Can I buy Panda Express stock? If you’re looking for authentic and family-owned Chinese cuisine in the US, you might have stumbled upon Panda Express. Before expanding in the US and abroad, the brand began with a single restaurant in the Glendale Galleria Mall in California more than 40 years ago.
Many fast food companies choose to go public to grow faster and expand, but not Panda Express. It has always been a family business owned by the billionaire couple Andrew and Peggy Cherng under the Panda Restaurant Group.
The family doesn’t plan to go public with an IPO or sell the company. If the couple decides to go public with their brand or sell their business to a multinational public company, here’s everything you need to know.
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Panda Express Introduction (No Stock Symbol)
How did Panda Express grow from one restaurant in California in 1983 to over 2,000 restaurants in the US and abroad? The restaurant focused on meaningful client relationships, fresh food, and strategic partnerships. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Panda Express expanded its presence in California and the rest of the country.
At the turn of the century, the brand began its international expansion. Today, it has restaurants in the US, Canada, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, El Salvador, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Germany and Indonesia.
Panda Express isn’t the only fast food chain operated by Andrew and Peggy Cherng. The couple also opened 6 Panda Inn locations in California. To cater to the growing demand for quick-service Japanese cuisine, the couple introduced Hibachi-San in the late 1990s, a subsidiary of Panda Express. They currently operate ten restaurants. Buy can you buy Panda Express stock?
Andrew and Peggy Cherng Family
Many fast food companies like Pizza Hut, KFC, Dairy Queen, or Chipotle have either gone public or belong to a larger public company. Unfortunately, Andrew and Peggy Cherng have kept Panda Express and their other restaurants a private family business. They are currently unavailable for investors on the US stock markets.
How much are Andrew and Peggy Cherng worth? Their fast food empire’s estimated net worth is over \$3B. Since they are not a public company, they are not obligated to release quarterly statements and financial information. Fortunately, Panda Express stock has some competitors listed in the US stock market.
Panda Express Stock Competitors
There aren’t many Chinese-American restaurants trading on the US stock market, but some chains have Asian-inspired menus.
You can’t trade Panda Express stock. So here are a few lesser-known examples of public fast food and restaurant companies.
1. Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI)
Darden Restaurants is an American multi-brand restaurant operator. Some of its most popular chains are Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood.
Until 1995, Darden owned a casual dining American restaurant chain called China Coast. It specialized in American Chinese cuisine and was intended to be one of Darden’s signature properties.
Unfortunately, it closed its doors due to negative reviews, poor service, and financial losses. Darden Restaurants owns a diverse set of restaurants that sometimes offer Chinese-inspired cuisine.
Darden Restaurants is currently trading near its all-time high. The company’s revenue and profits have fluctuated over the last decade. However, in 2023, it made a record revenue ($10.48B) and gross profit ($2.08B). It also offers an attractive annual dividend yield of 3.17%.
Thanks to its 1,900 restaurants, the company is well-positioned to keep growing and increasing its market share. As a result, you can trade $DRI instead of Panda Express stock.
2. BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI)
BJ’s Restaurants is one of Panda Express’ competitors in its home state. While the company doesn’t specifically focus on Chinese-inspired cuisine, its success is based on its culinary innovation, American cuisine, in-house brewery, and craft beers.
The brewery sets BJ’s apart from other fast food chains and contributes to its unique brand identity. BJ’s has over 200 locations across the US.
How has BJ’s performed compared to its many competitors? Its financials aren’t as exciting, but they remain strong. Apart from 2020, during the COVID era, the company has always seen an increase in revenue and gross profit.
In 2023, it recorded an all-time high for both ($1.3B in revenue and $987M in gross profit). Despite its financial consistency, BJ’s stock has struggled and has seen many ups and downs. Could Panda Express stock see that type of up-and-down behavior?
3. Noodles & Co. (NASDAQ: NDLS)
Noodles & Company offers a diverse menu influenced by Asian, Mediterranean, and American cuisines. The company is present in 31 states with over 400 restaurants. Despite its growth, Noodles & Company has suffered due to legal issues, restaurant closures, and competition.
The brand is still planning to open new restaurants and to keep growing, but the process may slow down until it achieves financial stability. Would that affect Panda Express stock?
Despite revenue surpassing \$500M last year, Noodles & Company’s stock is suffering. It is trading near an all-time low and has lost over 60% of its value in the last year. The company isn’t profitable yet, and its model requires constant innovation. It is on the right track to success, but many hurdles remain regarding profitability and success.
4. Chuy's Holdings (NASDAQ: CHUY)
Chuy’s is a Tex-Mex restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the US. Similar to Panda Express stock, Chuy’s began with one location. The brand currently operates over 100 restaurants.
One of Chuy’s distinctive features is its eclectic and colorful decor and unique artwork, which reflects the spirit of Tex-Mex culture. Despite facing competition from other Tex-Mex chains and local Mexican restaurants, Chuy’s has continued to expand and attract customers with its unique brand identity and flavorful cuisine.
Chuy’s may be a lesser-known restaurant and stock to many, but its financial performance has been solid. The company brought over $450M in revenue in 2023 while remaining profitable. It has been profitable every year since 2020 with steady revenue increases.
I agree that these aren’t the most impressive numbers in this highly competitive industry, but they are worth mentioning. Who knows what this company can achieve with more restaurants in the US?
Final Thoughts: Panda Express Stock
To conclude, Panda Restaurant may serve delicious Chinese-inspired cuisine, but investors can’t have a bite of the company’s stock as it remains private. The founders, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, do not anticipate publicizing or selling the company to a multinational public company. So no Panda Express stock.
On the bright side, investors interested in the restaurant and fast food industry have plenty of options in this highly competitive space. There are tons of public companies of all sizes and tastes. Remember that this industry is highly competitive, and the slightest innovation can lead to big results.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Panda Express is a family-owned private stock, and the Cherng family plans to keep it that way.
Andrew Cherng and his wife Peggy are the billionaire couple who founded and own Panda Express.
Panda Express is worth more than $3B.
