Article
Pizza stocks up across the board
Cheese, wheat and gas prices continue to rise.
February 6, 2011 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com
Cheese
Average block cheese prices inched up a dime last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at an average of $1.77, up from $1.67 the previous week.
Block cheese prices rose throughout the week, closing at $1.75 Monday and Tuesday, $1.78 Wednesday and Thursday, and $1.81 Friday.
Two weeks ago, cheese prices surpassed last year’s average of $1.63 per pound.
Wheat
Wheat prices broke the $10 mark this week before dropping back down to average $9.91 on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Last week’s average price was $9.64.
Wheat closed at $9.79 Monday, $9.81 Tuesday, $10.10 Wednesday, $9.98 Thursday, and $9.88 Friday.
Gasoline and diesel fuel
Today’s nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.12, up from $3.09 the previous week, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
Prices remain up from a month ago, when they were $3.08, and from this time last year, when consumers were paying $2.65 at the pump.
Mid-range unleaded currently averages $3.25, while premium unleaded Monday was just under $3.38.
The nationwide average for diesel fuel stood at $3.49, an increase from $3.43 per gallon last week. Diesel prices also remain up from $ $3.33 a month ago, and from $2.84 a year ago.
Natural Gas
Extremely cold weather conditions moving across the country strained production capability and elevated consumption levels related to heating needs this report week (Jan. 26-Feb. 2). Spot prices increased sharply in many parts of the country, including the West and Midcontinent regions, where prices had shown little upward pressure this winter. During the report week, the Henry Hub spot price increased $0.15 to $4.55 per million Btu (MMBtu).
Pizza company stocks
Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $49.30, up almost 3 dollars from its previous week’s closing of $46.40 Friday. The company traded at an all-time 52-week high of $52.47 in November 2010, and a 52-week low of $32.49 in February 2010.
Domino’s closed at $16.52 Friday, a boost from the $16.37 closing a week prior. DPZ’s 52-week high was earlier this month at $17.16. Domino’s traded as low as $10.64 in February 2010.
Papa John's stock closed at $29.32 Friday, an increase from the previous week’s closing of $28.58 Friday, and marking the company’s 52-week high. The company traded at a 52-week low of $21.77 in February 2010.
Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $38.26 Friday, a sizeable boost from its previous week’s closing of $36.88. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $41.79 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $30.84 Aug. 13, 2010.
California Pizza Kitchen closed at $16.41 Friday, an improvement from its previous week’s closing of $15.75. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010, and as low as $13.19 in July 2010.
Pizza Inn turned in at $1.95 Friday, a slight uptick from its previous week’s closing of $1.91. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.20 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $1.55 in January 2010.
Photo by pfala.
