These restaurant companies are expected to show the fastest growth through 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 10 2024
0mins
Should l Buy DIN?
Source: MarketWatch
- Restaurant Industry Performance: The U.S. restaurant industry has underperformed in the past five years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Bright Future: Despite past challenges, the future of the restaurant industry in the U.S. looks promising.
- Real Estate Trend: Restaurants are now considered desirable tenants by retail landlords, indicating a shift in the real estate market.
- Record Revenue: The restaurant industry is experiencing record revenue, attracting more attention from investors and landlords.
- Consumer Behavior: 53% of U.S. consumers prefer dining out, contributing to the increased demand for restaurants as tenants.
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Analyst Views on DIN
Wall Street analysts forecast DIN stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 27.680
Low
34.00
Averages
36.33
High
40.00
Current: 27.680
Low
34.00
Averages
36.33
High
40.00
About DIN
Dine Brands Global, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and franchises the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar (Applebee’s) concept in the American full-serve restaurant segment within the casual dining category of the restaurant industry. The Company also owns and franchises the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) concept in the midscale full-service restaurant segment within the family dining category of the restaurant industry and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Fuzzy’s) concept in the Mexican limited-service restaurant segment. Its segments include franchise operations, Rental operations, Financing operations and Company restaurant operations. The franchise operations segment consists of approximately 1,567 Applebee’s franchised restaurants; 1,824 IHOP franchised and area licensed restaurants, and 116 Fuzzy's franchised restaurants. The Rental operations segment consists of lease or sublease agreements covering 554 IHOP franchised restaurants and two Applebee’s franchised restaurants.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Dine Brands to Announce Q1 2026 Financial Results on May 6
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Dine Brands Global, Inc. will release its Q1 2026 financial results on May 6, 2026, before the stock market opens, showcasing its performance and growth in the global dining market.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the same day to discuss financial results and business outlook, which is expected to attract investor attention and enhance market confidence.
- Webcast Availability: The conference call will be available via live webcast on the company's Investor Relations website, ensuring investors can access real-time information, thereby improving transparency and communication efficiency.
- Brand Coverage Status: As of December 28, 2025, Dine Brands operates over 3,500 restaurants under the Applebee's, IHOP, and Fuzzy's Taco Shop brands across 20 international markets, demonstrating its significant influence in the global dining industry.
See More
Dine Brands Releases 2025 Business Responsibility Report
- Corporate Responsibility Commitment: The 2025 Business Responsibility Report released by Dine Brands underscores the company's ongoing progress across its four strategic pillars of people, planet, food, and governance, demonstrating efforts to enhance performance, resilience, and trust within its global system.
- Community Support Initiatives: Over the past year, the company donated 6.7 metric tons of food to local organizations, reducing waste while raising $2.2 million through Applebee's and U.S. franchisees to support the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's mission to combat childhood cancer.
- Sustainability Efforts: Dine Brands has reduced polypropylene plastic use by over 5% through the redesign of IHOP's large take-out lid, which is expected to eliminate 235,000 pounds of plastic annually, showcasing its commitment to environmental responsibility.
- Employee Welfare Certification: Dine Brands earned the Great Place to Work Certification™ for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting its ongoing commitment to a strong workplace culture aimed at enhancing employee satisfaction and brand trust.
See More
Applebee's Launches New Cocktails to Celebrate 25 Years of Mucho
- New Cocktail Launch: Applebee's introduces the $6 Adiós and $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita cocktails to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Mucho cocktails, aiming to attract customers during the spring break and enhance brand appeal.
- Non-Alcoholic Beverage Innovation: The addition of Prickly Melon Rush and Watermelon Lime Rush non-alcoholic drinks, featuring Red Bull and fresh fruits, caters to health-conscious consumers, further expanding market share.
- Marketing Strategy: By launching limited-time cocktails and beverages, Applebee's aims to attract younger consumers, enhance the social atmosphere of its restaurants, and boost customer loyalty to drive sales growth.
- Community Engagement: Applebee's emphasizes its community involvement through charity events and fundraising, enhancing brand image and reflecting its corporate culture of 'Doin' Good in the Neighborhood.'
