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Papa John's International (PZZA)
NASDAQ:PZZA
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Papa John's International (PZZA) AI Stock Analysis

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PZZA

Papa John's International

(NASDAQ:PZZA)

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Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:50Neutral
Price Target:
$35.00
▼(-6.57% Downside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:05/09/26
The score is held down primarily by balance-sheet risk (negative equity with high debt) and weakening profitability/cash-flow trends, alongside bearish technicals with the stock below key moving averages. These are partially offset by a moderate P/E and a high dividend yield, plus earnings-call initiatives (cost and supply-chain savings, refranchising) that could improve margins over time despite near-term North America pressure.
Positive Factors
Loyalty Program Strength
A ~42M-member loyalty base with ~1M Q1 net adds increases purchase frequency and slightly higher tickets versus non-members. Durable digital engagement lowers customer acquisition costs, boosts repeat orders and lifetime value, supporting recurring royalty and system sales over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Negative Equity & High Leverage
Persistent negative shareholders' equity and nearly $1B of debt materially reduce financial flexibility. With covenant leverage around 3.3x, the capital structure increases refinancing and covenant risk, limiting the firm's ability to invest or absorb shocks if operating performance weakens.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Loyalty Program Strength
A ~42M-member loyalty base with ~1M Q1 net adds increases purchase frequency and slightly higher tickets versus non-members. Durable digital engagement lowers customer acquisition costs, boosts repeat orders and lifetime value, supporting recurring royalty and system sales over the medium term.
Read all positive factors

Papa John's International Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down revenue across different business segments, highlighting which areas are driving growth and where there might be challenges.
Chart InsightsPapa John's is experiencing a mixed revenue trend across segments. The 'Other' segment has seen a significant decline, possibly due to strategic refranchising and market optimization efforts. However, international sales show resilience with a 4% increase, supported by growth in the U.K. and the Middle East. Despite challenges like labor and food cost pressures, North America is recovering with innovative menu offerings boosting sales. The company's strategic initiatives, including a $9 million marketing investment and supply chain cost savings, aim to enhance profitability and drive sustainable growth.
Data provided by:The Fly

Papa John's International (PZZA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Papa John's International Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
Papa John's International, Inc. operates and franchises pizza delivery and carryout restaurants under the Papa John's trademark in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Domestic Company-Owned Restaurants, North ...
How the Company Makes Money
Papa John’s makes money through a mix of retail restaurant sales, franchise-related income, and supply chain revenue. (1) Company-owned restaurant sales: The company generates revenue directly from pizzas and other menu items sold to customers at ...

Papa John's International Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2026
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jul 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a balanced picture: meaningful progress on international growth, loyalty expansion, product innovation (Pan Pizza, sandwiches), brand extensions (retail sauce, Toy Story 5), and tangible supply-chain and company-owned store margin improvements. Offsetting these positives were notable North America weaknesses — mid-single-digit comparable sales declines driven by lower transactions and small-pizza mix shifts — along with an 8% decline in consolidated revenue, a modest adjusted EBITDA decline, commissary margin compression, and a small free cash flow outflow. Management reiterated cautious guidance and emphasized that the transformation is ongoing, with several initiatives expected to drive sequential improvement later in the year.
Positive Updates
International Comparable Sales Momentum
International comparable sales grew ~3.6% (company stated six consecutive quarters of positive comps), with standout markets: U.K. comps up 11% (vs 7% prior quarter), Middle East comps +9%, and Asia Pacific +5%, driven by product innovation, partnerships and holiday demand.
Negative Updates
North America Comparable Sales Weakness
North America comparable sales finished the quarter down mid-single digits (management cited transaction declines and lower new customer acquisition; investor reference in Q&A indicated roughly -6.4% for the quarter), driven primarily by fewer orders and a shift to smaller, nonspecialty pizzas.
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Negative
International Comparable Sales Momentum
International comparable sales grew ~3.6% (company stated six consecutive quarters of positive comps), with standout markets: U.K. comps up 11% (vs 7% prior quarter), Middle East comps +9%, and Asia Pacific +5%, driven by product innovation, partnerships and holiday demand.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Papa John's reiterated 2026 guidance calling for global system‑wide sales to be flat to down low‑single‑digits, North America comps down 2%–4% (April slightly worse y/y but in line on a 3‑year stack), international comps +2%–4%, and consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $200M–$210M; they plan ~$18M of supplemental marketing and franchisee subsidies, expect $13M of G&A savings (outside marketing), have line‑of‑sight to at least $30M of total cost savings by end‑2027, are on track for ≥$25M of supply‑chain savings this year (captured ~$7M in Q1), see ≥$60M NA supply‑chain opportunity (≈160 bps 4‑wall EBITDA improvement by 2028) and at least 200 bps of 4‑wall EBITDA improvement over the medium term. Additional metrics: available liquidity ~$498M, covenant leverage 3.3x, net cash from operations $7M, free cash flow outflow $6M, Q1 global system sales $1.2B (‑3% cc), consolidated revenue $479M (‑8%), consolidated adj. EBITDA ≈$48M (‑$2M), NA commissary adj. EBITDA margin 5% (‑230 bps), domestic company‑owned 4‑wall EBITDA $16.6M with 4‑wall margin 11.9% (+140 bps); non‑op guidance includes net interest $35M–$40M, adjusted D&A $70M–$75M, capex $70M–$80M, SBC ≈$5M/quarter, GAAP tax rate 30%–34%, diluted shares ≈33M; development/refranchising targets: 40–50 gross new NA restaurants (8 opened Q1), ~200 NA closures, 180–220 international openings with 5%–6% international closures, and a planned Q3 refranchise of 29 SE restaurants that should reduce 2026 revenue by ~$9M and increase adjusted EBITDA by ~$1M.

