#8217;s</h1>
TikTok, which boasts over 170 million users in the U.S., is facing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42496518/tiktok-ban-signed-into-law-what-it-means-for-americas-15-billion-small-business-economy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">law that threatens to block the social media app</a>. President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712643/trump-asks-supreme-court-to-delay-tiktok-ban-as-he-pursues-a-political-resolution">is seeking </a>a &#8220;political resolution&#8221; to the TikTok ban. The Supreme Court has signaled support for enforcing the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495579/lawmakers-demand-apple-and-google-remove-tiktok-by-jan-19-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Jan. 19 deadline.</a>
Burger King is part of Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>).
Now Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To &#8216;Deliver Immediately&#8217; On His &#8216;Promise&#8217; To Save App From US Ban: &#8216;We Don&#8217;t Need The Supreme Court To…&#8217;</a></li>
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Large Fries And Side Of Weed? TikTok Post From Woman Who Got Cannabis In Her Burger King Order Goes Viral

BofA Securities analysts Sara Senatore and Katherine Griffin expressed their views on the restaurant industry for the year ahead 2025.
The analysts expect slow but still healthy job growth to support restaurant demand, industry pricing to moderate, and promotional activity to rise as input prices fall.
Notably, the analysts write that the industry growth in 2024 aligned with historical averages—Blackbox industry SSSG was -0.2% compared to the 2013-2019 average of -0.1%, and PCE growth was +4.9% versus the pre-COVID average of +5.1%, according to the analysts.
However, the analysts add that growth patterns were atypical, with fine dining and traditional Quickservice underperforming, while midscale and casual dining performed better.
Senatore and Griffin attribute this shift to a reversion to pre-COVID consumption behaviors and expect more typical industry trends in 2025.
The analysts maintain a Buy rating on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sbux/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price forecast of $117</a>.
The analysts remain confident in the brand&#8217;s strength and the potential to reallocate resources to more productive areas.
Also, the analysts reiterated an Underperform rating on Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), expecting reinvestment needs to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/qsr/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">constrain topline and EPS growth</a>.
Also, the analysts cut the revenue forecasts for QSR, anticipating increased competitive pressures.
On the other hand, Senatore and Griffin lowered the price forecast on Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNUT#NASDAQ">DNUT</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/dnut/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">to $14 from $17 prior</a>.
The analysts also lowered the company&#8217;s estimates, reflecting slightly lower topline growth and higher operating expenses in the first half of 2025.
Meanwhile, the analysts maintained a price forecast of $87 for Sysco Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYY#NYSE">SYY</a>), and higher EBITDA estimates reflected lower operating expense assumptions.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42859415/easing-inflation-brings-hope-to-restaurants-in-2025-but-uncertainty-lingers-analyst-upgrades-shake-shack-and-dutch-bros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Easing Inflation Brings Hope To Restaurants In 2025 But Uncertainty Lingers: Analyst Upgrades Shake Shack And Dutch Bros</a></li>
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Photo via Shutterstock.

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Starbucks Shines, QSR Faces Challenges: BofA's 2025 Restaurant Outlook

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Restaurant Brands International Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

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