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On Friday, Benchmark analysts maintained their Hold rating on BJ’s Restaurants (NASDAQ:BJRI) stock, acknowledging improvements in the company’s operating margins and sustained same-store sales (SSS) growth. Trading at $37.62 with a market capitalization of $838.2 million, InvestingPro data shows the stock currently trading at a high P/E ratio of 52.4x. BJ’s Restaurants reported first-quarter 2025 results that matched revenue expectations at $348 million and exhibited a 1.7% increase in SSS, driven by a 2.7% rise from traffic growth.
Restaurant-level operating margin (RLOM) reached 16.0%, outperforming consensus predictions by 110 basis points, though InvestingPro analysis indicates the company still suffers from weak gross profit margins of 14.4%. This improvement was attributed to enhanced labor efficiency and sales leverage, which helped mitigate the impact of promotional offers such as the Pizookie Meal Deal. BJ’s Restaurants’ adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (AEBITDA) also surpassed expectations, coming in at $0.59 and $35.4 million, respectively. These figures represent a 20% year-over-year increase and exceeded consensus estimates of $0.38 in EPS and $32 million in AEBITDA. With four analysts recently revising earnings upward, the company’s net income is expected to grow this year.
The analyst’s comments highlighted the balance between the positive outcomes of the company’s strategic efforts and the ongoing uncertainty in the consumer macro environment. Ahead of a management meeting scheduled for May 5, 2025, Benchmark chose to maintain its Hold rating on BJ’s Restaurants stock, reflecting a cautious approach amidst the current market dynamics. According to InvestingPro, analyst price targets range from $33 to $50, with 8 additional real-time insights available to subscribers.
In other recent news, BJ’s Restaurants has reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2025, significantly surpassing earnings expectations. The company posted earnings per share of $0.59, well above the forecasted $0.36, and revenue of $348 million, slightly exceeding the anticipated $347.54 million. These results were driven by a 3.2% year-over-year increase in sales and a 2.7% rise in customer traffic, leading to a 16% restaurant-level cash flow margin. Following these strong results, BJ’s Restaurants has raised its full-year guidance, projecting comparable restaurant sales growth of 2-3% and an operating profit between $210-$219 million.
Additionally, Jefferies has raised the stock price target for BJ’s Restaurants to $44 from $43, maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment reflects the company’s solid fourth-quarter same-store sales, which exceeded expectations due to increased customer traffic and successful marketing initiatives. Jefferies’ analysis highlights BJ’s Restaurants’ strong foundation and potential for profitable growth, supported by recent strategic initiatives.
BJ’s Restaurants has also been focusing on enhancing its brand and operational efficiency, including improvements in its pizza platform and marketing strategies. The company plans to invest in further operational improvements and restaurant infill strategies, with capital expenditures projected between $65-$75 million for the year. These developments indicate a positive outlook for BJ’s Restaurants as it continues to build on its recent successes.
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