KeyBanc maintains Denny’s stock Sector Weight rating

Published 06/05/2025, 14:14
KeyBanc maintains Denny’s stock Sector Weight rating

On Tuesday, KeyBanc Capital Markets maintained its Sector Weight rating on Denny’s Corporation (NASDAQ:DENN) shares. The firm’s analyst, Eric Gonzalez, provided insights into the company’s first-quarter performance for 2025, which showed mixed results. Denny’s reported a 3% system-wide same-store sales (SSS) decline, while its Keke’s brand experienced a 3.9% increase in SSS. Despite the downturn, Denny’s brand SSS trends saw some recovery in April, achieving roughly flat growth. This uptick is attributed to the company’s strategic focus on value offerings, including a Buy One Get One for $1 Slam promotion that launched at the end of the first quarter. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s stock has experienced significant volatility, with the share price declining over 53% in the past year, suggesting investors’ concerns about the company’s performance.

Denny’s has confirmed its commitment to its full-year SSS growth and EBITDA forecasts, although it anticipates results to be at the lower end of its projected ranges. In response to the first-quarter outcomes, KeyBanc has adjusted its 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimate for Denny’s downward to $0.44. This revision reflects the impact of higher food inflation and a slight reduction in SSS growth expectations. The company generated $452.33 million in revenue over the last twelve months, with an EBITDA of $63.87 million, demonstrating its ability to maintain profitability despite challenges.

Despite the adjustment in EPS estimates, KeyBanc’s stance on Denny’s stock remains unchanged, with the analyst citing that the shares appear to be fairly valued. The valuation is based on approximately 9 times KeyBanc’s estimated EPS for 2025. The Sector Weight rating indicates that the analyst believes Denny’s stock is expected to perform in line with the average returns of the sector over the next 12 months. However, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, trading at a P/E ratio of 12.12 and showing potential for upside. Subscribers can access 10 additional ProTips and comprehensive valuation metrics in the Pro Research Report.

Denny’s Corporation, a full-service restaurant chain, is navigating a competitive market where value propositions are increasingly important to attract customers. The company’s efforts to lean into value with promotions like the Slam deal are part of its strategy to bolster sales and customer traffic.

Investors and market watchers will likely continue to monitor Denny’s performance closely, particularly in light of the current economic challenges and the company’s proactive measures to sustain growth and profitability.

In other recent news, Denny’s Corporation reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, achieving an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.08 and revenue of $111.6 million, both meeting analysts’ expectations. Despite this alignment with forecasts, the company experienced a 3% decline in same-restaurant sales, reflecting broader industry challenges. Denny’s is planning significant restaurant closures, with 70 to 90 locations expected to shut down, to enhance competitiveness. The company is also focused on value-driven strategies and digital enhancements to drive traffic, particularly emphasizing breakfast and off-premise sales. In light of rising commodity costs, Denny’s is cautious about its pricing strategies, projecting a 35% increase in commodity costs. The company’s adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to be between $80 million and $85 million. Additionally, Denny’s plans to remodel several restaurants and introduce new digital enhancements, including a new loyalty CRM platform. Analyst firms have not recently upgraded or downgraded Denny’s stock, but the company’s strategic initiatives and market positioning continue to be closely monitored.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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