CHICAGO, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the YUM Brands (NYSE:YUM-Free Report), McDonalds (NYSE:MCD-Free Report), Dunkin Donuts (Nasdaq:DNKN-Free Report), Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX-Free Report) and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:KRFT-Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its 'Buy' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:
YUM's Earnings Mixed, China in Focus
YUM Brands (NYSE:YUM-Free Report) reported earnings after the bell today. The company reported EPS of $0.87, beating the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate of $0.84, and revenues came in at $2.72 billion, just below the Zacks Consensus Revenue Estimate of $2.8 billion.
One of the major concerns going into this earnings announcement was the impact of sales in China. Management stated that Same Store Sales increased 9% in the first quarter 2014 (analysts were expecting 9.2%). Moreover, management stated that they expect to open 700 new restaurants in China during 2014. Overall, it appears as though the KFC segment has moved pass their poultry suppliers issues from last year, and are now gaining some traction in China.
New to the quarter was the revamped breakfast menu in their Taco Bell restaurants; this was designed to compete with the likes of McDonalds (NYSE:MCD-Free Report), Dunkin Donuts (Nasdaq:DNKN-Free Report), and Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX-Free Report). Currently, McDonalds has the largest market share of fast food breakfast at 30%, but the Waffle Taco, and the AM Crunchwrap are expected to compete with the traditional McDonalds breakfast menu.
But for taco lovers out there, the most important short term news is the launch of the Spicy Chicken Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco, which is debuting on May 1, 2014!
In after-hours trading YUM has risen over 2% on mild volume, indicating the streets approval of their EPS beat. Zacks will have a fully detailed report into YUM's earnings numbers tomorrow morning.
Kraft Recalls Oscar Mayer Wieners
With changing consumer preferences, there is a huge demand for packaged products with unique flavors. Consumers however prefer to be informed about the nutritional contents of packaged food. In fact, it is mandatory to label the product accurately so that consumers are aware of the presence of ingredients that may pose a health risk, particularly allergies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently announced that Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:KRFT-Free Report) recalled 96,000 pounds of wieners under its Oscar Mayer brand due to wrong packaging and undeclared allergen. These hot dogs were produced in early March at a facility in Columbia, MO.
The packets of Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners may contain Classic Cheese Dogs. As a result of misbranding, the packages do not reveal the presence of milk as an ingredient, which is a common allergen. However, no adverse reaction has been reported yet.
Today, Zacks is promoting its 'Buy' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
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