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MTY Food Group (TSE:MTY)
TSX:MTY

MTY Food Group (MTY) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:MTY

MTY Food Group

(TSX:MTY)

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Outperform 72 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
C$49.00
▲(22.75% Upside)
Action:UpgradedDate:02/21/26
The score is driven mainly by solid operating/cash-flow fundamentals but constrained by elevated leverage and earnings volatility. Technicals are supportive with price above major moving averages and positive momentum indicators, while valuation looks attractive on a low P/E and ~3.1% yield. The latest earnings call was mixed, with development and operational initiatives progressing but same-store sales and a net income decline remaining key risks.
Positive Factors
Diversified franchise scale
Material top-line expansion over the 2020–2025 period reflects successful roll-up strategy and a diversified brand portfolio. Scale across multiple cuisines and channels improves negotiating power with suppliers, spreads fixed costs, and provides resilience versus single-brand downturns, supporting durable margin and growth capacity.
Consistent free cash flow
Reliable and growing free cash flow that tracks closely with net income demonstrates earnings quality and internal funding capacity. Sustained FCF supports reinvestment into development, dividend increases, and debt servicing without relying exclusively on external financing, strengthening long-term financial flexibility.
Asset-light franchise model & pipeline
An asset-light franchising model combined with an active development pipeline enables low-capex expansion and rapid scale. Growth through franchise openings transfers capital burden to partners, preserving corporate cash, accelerating brand penetration, and allowing management to prioritize systems and margin improvements over heavy store capex.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage
High leverage increases financial risk over the medium term, reducing flexibility to absorb demand shocks or fund opportunistic investments. With debt rising versus prior years, interest and maturity pressures could force prioritization of deleveraging over growth, constraining strategic options during economic stress.
Weak OCF coverage of debt
Low operating-cash-flow-to-debt coverage implies limited capacity to service outstanding liabilities from recurring operations. This magnifies refinancing and rate-risk exposure and could pressure credit metrics, making sustained investment in brand development or acquisitions more conditional on improving operating cash conversion.
Earnings volatility & impairments
Intermittent profit compression and impairment charges point to volatility from integration, mix shifts or underperforming concepts. Such variability undermines predictability of returns, complicates capital allocation, and can erode investor and lender confidence if recurring, pressuring long-term return on equity and strategic execution.

MTY Food Group (MTY) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

MTY Food Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMTY Food Group Inc. franchises and operates quick-service, fast-casual, and casual dining restaurants in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company also sells retail products under a multitude of banners. As of November 30, 2021, the company had 6,719 locations comprising 6,603 franchised, 23 joint ventures, and 93 corporate locations. The company was formerly known as iNsu Innovations Group Inc. and changed its name to MTY Food Group Inc. in July 2003. MTY Food Group Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyMTY Food Group generates revenue primarily through its franchising model, which involves charging franchisees fees for the right to operate under its various brand names. This includes initial franchise fees, ongoing royalties based on sales, and contributions to marketing funds. Additionally, MTY earns income from the sale of food and beverage products to its franchisees, as well as from corporate-owned outlets. Significant partnerships with suppliers and distributors also enhance its revenue streams, allowing for cost efficiencies and better negotiation power. The company's strategic acquisitions of established brands enable it to expand its market presence and diversify its revenue, contributing to its overall financial performance.