See More
Applebee's Introduces Five New Menu Items
- New Menu Highlights: Applebee's has introduced five new menu items, including Loaded Potato Waves, Sesame Salmon Bowl, Lemon Parmesan Chicken, and two salads under 600 calories, aimed at catering to diverse customer preferences and enhancing brand appeal.
- O-M-Cheese Burger: The newly launched O-M-Cheese Burger is priced at $11.99 and features even more melted cheese and a delicious beef patty, designed to capture customer attention and boost sales, with expectations of becoming a new bestseller.
- Healthier Options Added: The California Grilled Chicken Salad and Strawberry Balsamic Chicken Salad, both under 600 calories, reflect Applebee's response to health food trends, potentially attracting more health-conscious consumers.
- Market Expansion Strategy: With 1,520 restaurants globally, Applebee's new menu innovations not only enrich its product line but may also enhance customer retention, further solidifying its position in the casual dining market.
See More
Market Watch: Oil Price Surge and Stock Market Turmoil
- Oil Price Surge Impact: Following President Trump's address on the Iran war, which raised escalation concerns, U.S. crude benchmark WTI surged 9% to $109 a barrel, putting downward pressure on the stock market and negatively affecting investor sentiment.
- Bank of America Upgrades Vale: Bank of America upgraded Vale from hold to buy, suggesting that now is an attractive entry point for investors in the iron ore producer, despite Vale's stock dropping nearly 7% since the Iran conflict began, while iron ore prices have risen about 8%.
- Wix's Outlook Downgraded: UBS downgraded Wix from buy to hold, with analysts believing its 2026 outlook indicates a slowdown in core business growth from 12% last year to 8% this year, and despite efforts to integrate AI capabilities, the company remains vulnerable to disruption by AI.
- Cheniere Energy Price Target Increased: Citigroup raised Cheniere Energy's price target from $280 to $330 while reiterating its buy rating, as supply disruptions in the Middle East could benefit U.S. LNG exports long-term, with shares up about 17% since the war began.
See More
Bankruptcy of Applebee's Franchisee Affects Parent Dine Brands Global
- Franchise Bankruptcy: Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida filed for Chapter 11 on March 25, operating over 50 Applebee's locations, highlighting the impact of prolonged weak sales and high operating costs.
- Asset and Liability Status: The franchisee reported assets between $1M and $10M, with liabilities ranging from $10M to $50M, indicating a challenging financial situation.
- Strategic Acquisition Opportunity: Dine Brands (DIN) plans to act as a stalking-horse bidder to acquire remaining restaurants and leases, with CEO John Peyton emphasizing that this move will support the long-term health of the system.
- Brand Strength: Despite the challenges, Peyton believes the Applebee's brand remains strong, indicating the company's confidence in future prospects.
See More
Dine Brands to Announce Q1 2026 Financial Results on May 6
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Dine Brands Global, Inc. will release its Q1 2026 financial results on May 6, 2026, before the stock market opens, showcasing its performance and growth in the global dining market.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the same day to discuss financial results and business outlook, which is expected to attract investor attention and enhance market confidence.
- Webcast Availability: The conference call will be available via live webcast on the company's Investor Relations website, ensuring investors can access real-time information, thereby improving transparency and communication efficiency.
- Brand Coverage Status: As of December 28, 2025, Dine Brands operates over 3,500 restaurants under the Applebee's, IHOP, and Fuzzy's Taco Shop brands across 20 international markets, demonstrating its significant influence in the global dining industry.
See More
Dine Brands Releases 2025 Business Responsibility Report
- Corporate Responsibility Commitment: The 2025 Business Responsibility Report released by Dine Brands underscores the company's ongoing progress across its four strategic pillars of people, planet, food, and governance, demonstrating efforts to enhance performance, resilience, and trust within its global system.
- Community Support Initiatives: Over the past year, the company donated 6.7 metric tons of food to local organizations, reducing waste while raising $2.2 million through Applebee's and U.S. franchisees to support the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's mission to combat childhood cancer.
