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The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
editors pick newsletter NDA ready to form ‘popular' government in Manipur, say MLAs
Manipur is in the midst of a civil disobedience movement, spearheaded by a Meitei organisation. On May 25, 2025, clashes erupted in Imphal as people protesting the 'undermining' of the State's identity clashed with security personnel during a march to the Raj Bhavan. Amid these latest developments, 10 Manipur MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) to seek the formation of a 'popular' government. The MLAs included eight from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one from the National People's Party (NPP) headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. One was independent. 'All the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) legislators want a popular government to be installed in the interest of Manipur. We need the support of the people for a smooth government formation,' Sapam Nishikanta Singh, the independent MLA, told journalists after the team met with the government. 'This is the same paper we gave to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier. The remaining signatories are not here, but we are all in this together. Everybody wants a popular government,' Mr. Sapam Nishikanta Singh said. A statement from the Raj Bhavan said the 10 MLAs discussed the law and order, and political situation in the State. 'The issues they discussed included, among others, initiating a peace process based on mutual understanding and strengthening security arrangements. Further, they urged the Governor to expedite the formation of a popular government in the State,' the Raj Bhavan's statement read. Central BJP leaders, however, seemed a little less enthusiastic about this development. A party leader said that the visit of the MLAs was more of a courtesy call, and a government is unlikely to be formed soon. Manipur has 60 MLAs. Ten of them, including seven from the BJP, belong to the Kuki-Zomi communities and have not set foot in Imphal since the ethnic conflict with the Meitei people broke out on May 3, 2023. The Hindu's Editorials The Hindu's Daily Quiz What is the new forecast system adopted by IMD for more accurate rain forecasts? Indian Forecast System Barish Climate Forecast Method Bharat Forecast System To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 big risks to Starbucks stock after its hot run
It may be time to book profits in the piping-hot shares of coffee giant Starbucks (SBUX). Starbucks stock has gained 15% in the past month as investors prepare for restaurant wizard Brian Niccol, Starbucks' newish CEO, to show markedly improved operating performance later this year. But Jefferies veteran restaurant analyst Andy Barish warned Tuesday that the risk-reward ratio for the stock is unfavorable after its sizzling run. In large part, Barish's concerns center around fundamentals that may take longer than the market appreciates to improve. "We believe Street estimates for second quarter same-store sales will prove overly optimistic and suspect the slope of the same-store sales recovery will be questioned as ticket growth begins to slow in the second half," Barish wrote. "We see low visibility into the pace of recovery and potential earnings strength in fiscal year 2026 and 2027. With these risks not fully accounted for in Street estimates, we think some near-term weakness in the stock could emerge." Barish outlined four concerns for the bulls. First is if same-store sales don't turn positive in the second quarter. Second, margin gains could be tough to achieve later this year as Starbucks invests in worker wages and hours. Third, the company walks back a $1 billion cost-savings goal articulated by prior management. And fourth, earnings per share take longer than expected to improve. Barish reiterated an Underperform rating on Starbucks shares, which were relatively unchanged in early trading. The company's latest results underscore the challenges Niccol is up against. Starbucks' most recent quarter showed a 4% drop in global same-store sales as the company pulled back on discounts and consumers shunned its long lines. North America and US same-store store sales dropped 4%. International sales weren't any better amid pressure in key markets such as China. Same-store sales overseas declined 4%, with sales in China dropping 6% year over year. Watch: How Shake Shack's founder is cooking up a new chapter The company's operating profit margins in its North America and international segments fell a combined 510 basis points from a year ago. As a sign of the challenging road ahead, Starbucks again declined to share guidance for sales and earnings for its current fiscal year. Niccol pulled the guidance in October to free up space to invest in marketing, staff, and in-store experience. "I think we're definitely in the middle of a turnaround," Niccol told Yahoo Finance (video above). Since the company reported earnings in late January, it said this week it will eliminate 1,100 corporate support roles and several hundred additional open and unfilled positions globally. It also said it would cut 13 items from its menu on March 4. Say goodbye to the Iced Matcha Lemonade with Starbucks' bid to cut costs and improve checkout times. "Long-term investors are clearly buying this stock for the next three years of recovery, but that upside is already greatly embedded in valuation at current levels, in our view," Jefferies' Barish added. Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram and on LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse chasing Chili's success as casual dining chains compete for date nights in 2025