MTY Food Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 10, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 10, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed outlook. While MTY Food Group reported a net gain in store locations and progress in digital and ERP initiatives, challenges in same-store sales and the performance of Papa Murphy's were concerning. The decline in net income and increased operating expenses added to the challenges, although growth in the Food Processing, Distribution, and Retail segment provided some positive momentum.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Net Gain in Store Locations
MTY Food Group achieved a net gain of 15 locations during the third quarter, supported by a robust pipeline of new locations and continued interest from franchise partners.
Digital Sales Growth
Digital sales grew by 1% in Q3, now representing 19% of total sales, with a 3% increase excluding Papa Murphy's and foreign exchange impacts.
ERP Implementation Progress
Significant progress was made on the ERP implementation, with the Canadian go-live completed on time and on budget, and the first phase of the U.S. rollout underway.
Food Processing, Distribution, and Retail Segment Growth
Revenue growth of 19% in the Food Processing, Distribution, and Retail segment, driven by a shift to a vendor-on-record model and successful promotional activities.
Negative Updates
Same-Store Sales Challenges
Same-store sales in Canada were flat, with a 2.5% decline in mall-based locations, and U.S. markets experiencing continued volatility.
Papa Murphy's Performance Issues
Papa Murphy's system sales declined, impacting digital sales growth. Strategic closures of underperforming locations were necessary.
Net Income Decline
Net income attributable to owners dropped to $27.9 million from $34.9 million, mainly due to a $6.2 million net impairment charge on intangible costs.
Operating Expense Increases
Operating costs in Canada increased by $1.4 million, and higher costs were noted in corporate stores, although U.S. operating expenses decreased by 4%.
Company Guidance
During the MTY Food Group's 2025 Third Quarter Results Earnings Call, the company provided several key metrics and guidance. MTY achieved a net gain of 15 new locations in the third quarter, contributing to stable system sales of $1.5 billion. Same-store sales showed sequential improvement in the U.S., driven by brands like Cold Stone Creamery and SweetFrog, although Canadian same-store sales remained largely flat, with a 2.5% decline in mall-based locations. Digital sales grew by 1% in Q3, representing 19% of total sales, with a 3% increase excluding the impact of Papa Murphy's and foreign exchange. The company reported a normalized adjusted EBITDA of $74 million, up 3% year-over-year, aided by a $5.8 million employee retention credit from the U.S. government. MTY ended the quarter with net debt of approximately $602 million and a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.3x, providing flexibility for potential acquisitions. Looking ahead, MTY aims to drive efficiency, accelerate store development, and leverage its asset-light model to capture long-term growth opportunities.

MTY Food Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong scale growth and generally healthy profitability, supported by consistently positive free cash flow with good alignment to earnings. Offsetting this is meaningful and rising leverage (elevated debt-to-equity; operating cash flow covers less than half of total debt) and uneven earnings consistency (notably the 2024 profit compression).
Income Statement
76
Positive
Revenue has expanded materially over the period (from ~$511M in 2020 to ~$1.19B in 2025 annual), indicating solid scale growth, although 2024 saw a slight dip before re-accelerating in 2025. Profitability is generally healthy with 2025 net margin near 10% and strong EBIT/EBITDA margins, but results have been volatile (notably the 2020 loss and the sharp net income compression in 2024 despite stable revenue), and gross margin has trended down versus 2021 levels—suggesting higher costs, mix shift, or integration pressures.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet shows meaningful leverage: debt-to-equity is elevated and has moved higher into 2025 (about 1.78x), with total debt rising versus prior years. Equity has grown, but leverage remains a constraint and increases financial risk if operating performance softens. Return on equity has been positive in most years (negative in 2020), but consistency is impacted by earnings volatility.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength: free cash flow is consistently positive each year and grew strongly in 2025 (annual free cash flow growth ~3.6x). Free cash flow is also well-aligned with earnings (free cash flow running at ~0.83–0.96x of net income across most years, including ~0.93x in 2025), supporting earnings quality. A key weakness is that operating cash flow covers less than half of total debt (roughly ~0.33–0.47x historically; ~0.45x in 2025), which reinforces the higher-leverage risk profile.
BreakdownNov 2025Nov 2024Nov 2023Nov 2022Nov 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.19B1.16B1.17B716.52M551.90M
Gross Profit355.67M419.18M340.98M255.40M300.62M
EBITDA289.69M165.34M263.02M165.60M169.80M
Net Income118.99M24.17M104.08M74.82M85.64M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.51B2.59B2.68B2.33B1.90B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments51.99M50.41M58.90M59.48M61.23M
Total Debt1.52B1.22B1.30B1.08B834.28M
Total Liabilities1.65B1.78B1.87B1.60B1.26B
Stockholders Equity856.42M801.84M811.41M723.41M647.64M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow169.47M177.08M152.42M130.14M132.54M
Operating Cash Flow182.98M204.81M184.59M142.80M139.30M
Investing Cash Flow-7.82M-23.54M-319.66M-258.42M7.20M
Financing Cash Flow-173.67M-186.78M135.94M105.30M-129.58M