- Sustainability Efforts: Dine Brands has reduced polypropylene plastic use by over 5% through the redesign of IHOP's large take-out lid, which is expected to eliminate 235,000 pounds of plastic annually, showcasing its commitment to environmental responsibility.
- Employee Welfare Certification: Dine Brands earned the Great Place to Work Certification™ for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting its ongoing commitment to a strong workplace culture aimed at enhancing employee satisfaction and brand trust.
See More
Applebee's Launches New Cocktails to Celebrate 25 Years of Mucho
- New Cocktail Launch: Applebee's introduces the $6 Adiós and $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita cocktails to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Mucho cocktails, aiming to attract customers during the spring break and enhance brand appeal.
- Non-Alcoholic Beverage Innovation: The addition of Prickly Melon Rush and Watermelon Lime Rush non-alcoholic drinks, featuring Red Bull and fresh fruits, caters to health-conscious consumers, further expanding market share.
- Marketing Strategy: By launching limited-time cocktails and beverages, Applebee's aims to attract younger consumers, enhance the social atmosphere of its restaurants, and boost customer loyalty to drive sales growth.
- Community Engagement: Applebee's emphasizes its community involvement through charity events and fundraising, enhancing brand image and reflecting its corporate culture of 'Doin' Good in the Neighborhood.'
See More
Applebee's Introduces Five New Menu Items
- New Menu Highlights: Applebee's has introduced five new menu items, including Loaded Potato Waves, Sesame Salmon Bowl, Lemon Parmesan Chicken, and two salads under 600 calories, aimed at catering to diverse customer preferences and enhancing brand appeal.
- O-M-Cheese Burger: The newly launched O-M-Cheese Burger is priced at $11.99 and features even more melted cheese and a delicious beef patty, designed to capture customer attention and boost sales, with expectations of becoming a new bestseller.
- Healthier Options Added: The California Grilled Chicken Salad and Strawberry Balsamic Chicken Salad, both under 600 calories, reflect Applebee's response to health food trends, potentially attracting more health-conscious consumers.
- Market Expansion Strategy: With 1,520 restaurants globally, Applebee's new menu innovations not only enrich its product line but may also enhance customer retention, further solidifying its position in the casual dining market.
See More
Market Watch: Oil Price Surge and Stock Market Turmoil
- Oil Price Surge Impact: Following President Trump's address on the Iran war, which raised escalation concerns, U.S. crude benchmark WTI surged 9% to $109 a barrel, putting downward pressure on the stock market and negatively affecting investor sentiment.
- Bank of America Upgrades Vale: Bank of America upgraded Vale from hold to buy, suggesting that now is an attractive entry point for investors in the iron ore producer, despite Vale's stock dropping nearly 7% since the Iran conflict began, while iron ore prices have risen about 8%.
- Wix's Outlook Downgraded: UBS downgraded Wix from buy to hold, with analysts believing its 2026 outlook indicates a slowdown in core business growth from 12% last year to 8% this year, and despite efforts to integrate AI capabilities, the company remains vulnerable to disruption by AI.
- Cheniere Energy Price Target Increased: Citigroup raised Cheniere Energy's price target from $280 to $330 while reiterating its buy rating, as supply disruptions in the Middle East could benefit U.S. LNG exports long-term, with shares up about 17% since the war began.
See More
Bankruptcy of Applebee's Franchisee Affects Parent Dine Brands Global
- Franchise Bankruptcy: Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida filed for Chapter 11 on March 25, operating over 50 Applebee's locations, highlighting the impact of prolonged weak sales and high operating costs.
- Asset and Liability Status: The franchisee reported assets between $1M and $10M, with liabilities ranging from $10M to $50M, indicating a challenging financial situation.
- Strategic Acquisition Opportunity: Dine Brands (DIN) plans to act as a stalking-horse bidder to acquire remaining restaurants and leases, with CEO John Peyton emphasizing that this move will support the long-term health of the system.
- Brand Strength: Despite the challenges, Peyton believes the Applebee's brand remains strong, indicating the company's confidence in future prospects.
See More
