Image source: Shake Shack.
The market wasn't exactly impressed with Shake Shack (SHAK -0.87%) after posting fresh financials following Monday's trading close. The stock moved lower, even though it once again surpassed analyst targets with impressive growth on both ends of the income statement.
Revenue climbed 47% to $51.1 million for the fourth quarter, fueled by brisk expansion and an 11% year-over-year spike in comps. Operating profit margins widened sharply with adjusted EBITDA more than doubling. The "better burger" chain scored a profit of $0.08 a share, reversing from a loss during the prior year's holiday quarter. Wall Street pros were holding out for an adjusted profit of $0.07 a share on 45% top-line growth.
Shake Shack's guidance wasn't as inspiring. It sees growth slowing as 2016 plays out, and its guidance calls for between $237 million and $242 million in revenue. Analysts were already perched just above the midpoint of that range, forecasting $240.7 million on the top line. Shake Shack's outlook translates into revenue growth decelerating to 26% at the midpoint for 2016. It expects to open at least 13 company-owned locations this year, but it's bracing investors for a more pedestrian 2.5% to 3% gain in comps for 2016.
The ho-hum guidance is holding back the stock that has already surrendered more than half of its value since peaking 10 months ago. However, things can get better for Shake Shack. Let's go over a few reasons to get excited about the stock's prospects for 2016 beyond its post-earnings dip.
1. Shake Shack is still beating analyst profit forecasts
The fast-growing burger chain may have narrowly landed ahead of Wall Street profit targets, but it keeps a welcome streak alive: Shake Shack has beaten analyst earnings estimates in each of its first five quarters as a public company.
Companies that consistently exceed market expectations have a funny way of rewarding investors. That may seem like a flawed mantra for a stock that is trading for less than half of its all-time high, but those highs were the result of unsustainable froth in the months following its 2014 IPO. Using Shake Shack's IPO price of $21 as the starting line, it's not too shabby to see the stock has roughly doubled as of last night's close.
2. Chicken will be a game changer
Shake Shack introduced Chick'n Shack after the quarter ended, and the fried chicken sandwich has earned rave reviews. The company didn't reveal actual sales metrics, but CEO Randy Garutti was on CNBC last night, calling it the chain's most important menu addition since its signature burger.
Garutti expects the new sandwich to enhance sales and margins, even while conceding that it does take some extra labor to prep. Having a premium chicken sandwich opens up Shake Shack to more than folks that want a beefy burger. It also helps keep the chain from getting vetoed when someone doesn't want a burger or a hot dog.
3. Shake Shack is in a unique position
Shares of Shake Shack aren't cheap. You have to go out to next year's profit targets for its earnings multiple to drop into the double digits. Most restaurant chains trade at lower multiples, even if if few are growing as quickly. However, Shake Shack does have a pretty unique negotiation position when it comes to landing the juiciest expansion opportunities.
"If you're a developer and you've got a mall that's being redone or you've got a site, you probably want a really good burger -- and you're probably talking to us," Garutti said at an investor conference earlier this year. "We are in every one of those conversations right now."
No one is close to Shake Shack in terms of unit volume and arguably brand prestige, making it easy to get great deals on the best locations. The future is bright for Shake Shack, and Monday night's post-earnings stock decline presents an interesting buying opportunity.
