As the Q3 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the traditional fast food industry, including Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) and its peers.

Traditional fast-food restaurants are renowned for their speed and convenience, boasting menus filled with familiar and budget-friendly items. Their reputations for on-the-go consumption make them favored destinations for individuals and families needing a quick meal. This class of restaurants, however, is fighting the perception that their meals are unhealthy and made with inferior ingredients, a battle that's especially relevant today given the consumers increasing focus on health and wellness.

The 14 traditional fast food stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.7% since the latest earnings results.

Best Q3: Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS)

Started in 1992 by two brothers as a single pushcart, Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) is a dynamic coffee chain that’s captured the hearts of coffee enthusiasts across the United States.

Dutch Bros reported revenues of $338.2 million, up 27.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA and same-store sales estimates.

Dutch Bros scored the biggest analyst estimates beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 49.7% since reporting and currently trades at $52.27.

Is now the time to buy Dutch Bros? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Arcos Dorados (NYSE:ARCO)

Translating to “Golden Arches” in Spanish, Arcos Dorados (NYSE:ARCO) is the master franchisee of the McDonald's brand in Latin America and the Caribbean, responsible for its operations and growth in over 20 countries.

Arcos Dorados reported revenues of $1.13 billion, flat year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ same-store sales estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 11.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $7.45.

Is now the time to buy Arcos Dorados? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT)

Famous for its Original Glazed doughnuts and parent company of Insomnia Cookies, Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) is one of the most beloved and well-known fast-food chains in the world.

Krispy Kreme reported revenues of $379.9 million, down 6.8% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Krispy Kreme delivered the slowest revenue growth and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 21.7% since the results and currently trades at $9.72.

Read our full analysis of Krispy Kreme’s results here.

Yum China (NYSE:YUMC)

One of China’s largest restaurant companies, Yum China (NYSE:YUMC) is an independent entity spun off from Yum! Brands in 2016.

Yum China reported revenues of $3.07 billion, up 5.4% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 7.6% since reporting and currently trades at $48.50.

Read our full, actionable report on Yum China here, it’s free.

El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO)

With a name that translates into ‘The Crazy Chicken’, El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) is a fast food chain known for its citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken recipe that hails from the coastal town of Sinaloa, Mexico.

El Pollo Loco reported revenues of $120.4 million, flat year on year. This print missed analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Taking a step back, it was still a strong quarter as it put up a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

The stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $11.80.

Read our full, actionable report on El Pollo Loco here, it’s free.

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