Papa John's International Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Operating results are weakening and the balance sheet is a major risk factor. TTM revenue is slightly down (-1.93%) with meaningful margin compression (net margin ~1.8% vs ~4.1% in 2024; gross margin ~23.3% vs ~28–29%). Cash generation remains positive (TTM OCF ~$102M; FCF ~$36M) but FCF fell sharply (-41.4%) and cash conversion is weak. The biggest concern is persistent negative equity (TTM ~-$449M) alongside high debt (TTM ~$953M), reducing flexibility if conditions tighten.
Income Statement
56
Neutral
Balance Sheet
28
Negative
Cash Flow
52
Neutral
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.01B2.05B2.06B2.14B2.10B2.07B
Gross Profit408.81M593.32M580.96M419.31M388.43M429.32M
EBITDA244.30M181.39M226.11M211.23M161.06M217.06M
Net Income36.52M30.53M83.49M82.10M67.77M120.02M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets831.93M926.93M888.95M875.00M864.23M885.70M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments39.04M36.95M37.95M40.59M47.37M70.61M
Total Debt952.64M1.09B971.13M965.72M807.26M685.50M
Total Liabilities1.27B1.36B1.30B1.32B1.13B1.05B
Stockholders Equity-449.12M-444.75M-429.53M-459.09M-286.39M-187.67M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow35.90M61.30M34.15M116.44M39.42M116.12M
Operating Cash Flow101.89M126.00M106.63M193.06M117.81M184.68M
Investing Cash Flow-19.57M-21.49M-17.35M-75.12M-62.79M-63.51M
Financing Cash Flow-87.51M-106.26M-91.67M-124.08M-76.24M-180.53M

Papa John's International Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price37.46
Price Trends
50DMA
34.43
Negative
100DMA
34.48
Negative
200DMA
39.17
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.53
Positive
RSI
47.38
Neutral
STOCH
53.48
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PZZA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 37.46 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.26, above the 50-day MA of 34.43, and below the 200-day MA of 39.17, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.53 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.38 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.48 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PZZA.

Papa John's International Risk Analysis

Papa John's International disclosed 37 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Papa John's International reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Papa John's International Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$11.64B22.0528.21%1.63%10.25%-3.61%
64
Neutral
$41.98B24.92-23.33%1.84%9.65%23.32%
62
Neutral
$3.51B35.51-15.30%0.45%8.96%-32.63%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
59
Neutral
$10.25B22.18-15.04%1.63%5.17%-0.62%
53
Neutral
$1.49B7.07150.73%8.15%-1.84%-17.48%
50
Neutral
$1.09B17.53-8.28%4.72%-2.41%-64.77%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PZZA
Papa John's International
33.35
-5.54
-14.25%
DPZ
Domino's Pizza
312.75
-172.11
-35.50%
TXRH
Texas Roadhouse
173.82
-14.53
-7.72%
WEN
Wendy's
8.12
-3.41
-29.56%
YUM
Yum! Brands
152.19
5.97
4.09%
WING
Wingstop
126.80
-199.01
-61.08%

Papa John's International Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Papa John’s Shareholders Back Board, Maintain Governance Structure
Neutral
May 6, 2026
At its April 30, 2026 annual meeting, Papa John’s International shareholders elected all eight board-nominated directors to one-year terms and ratified Ernst Young LLP as the company’s independent auditor for 2026, while also giving a...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: May 09, 2026