Jack In The Box Inc. (NASDAQ:JACK) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Jack In The Box Inc. (NASDAQ:JACK) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the seventeen analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, twelve have given a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $15.8438.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Jack In The Box from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Jack In The Box from $23.00 to $15.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $12.50 price target on shares of Jack In The Box in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Jack In The Box from $15.00 to $14.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Jack In The Box from $17.00 to $12.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 15th.

Jack In The Box Price Performance

Shares of JACK stock opened at $12.80 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $12.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $15.87. Jack In The Box has a 12 month low of $8.91 and a 12 month high of $25.34. The company has a market capitalization of $244.10 million, a PE ratio of 6.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.44.

Jack In The Box (NASDAQ:JACK) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.02. Jack In The Box had a net margin of 2.82% and a negative return on equity of 6.34%. The company had revenue of $254.26 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $256.55 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.20 earnings per share. Jack In The Box’s quarterly revenue was down 24.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Jack In The Box will post 3.41 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Guillermo Diaz, Jr. purchased 5,962 shares of Jack In The Box stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $11.51 per share, with a total value of $68,622.62. Following the purchase, the director owned 20,692 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $238,164.92. The trade was a 40.48% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Jack In The Box

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in JACK. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of Jack In The Box by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 12,035 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $327,000 after acquiring an additional 671 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Jack In The Box by 206.6% in the 1st quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 5,967 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 11,567 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP grew its holdings in shares of Jack In The Box by 63.8% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 167,184 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $4,546,000 after purchasing an additional 65,142 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $7,697,000 after purchasing an additional 121,752 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in shares of Jack In The Box by 96.7% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,420 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 698 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Jack In The Box Company Profile

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.