What Happened?
Shares of fast-food pizza chain Domino’s (NYSE:DPZ)
jumped 3.2% in the morning session after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results, with strong sales and profits that topped analyst estimates.
The positive results were driven by an acceleration in same-store sales, which grew 5.2% year on year and significantly outperformed Wall Street's estimates. The company's revenue increased 6.2% to $1.15 billion, and its earnings per share came in at $4.08, both beating forecasts. Furthermore, Domino's blew past analysts' adjusted EBITDA expectations and expanded its operating margin to 19.5%, demonstrating efficient cost management and strong profitability.
After the initial pop the shares cooled down to $423.29, up 3.7% from previous close.
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What Is The Market Telling Us
Domino’s shares are not very volatile and have only had 5 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was 18 days ago when the stock gained 4.3% on the news that a key inflation data (PCE) aligned with forecasts, bolstering hopes for continued interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.
The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the central bank's preferred gauge of inflation, showed a slight year-over-year increase in August but did not surprise economists. This report was met with relief on Wall Street, as it suggests inflationary pressures remain contained, giving the Federal Reserve more leeway to continue its monetary easing policy. Investors interpreted the news as a positive sign that the Fed can support the economy without risking runaway inflation. The positive sentiment helped the major indices claw back some of the losses from a recent three-day slide, with stocks rising across various sectors.
Domino's is down 2.7% since the beginning of the year, and at $423.29 per share, it is trading 14.9% below its 52-week high of $497.52 from May 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Domino’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,050.
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