Papa John’s International (NASDAQ:PZZA) Upgraded to “Hold” at Zacks Research

Zacks Research upgraded shares of Papa John’s International (NASDAQ:PZZA) from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Monday,Zacks reports.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on PZZA. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Papa John’s International from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Papa John’s International from $33.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Papa John’s International from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Benchmark cut shares of Papa John’s International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Papa John’s International from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 7th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $31.29.

Papa John’s International Stock Performance

Shares of Papa John’s International stock opened at $18.73 on Monday. Papa John’s International has a 52-week low of $18.67 and a 52-week high of $55.74. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $21.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $616.59 million, a P/E ratio of 23.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.13.

Papa John’s International (NASDAQ:PZZA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.01. Papa John’s International had a net margin of 1.34% and a negative return on equity of 10.98%. The firm had revenue of $482.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $481.25 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.41 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Papa John’s International will post 1.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Papa John’s International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $182,315,000. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in Papa John’s International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $83,186,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in Papa John’s International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $13,942,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new position in Papa John’s International in the 2nd quarter valued at $10,138,000. Finally, Heartland Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Papa John’s International in the 2nd quarter valued at $8,393,000.

Key Headlines Impacting Papa John’s International

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

• Positive Sentiment: Seeking Alpha upgraded PZZA to Strong Buy, arguing that the substantial stock decline has created a valuation disconnect. The company’s restructuring—store closures, cost reductions and a focus on product quality—along with its Walmart delivery partnership could support margin expansion and EBITDA growth. Management expects at least 200 basis points of four-wall EBITDA improvement by 2028, while suspending the dividend could unlock approximately $61 million in annual free cash flow. Papa John’s: This Painful Reset Could Set The Stage For Recovery
• Neutral Sentiment: Papa John’s Canada is bringing back its limited-time Jack-o’-Lantern Pizza for Halloween. The seasonal promotion may support short-term customer traffic, but it is unlikely to materially change the company’s broader financial outlook. Papa John’s Jack-o’-Lantern Pizza Returns
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms are publicizing a securities class action against Papa John’s and urging investors who purchased shares from August 7, 2025 through August 5, 2026 to seek lead-plaintiff status before the November 2, 2026 deadline. The complaints allege that the company misrepresented North American comparable-sales trends and its business prospects before reporting an 8.3% comparable-sales decline, resetting 2026 guidance and suspending its dividend. The repeated legal notices increase reputational and potential litigation risk, although the allegations have not been proven. PZZA Securities Fraud Lawsuit Deadline

Papa John’s International Company Profile

Papa John’s International, Inc is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Papa Johns pizza restaurants. Its menu includes pizzas made with various crusts, toppings and specialty recipes, along with sides, desserts and beverages. Customers can order through delivery, carryout and digital ordering channels.

Founded in 1984 by John Schnatter in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the company has grown into an international quick-service restaurant brand. Papa Johns serves customers across the United States and in international markets through a combination of company-operated restaurants and franchised locations.