Papa Johns International (NASDAQ:PZZA) Stock Price Up 5.6% – Time to Buy?

Papa Johns International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) shares traded up 5.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $45.69 and last traded at $45.77. 143,847 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 91% from the average session volume of 1,691,282 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.36.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PZZA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Northcoast Research raised shares of Papa Johns International to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Loop Capital dropped their price target on 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. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Papa Johns International from $55.00 to $42.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Papa Johns International in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Papa Johns International from $56.00 to $45.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $55.67.

Papa Johns International Price Performance

The company’s 50 day moving average price is $42.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.68. The firm has a market cap of $1.51 billion, a PE ratio of 16.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.16.

Papa Johns International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.98%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Papa Johns International’s payout ratio is 73.02%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Papa Johns International by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP now owns 15,746 shares of the company’s stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its stake in Papa Johns International by 300.0% in the fourth quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 600 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. lifted its stake in Papa Johns International by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. now owns 10,453 shares of the company’s stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 546 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its stake in Papa Johns International by 9.1% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 6,639 shares of the company’s stock worth $273,000 after acquiring an additional 551 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in Papa Johns International by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 18,906 shares of the company’s stock worth $776,000 after acquiring an additional 658 shares during the last quarter.

About Papa Johns International

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.