Jack In The Box Inc. (NASDAQ:JACK) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Jack In The Box Inc. (NASDAQ:JACK) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the twenty-one research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $26.10.

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on Jack In The Box from $28.00 to $24.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered Jack In The Box from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Barclays lifted their price target on Jack In The Box from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Jack In The Box from $17.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Jack In The Box in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th.

Jack In The Box News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Jack In The Box this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target lift — Citigroup raised its price target on JACK to $24 (maintaining a Neutral rating), implying meaningful upside from current levels and signaling some analyst confidence in a turnaround. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Longer-term turnaround thesis — coverage noting management changes, debt paydown and portfolio rationalization as catalysts (debt reduction, resumed capital returns) could support a recovery if execution improves; MarketBeat notes potential for a short-covering rally if short interest is elevated. MarketBeat: From Missteps to Momentum
• Neutral Sentiment: Menu innovation — Jack rolled out a nationwide matcha beverage lineup (product/traffic catalyst but early-stage). This is a brand/marketing positive but unlikely to reverse near-term financial pressure by itself. A Matcha Made in Heaven
• Neutral Sentiment: Corporate housekeeping — the company confirmed completion of the Del Taco sale and reiterated its focus on simplifying the business; that reduces distraction but benefits may play out over quarters. Q1 Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 earnings and sales miss — JACK reported $1.00 EPS vs. $1.10 expected, revenue of $349.5M vs. ~$355.7M expected, revenue down 5.8% Y/Y and same-store sales weakened; the company swung to a loss, prompting the immediate selloff. Jack in the Box Q1 revenue slips
• Negative Sentiment: Operational concerns & analyst/press criticism — coverage highlights store closures, reimage costs and sales pressure (MarketWatch, Restaurant Dive) which raise near-term execution and margin risks. MarketWatch: JACK swings to loss Restaurant Dive
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data conflicting — some commentary points to elevated short interest that could amplify moves, but a short-interest report in the feed shows anomalous/zero values (data glitch). The uncertainty around positioning can increase volatility in either direction.

Jack In The Box Trading Down 18.1%

Shares of Jack In The Box stock opened at $18.02 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $344.18 million, a PE ratio of -2.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.14. Jack In The Box has a 12 month low of $13.99 and a 12 month high of $41.09. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $20.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $19.15.

Jack In The Box (NASDAQ:JACK) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The restaurant operator reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.10). Jack In The Box had a negative return on equity of 7.08% and a negative net margin of 8.69%.The firm had revenue of $349.52 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $355.73 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.86 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Jack In The Box will post 5.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Jack In The Box

In other Jack In The Box news, SVP Carl Mount sold 1,393 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.00, for a total transaction of $26,467.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 19,300 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $366,700. This represents a 6.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Richard D. Cook sold 1,787 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.08, for a total value of $34,095.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 27,193 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $518,842.44. This trade represents a 6.17% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 12,462 shares of company stock valued at $247,352. Company insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Jack In The Box

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Jack In The Box by 45.5% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 389,327 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $7,697,000 after buying an additional 121,752 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Jack In The Box during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,043,000. Earnest Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Jack In The Box by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 312,842 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $6,185,000 after acquiring an additional 17,300 shares in the last quarter. Callodine Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Jack In The Box by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Callodine Capital Management LP now owns 1,695,504 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $33,520,000 after purchasing an additional 75,572 shares during the period. Finally, FourThought Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Jack In The Box in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $377,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

About Jack In The Box

Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) is a publicly traded quick-service restaurant company best known for its Jack in the Box brand of fast-food restaurants. Founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson and headquartered in San Diego, California, the company has operated for decades as a franchisor and operator of drive-thru and dine-in restaurants. Its business model combines company-owned locations with franchise arrangements, and the company focuses on building brand recognition through menu innovation, marketing and service convenience.

The company’s core offerings center on a broad fast-food menu that includes hamburgers (notably the Jumbo Jack), tacos, breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, sides and specialty limited-time items.