Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, bakery-cafe operator Panera Bread Company
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Panera's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.
Panera facts
| Headquarters (founded) | St. Louis (1981) |
| Market Cap | $4.7 billion |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Trailing-12-Month Revenue | $2.0 billion |
| Management | Co-Founder/Chairman/Co-CEO Ronald Shaich Co-CEO William Moreton |
| Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) | 19.7% |
| Cash/Debt | $255.8 million / $0 |
| Competitors |
Chipotle Mexican Grill Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Starbucks |
Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 90% of the 1,471 members who have rated Panera believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.
Just yesterday, one of those bulls, NHWeston, tapped Panera as a particularly tasty growth opportunity:
Soup and sandwich -- how can you miss with variations of the basic lunch menu? They're growing at a measured, [judicious] pace, expanding their bakery line (not getting exotic), and the customers do the policing (you and your laptop don't get to spend all morning on a cup of coffee -- patrons will "pull-yer-plug"). Good prospects.
If you want market-beating returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite a strong four-star rating, Panera may not be your top choice.
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