MTY Food Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price39.92
Price Trends
50DMA
40.72
Negative
100DMA
38.07
Positive
200DMA
38.64
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.07
Positive
RSI
40.25
Neutral
STOCH
6.02
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:MTY, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 39.92 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 42.23, below the 50-day MA of 40.72, and above the 200-day MA of 38.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.07 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.25 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 6.02 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for TSE:MTY.

MTY Food Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
C$44.95B50.4225.66%3.58%19.92%-18.34%
73
Outperform
C$550.00M16.6510.19%5.98%1.35%-1.11%
72
Outperform
C$911.83M7.283.64%3.51%1.38%-64.10%
62
Neutral
C$903.28M13.3757.97%5.07%-2.54%-10.57%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
49
Neutral
C$23.58M-2.15-20.91%-109.64%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:MTY
MTY Food Group
40.00
-3.42
-7.89%
TSE:PZA
Pizza Pizza Royalty
16.43
3.69
28.94%
TSE:QSP.UN
Restaurant BrndLP
97.40
4.35
4.68%
TSE:AEG
Aegis Brands
0.30
-0.05
-14.29%
TSE:FOOD
Goodfood Market Corp
0.25
-0.10
-30.00%
TSE:AW
A & W Food Services of Canada Inc.
37.64
5.95
18.77%

MTY Food Group Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
MTY Food Group posts stronger Q4 on gift card breakage and cash flow gains
Positive
Feb 19, 2026

MTY Food Group reported a sharp rebound in fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with segment profits and normalized adjusted EBITDA up 48%, largely driven by a one-time catch-up of gift card breakage income on unused cards. Net income swung to $32.1 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, from a loss a year earlier, while free cash flow net of lease payments rose 38% and long-term debt was further reduced.

The group added 19 net locations in the quarter, ending the year with a marginally larger network of 7,080 stores and modest 3% system sales growth helped by a 53rd trading week, though same-store sales slipped 1.7%. Management highlighted stable performance in Canada, softer trends in the U.S., and emphasized that MTY’s diversified, asset-light franchise model continues to generate strong cash flow, supporting deleveraging and future brand investment despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:MTY) stock is a Hold with a C$45.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MTY Food Group stock, see the TSE:MTY Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
MTY Food Group to Review 2025 Results in February 19 Conference Call
Neutral
Feb 12, 2026

MTY Food Group Inc. will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on February 19, 2026, and will host a conference call and webcast that morning for analysts, investors and other interested parties. The event will give stakeholders an opportunity to hear management’s commentary on the company’s annual performance and outlook, providing additional insight into MTY’s operational trends and strategic positioning in the competitive restaurant sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:MTY) stock is a Hold with a C$37.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MTY Food Group stock, see the TSE:MTY Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividends
MTY Food Group Raises Quarterly Dividend by 12%
Positive
Jan 21, 2026

MTY Food Group Inc. has announced a 12% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the payout from 33.0¢ to 37.0¢ per share, payable on February 13, 2026 to shareholders of record as of February 3, 2026. Management framed the higher dividend as evidence of the board’s confidence in MTY’s ability to generate sustainable cash flow and create long-term shareholder value, highlighting a disciplined capital allocation strategy that balances returning cash to investors with reinvesting for growth; this marks the company’s 13th dividend increase since initiating a quarterly dividend in 2010, reinforcing its track record of progressive shareholder returns.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:MTY) stock is a Hold with a C$37.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MTY Food Group stock, see the TSE:MTY Stock Forecast page.

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: Feb 21, 2026