Article

Pizza Hut shares up nearly $2 in 1 week

Commodity prices continue to fall, while Pizza Hut shares race above competitors.

January 26, 2015

Commodity prices continue to fall, while Pizza Hut shares race above competitors.

Last week saw nearly a $2 rise in shares of Pizza Hut while its competitors experienced less of an advance. Wheat, cheese, gasoline and natural gas all experienced a decline in average prices.

Here's the latest glimpse at the market:

Cheese

Average block cheese prices fell again last week to $1.47 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at a $0.05 drop. The previous week's average was $1.52.

Prices were $1.47 Tuesday, $1.47 Wednesday, $1.47 Thursday and $1.48 Friday.

Wheat

On the Minneapolis Grain Exchange wheat prices stayed below $6 last week

The week's average was $5.80, down from $5.86 the previous week.

Wheat closed at $5.89 Tuesday, $5.81 Wednesday, $5.75 Thursday and $5.76 Friday.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.03, down once again from $2.06 the previous week, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Prices are also down from $2.32 a month ago, and $3.28 a year ago.

Mid-range unleaded is $2.25, while premium unleaded price is $2.43.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel is $2.83, a drop from $2.90 last week. Diesel prices are also down from $3.20 a month ago, and $3.86 a year ago.

Natural Gas

Natural gas spot prices fell at nearly all trading locations across the country as temperatures warmed and demand declined over the report week.

The Henry Hub spot price fell from $3.13/ MMBtu, January 14, to $2.94/MMBtu.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the February 2015 contract price also fell over the report period, beginning at $3.233/MMBtu and ending at $2.974/MMBtu.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. went up to $74.11 Friday, an increase of nearly two dollars compared to the previous week's price at $72.43.

Domino's finished last week at $98.10, down from $98.49 the previous week and $102.12 earlier this month.

Papa John's finished at $61.98, no change from the previous week's close at the same price.

RAVE turned in at $10.83 Friday, up from $9.02 the previous Friday. RAVE's 52-week high is $12.10.

Papa Murphy's finished the weekat $13, up a dollar from the previous week's close of $12.06. FRSH's 52-week high is $13.17.