Papa Johns International (NASDAQ:PZZA) Reaches New 12-Month Low After Analyst Downgrade

Papa Johns International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday after Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on the stock from $40.00 to $38.00. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a hold rating on the stock. Papa Johns International traded as low as $30.31 and last traded at $31.01, with a volume of 1486544 shares. The stock had previously closed at $31.87.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on PZZA. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Papa Johns International in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Northcoast Research upgraded shares of Papa Johns International to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Papa Johns International in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Papa Johns International from $56.00 to $45.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Loop Capital reduced their price target on shares of Papa Johns International from $73.00 to $60.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Papa Johns International presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $55.08.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Papa Johns International

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Irth Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Papa Johns International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $66,883,000. Moody National Bank Trust Division increased its position in shares of Papa Johns International by 142.3% during the fourth quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 22,644 shares of the company's stock worth $930,000 after purchasing an additional 13,297 shares in the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Papa Johns International in the 4th quarter valued at about $559,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Papa Johns International in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,647,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in Papa Johns International by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,500,739 shares of the company's stock worth $61,635,000 after buying an additional 102,128 shares during the last quarter.

Papa Johns International Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a PE ratio of 10.86, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.32 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.68.

Papa Johns International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.91%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Papa Johns International's dividend payout ratio is currently 73.02%.

Papa Johns International Company Profile

Papa John's International, Inc engages in the operation and franchise of pizza delivery and carryout restaurants. It operates through the following segments: Domestic Company-owned Restaurants, North America Franchising, North America Commissaries, International Operations, and All Others. The Domestic Company-Owned Restaurants segment consists of retail sales of pizza and side items, breadsticks, cheese sticks, chicken poppers and wings, dessert items, and canned and bottled beverages.