Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for PZZA Earnings

Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) – Analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Papa John’s International in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, January 27th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $0.49 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $0.47. Zacks Research has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Papa John’s International’s current full-year earnings is $2.19 per share.

Papa John’s International (NASDAQ:PZZA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.40 by ($0.08). Papa John’s International had a negative return on equity of 13.54% and a net margin of 1.79%.The business had revenue of $508.15 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $523.67 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.43 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis.

PZZA has been the subject of several other research reports. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $50.00 price target (down previously from $62.00) on shares of Papa John’s International in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Papa John’s International from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Papa John’s International in a research note on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $42.00 price target on shares of Papa John’s International in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Stephens decreased their price objective on Papa John’s International from $50.00 to $49.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Papa John’s International has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $49.44.

Papa John’s International Stock Performance

Shares of PZZA stock opened at $35.88 on Wednesday. Papa John’s International has a fifty-two week low of $30.16 and a fifty-two week high of $55.74. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $39.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $43.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.16.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Papa John’s International

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PZZA. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in Papa John’s International by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 12,761 shares of the company’s stock worth $491,000 after purchasing an additional 1,881 shares in the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Papa John’s International in the 4th quarter valued at $92,000. Great Hill Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Papa John’s International in the 4th quarter valued at $5,843,000. Guidance Capital Inc. raised its stake in Papa John’s International by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Guidance Capital Inc. now owns 13,474 shares of the company’s stock worth $506,000 after acquiring an additional 528 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its stake in Papa John’s International by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 18,642 shares of the company’s stock worth $716,000 after acquiring an additional 328 shares in the last quarter.

Papa John’s International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 20th. Investors of record on Monday, February 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 9th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.1%. Papa John’s International’s payout ratio is presently 164.29%.

Papa John’s International News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Papa John’s International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research upgraded PZZA from “strong sell” to “hold” and repeatedly nudged up quarterly and full‑year EPS forecasts (multiple Q2–Q4 and FY2026/FY2027 raises). The firm now sees FY2027 EPS around $2.11 (up from prior $2.07) and modest increases to several quarterly estimates — a near‑term ratings/estimate lift that can support buying interest. Zacks Research
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest dropped ~13.5% in January to ~3.32M shares (about 10.3% of shares sold short; days‑to‑cover ~3.8). Lower short positions reduce near‑term selling pressure and the risk of short‑squeeze volatility — a constructive technical/positioning development for the stock.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysis highlighting that PZZA is trading well below a prior Apollo takeover bid (reported ~44% discount) may rekindle investor hopes for M&A upside or a re‑rating toward prior bid levels, supporting demand. Seeking Alpha: Trading At 44% Discount To Prior Apollo Bid
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the estimate increases, Zacks retains a “Hold” rating and its FY2027 view (~$2.11) remains slightly below the broader consensus (~$2.19), implying that while expectations have improved, meaningful upside requires continued execution and/or upside to consensus.

Papa John’s International Company Profile

Papa John’s International, Inc is a leading American pizza restaurant chain known for its focus on high-quality ingredients and consistent product offerings. Founded in 1984 by John Schnatter in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the company has grown to operate thousands of restaurants across the United States and in more than 40 international markets. Papa John’s restaurants are primarily franchised, supported by a network of corporate-owned outlets that together drive brand standards, operational guidance and marketing efforts.

The core menu at Papa John’s centers on a variety of hand-tossed and pan pizzas made with a signature stone-baked crust and topped with real cheese, vine-ripened tomato sauce and premium meats and vegetables.