Chili's date nights are here to stay. As consumers return to pre-COVID habits, sit-down chains are competing to become the go-to for special occasions. "Consumers still need to make tough choices regarding their budget [in 2025]," Citi analyst Jon Tower told Yahoo Finance. Occasions like date nights or birthdays are something diners will budget for, giving casual dining restaurants a leg up over fast food players, per Tower. But the industry is fragmented, and customers visit less often than they do for fast food. Brinker International's (EAT) Chili's, Darden's (DRI) Olive Garden, and Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) are among the top players trying to gain market share. "There's an opportunity to win share from weaker competitors, mostly independents," Tower added, calling it "a tailwind for chain operators, assuming they get things right." Jefferies analyst Andy Barish expects the industry overall to see "negative [foot] traffic" growth and "slightly positive" same-store sales growth in 2025 — a trend in stark contrast to the robust growth the sector saw two decades ago. "It's been a category that has been really quite competitive probably since the early 2000s," he said. "It made it difficult for most of these brands to ... consistently drive comp [same-store sales] and traffic growth." Additionally, inflation-battered diners looking for cheaper choices or eating at home, as well as the rise of fast-casual players like Chipotle (CMG), Cava (CAVA), and Sweetgreen (SG), pose further challenges for the industry. However, brands that use scale, marketing, and technology to boost their "competitive advantage" have "big market share opportunities," Barish told Yahoo Finance over the phone. Chili's had been coming out on top in 2024. Barish called the chain "the most extreme example of being able to hit a value promotion at exactly the right time and then be able to support it with an incredible amount of social media spending and influencers." Tower called Chili's an "overnight success" that was years in the making after enduring mismanagement prior to CEO Kevin Hochman's arrival to Brinker in 2022. He reinvested in operations and restaurants and introduced the $10.99 meal deal, which includes an appetizer, entree, and beverage, with an opportunity to upgrade to a premium offering. "We're leading the industry on value," Hochman told Yahoo Finance's Market Domination following Chili's 14% year-over-year same-store sales jump last quarter. Brinker's stock has boomed 280% in the last 12 months. Tower has a Neutral rating on the stock, given "expectations of continued top and bottom line outperformance are already priced in," he wrote in a note to clients. The analyst has a Buy rating on Texas Roadhouse (TXRH), as it has "consistently been a winner from a traffic and sales standpoint" and prioritizes the guest experience. "We want to be the everyday value player out there," a Texas Roadhouse executive told the audience at the ICR conference in Orlando earlier this month. The chain has promotions like an Early Bird special before 6 p.m., which offers entrees like steak, chicken, and pork for roughly $10.99. Texas Roadhouse's company-owned same-store sales growth has increased 8.50%, 9.30%, and 8.40% in the past three quarters, respectively. Its stock is up around 45% in the past year. Barish has a Hold rating on both Brinker International and Texas Roadhouse. "[They] are kind of near or at peak valuations," he said. He has a Buy rating on Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) and BJ's Restaurants (BJRI), which have lower expectations. Breakfast players like Denny's (DENN) and Cracker Barrel (CBRL) are still getting the short end of the stick. Denny's stock has plummeted 40% in the past year, while Cracker Barrel's fell nearly 20%. "[The] breakfast category is more challenged," Tower said, as budget-conscious consumers replace the outing with home-cooked meals. Denny's CEO Kelli Valade told Yahoo Finance there is "cautious optimism" and a "bit of a stabilizing consumer" at the ICR conference. She said its five-year plan, including a remodel program and closure of 30 locations, is working. Same-store sales grew 1.1% in Q4, per preliminary results the company shared. Tower said these companies "have to be even more aggressive with their deals ... to get people in the door." Valade said the chain is offering a "$2 $4 $6 $8 Value Menu" in addition to meal deals for $10. Service, ambiance, convenience, and having a range of price points is also critical, said Valade. "About 20% of the guests are eating some kind of value offering ... $6 and the $10 categories are doing the strongest," she said, while the higher price points provide a boost to profitability. Cracker Barrel has taken a similar approach. Per its latest results, same-store sales increased by 2.9%, with expectations for fiscal 2025 same-store sales to also grow 2.9% overall. "We have some very, very sharp entry price points" like a $7.99 breakfast menu, CEO Julie Felss Masino told Yahoo Finance at ICR. Tower expects the challenges to continue in the near term, though. Denny's and Cracker Barrel have a customer base that "skew lower-income and older," and those customers have pulled back on eating out starting in late 2023 due to inflation. One potential bright spot is Keke's Breakfast Café, a chain that Denny's acquired in 2022. Tower said the brand is a "little bit more insulated," given its diners skew higher-income. — Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@ Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy Sign in to access your portfolio
