In today's fast-paced world, consumers are frequently on the lookout for quick and convenient eating options. This assertion, along with benign early fall weather, may help to explain the uptick in September restaurant sales. Restaurant same-store sales increased by 1.2% in the final month of the third quarter, rounding out four months of consecutive growth. Moreover, the third quarter of 2018 was the firs𓄧t ♊time in three years that all regions in the United States have posted positive sales growth.

Despite the positive sales numbers, some industry experts believe that restaurants are likely to see more moderate growth ahead due to a restraint on 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:consumer spending caused by gradual wage growth, higher gas and utility prices, and rising 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:interest rates. Investors who wish to navigate the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:risk and reward of investing in fast food 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:restaurant stocks should look over ♑these leading names in the sp♛ace.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:McDonald's Corporation (MCD)

With a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:market capitalization of $140.69 billion, McDonald's is one of the world's largest and most recognized food franchises. The company, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, operates roughly 37,000 restaurants as of November 2018. McDonald's Experience of the Future initiative, which includes implementing self-ordering kiosks and adding delivery options, such as partnering with Uber Eats, aims to position the company for sustainable long-term sales growth. As of Nov. 7, 2018, McDonald's stock has a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:year-to-date (YTD) return of 6.57% and offers a 2.57% 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:dividend yield.

McDonald's share price broke out of a six-month 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:trading range after the fast food company beat 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:top and bottom line third quarter 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:earnings estimates. The stock has continued with follow-through gains and made a YTD high of $182.86 on Nov. 6. McDonald's share price looks 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:overbought in the short term, with the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:relative strength index (RSI) giving a reading above 70. Investors who wish to buy should look for an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:entry point between $167.5 and $172.5, where the stock should find horizontal line support from previous 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:price action.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:YUM! Brands, Inc. (YUM)

Yum! Brands, founded in 1997, operates and franchises a group of quick-service restaurants that include KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Analysts project 2% same-store sales growth for the company in 2019, which implies 6% sales growth across its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:franchise system. Taco Bell was Yum! Brands' star performer in the third quarter, with same-sto🅺re sales rising 5% – exceeding the Street's expectation of a 3% rise. Trading at $87.90, with a market cap of $27.51 billion and paying a 1.65% dividend yield, Yum! Brands stock has returned 8.5% YTD as of 🥂Nov. 6, 2018.

The company's shares traded within a 12-point trading range between January and August before breaking to the upside in September. The stock retraced in October to test the top of the previous trading range, which is now acting as support, at the $86 level – traders could consider buying the stock on 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:pullbacks to this area.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG)

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Chipotle operates the well-known and popular Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company, with a $13.18 billion market cap, has approximately 2,400 restaurants within the United States and 40 locations internationally. Chipotle expects to make $4.8 billion in sales during 2018 💃and has three-year revenue growth of 2.9%. As of Nov. 6, 2018, Chipotle stock has a mouthwatering YTD return of 64.05%, outperforming the restaurant industry average gain over the same period by a whopping 53.26%.

Chipotle shares gapped up over 14% on April 26, after the company reported blowout first quarter earnings. The stock continued to trend higher until late August before 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:retracing over the next two and a half months to test the 200-day 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:simple moving average (SMA). Chipotle's share price has since rallied and now trades above 50-day SMA. Those wanting to buy this top performing stock should seek an entry price at the $420 level – an area where the price should find support from an uptrend line that dates back to early February and tꦇhe𓆏 200-day SMA.