Papa Johns International (NASDAQ:PZZA) Sets New 1-Year Low – Should You Sell?

Papa Johns International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $34.03 and last traded at $34.44, with a volume of 55159 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $36.33.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital reduced their price target on shares of Papa Johns International from $73.00 to $60.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Papa Johns International from $55.00 to $42.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Papa Johns International from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Papa Johns International in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Papa Johns International in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Papa Johns International has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $55.25.

Papa Johns International Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $1.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.01.

Papa Johns International Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.26%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Papa Johns International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 73.02%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Earnest Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Papa Johns International by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,589,991 shares of the company’s stock valued at $106,371,000 after acquiring an additional 27,912 shares during the period. Irth Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Papa Johns International during the 4th quarter valued at about $66,883,000. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Papa Johns International by 7.3% in the fourth quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,500,739 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,635,000 after purchasing an additional 102,128 shares during the period. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. raised its stake in shares of Papa Johns International by 14.6% in the fourth quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. now owns 1,358,945 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,812,000 after purchasing an additional 173,316 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Investment Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Papa Johns International by 6.0% during the fourth quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 1,156,705 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,506,000 after purchasing an additional 64,972 shares during the period.

About Papa Johns International

Papa John’s International, Inc engages in the operation and franchise of pizza delivery and carryout restaurants. It operates through the following segments: Domestic Company-owned Restaurants, North America Franchising, North America Commissaries, International Operations, and All Others. The Domestic Company-Owned Restaurants segment consists of retail sales of pizza and side items, breadsticks, cheese sticks, chicken poppers and wings, dessert items, and canned and bottled beverages.