Bob Evans Farms Shares Popped: What You Need to Know

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of full-service restaurateur Bob Evans Farms (Nasdaq: BOBE) added sizzle to their bacon today, rising as much as 10.4% on very heavy morning action.

So what: The just-reported fourth quarter saw earnings 9% below analyst expectations, but issued guidance for the next fiscal year right in line with Street estimates. Moreover, Bob Evans broke a long string of negative same-store sales comps with a modest 1.3% rise compared to the year-ago quarter.

Now what: The firm has overcome rapidly rising ingredient prices to deliver this humble turnaround, inspiring its first analyst upgrade in two years. Bob Evans sports one of the most generous dividends in the restaurant industry, both fatter and more often bumped-up than those of Wendy's/Arby's (NYSE: WEN) and P.F. Chang's China Bistro (Nasdaq: PFCB). If management can keep executing like this, this stock could be both filling and tasty in your portfolio.

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