Aren’t you glad that last year — or the year before, or maybe even the one before — you listened to everyone and bought some shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD)? Yeah, I missed that boat, too. The restaurant’s stock is up 52% year to date, easily beating out the S&P 500. With all the jumps, the stock is now riding at an all-time high. Is there still room left to run or has it hit the ceiling?
The basics of Buffalo’s success
In its last quarter, Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) earned $0.08 per share and net income increased 41.4% year over year. That bottom-line growth was driven by good gains at the top, where comparable sales grew for both company-owned and franchised locations — 3.8% and 4.1%, respectively. The company has done well to keep its costs down as revenue has risen. In the second quarter, restaurant operating expenses fell to just 14.4% of sales.
That model has driven up labor costs, but the company is seeing an increase in sales as well. The basic premise is that each location should have a dedicated team to make sure that customers are seated correctly, given the right options for in-store entertainment, and presented with promotions and events on a regular basis.
Not rocket science
The idea that you can make customers more likely to spend money by treating them well isn’t a life changer, but it is the new normal for fast-casual chains. Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ:PNRA) and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) are both seeing growth from new campaigns designed to make customers happier. Panera is running a marketing campaign aimed at conscientious eaters, hoping to capitalize on the freshness of the company’s ingredients.
Meanwhile, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is rolling out a wider range of products — including new vegetarian options — to bring in a bigger set of consumers. The focus on health at both chains may explain the success that Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) is having from its focus on fun. By making itself the place to go for food, beer, and sports, it differentiates itself from the healthy pack.
Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ:PNRA) and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) investors probably don’t need to worry too much, though, as comparable sales have risen as well. Panera was up 3.8% year over year at its company-owned locations while Chipotle was up 5.5%.
The bottom line
By having the flexibility to try new things, fast-casual chains like Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) have certain advantages over their fast-food competitors. Just look at the difficult press that McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) has had as it rethinks the Dollar Menu. Buffalo Wild Wings is currently free of that pricing pressure, which allows it to increase sales while costs rise. Even though the business has hit new highs — and trades at a trailing P/E of 35 — I like the long-term prospects of focusing on customers and being known as the fun place to go.
The article Why Buffalo Wild Wings Still Has Room to Run originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Andrew Marder has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle Mexican (NYSE:CMG) Grill, McDonald’s, and Panera Bread (NASDAQ:PNRA).
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