1. Waffling about
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) Taco Bell may have another head-turning hit on its hands.
The fast food chain is expanding its test of a waffle taco that apparently was a hit at the first three Southern California stores it was introduced in earlier this year.
The breakfast treat — essentially a waffle wrapped around scrambled eggs and a sausage patty — will be added to roughly 100 stores in three different markets.
This is the kind of news that will draw media attention, just as its Doritos-dusted tacos did last year. We saw how well that played out for Taco Bell, with comps soaring 8% in 2012. The waffle taco won’t have that kind of a dramatic impact on the chain’s business, but it will draw attention to Taco Bell as a breakfast destination.
Now, if only someone could drum up a jalapeno maple syrup.
2. Par for the Kors
Affluent shoppers are replacing their Coach handbags with Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS)‘ luxury goods.
A week after its larger rival posted disappointing quarterly results that were weighed down by a 1.7% decline in comps at North American stores, Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS) posted another blowout quarter, with North American same-store sales surging 25%.
Revenue itself soared 55%, to $640.9 million, as strong wholesale activity, and brisk expansion on top of the spectacular comps, drove high-end buyers to Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS). Net income skyrocketed 82%.
Luxury is alive and well, as long as investors buy the right brands.
3. Groupon deals with success
Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN) broke through the ceiling of single-digit share prices for the first time in more than a year after posting robust quarterly results this week.
The daily deals leader posted better-than-expected growth, and the gains look even stronger when you back out Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN)’s iffy international endeavors.
Sure, a lot of Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN)’s growth is coming from low-margin goods. This isn’t the same high-margin model that investors fell in love with when the reborn dot-com darling went public at $20 two years ago. Despite beating on the top line, Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN) merely met bottom-line estimates.
4. Lion around
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (NYSE:LGF) is a pretty big cat in Hollywood.
The media mogul saw its revenue climb 21%, to $569.7 million, and that was despite being stacked against last year’s theatrical success of The Hunger Games. Wall Street was only holding out for $523 million on the top line.
Strength in television production, home entertainment, and international releases helped offset a dip in domestic box office revenue.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (NYSE:LGF)’s profit of $0.10 a share also surpassed expectations.
The fun’s likely just getting started at Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (USA) (NYSE:LGF), as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire — the sequel to last year’s blockbuster — hits theaters in three months.
5. The electric slide
Shares of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) hit another all-time high on Thursday after once again surprising analysts with another profitable quarter.
Tesla delivered a record 5,150 Model S sedans during the quarter, and this week, it began sending cars to Europe. One can always argue that Tesla shouldn’t be exporting its plug-in electric vehicles when there’s a growing number of drivers waiting for their own Model S cars closer to home, but it’s hard to find fault with Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s run.
Someone who invested a Volt-sized investment in Tesla when they started, can now buy a Model S — with change to spare.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s valuation isn’t for the squeamish, but when you’re priced for perfection, it helps to be better than perfect.
The article This Week’s 5 Smartest Stock Moves originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Munarriz.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Tesla Motors.
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