What is Panera Bread’s stock price, and are they publicly traded? Unfortunately, investors cannot purchase shares of Panera Bread because it is a private company. However, Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA), Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG), Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) are stocks that traders can invest in.
Panera Bread is a popular bakery-cafe chain in the United States and Canada. The company went public with its IPO in 1991 for $7.75 per share under the stock ticker $PNRA. The stock quickly became a multi-bagger, and many investors claimed big profits. By 2017, Panera Bread’s stock was worth $315 and gained almost 4,000% since its inception.
However, that year, it was bought by JAB Holding, a private investment firm from Luxembourg. As of 2017, investors could no longer invest in Panera Brands, which may change in 2024. In November 2023, the company filed its confidential IPO paperwork for an IPO due in 2024. Here’s what you need to know about Panera Bread and JAB Holding.
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Panera Bread Introduction (No Stock Symbol)
Panera Bread began in St. Louis in 1987 with a single bakery. Today, it has more than 2,100 stores in Canada and the US. Throughout the years, it grew thanks to its stores’ delicious and healthy menu (breakfast, pizza, salads, baked goods, warm bowls, beverages, and more) and technological advancements. When JAB Holding bought Panera Bread for $7.5B in 2017, its yearly revenue was nearly $3B.
In 2021, JAB Holding merged Panera Bread with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels. It created Panera Brands, which combined for over $4.8B in revenue during 2022, thanks to over 4,000 locations in 10 countries. Manhattan Bagel, Bruegger’s Bagels, and Noah’s New York Bagels are also part of Panera Brands.
The objective was again to make Panera Bread stock public under Panera Brands. The IPO was scheduled for 2022 via a SPAC, but adverse market conditions forced JAB Holding’s management to cancel the IPO.
What Is JAB Holding?
JAB Holding is a privately held investment firm based in Luxembourg. The company has more than $50B in managed capital. It is known for its portfolio of investments, primarily focused on the consumer goods industry.
Its investments span various sectors, including coffee, restaurants, luxury goods, and beauty. JAB created a portfolio of well-known complementary brands thanks to its many acquisitions. This could include Panera Bread stock soon.
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (NASDAQ: KDP)
Two of the most popular brands JAB Holding owns are Keurig and Dr Pepper. They could be adding Panera Bread stock to this soon. Keurig was acquired in 2016 for $13.9B and Dr Pepper in 2018 for $18.7B. Keurig Dr Pepper completed the merger on July 9, 2018, creating one of North America’s largest food and beverage companies.
A special dividend of $103.75 was distributed to all shareholders, leading to a steep decline in the stock price. Keurig Dr. Pepper owns a wide range of brands across various beverage categories, such as Dr. Pepper, Keurig, 7up, A&W Root Beer, Crush, Sunkist, Van Houtte, Snapple, Hawaiian Punch, and many more.
Since the merger in 2018, the company’s revenue has skyrocketed. In 2023, it reached a record $14.8B. It became one of North America’s top 10 largest food and beverage companies, trailing PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Tyson Foods, and General Mills. As of March 2024, it also offers a yearly dividend yield of 2.79%.
Panera Bread Stock IPO 2024
Panera Bread was a very successful public company from 1991 to 2017. Many investors were disappointed when it became a private company under JAB Holding.
Fortunately, the company hopes to make Panera Bread stock public again under the Panera Brands umbrella sometime in 2024. However, several changes are underway, and they may not please everyone.
Panera Brands is looking to cut its workforce and change some ingredients on its menu to enhance its financial position. When a company goes public, shareholders and results are more important than staff and consumers.
One of the most important changes will be the quality of its meat. Tyson Foods is one of Panera’s main suppliers. The company reintroduced several antibiotics in its meat and permitted non-pasture-raised cattle, which Panera will use.
This may reduce costs and make the company more appealing to investors but less tempting for consumers. Will Panera Brands be as successful as Keurig Dr Pepper? Let’s see how the IPO performs once it goes public in 2024.
Panera Bread Stock Competitors
The restaurant and fast food industry is very competitive, but many companies have made a name for themselves in North America and internationally. Many of them have gone public to grow faster and attract more investors. Here are a few of the biggest competitors of Panera Bread stock.
1. Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA)
Cava opened its first Mediterranean-inspired Cava Mezze restaurant in Washington, DC, in 2006. In 2011, the restaurant rebranded to Cava Grill. There are currently over 300 restaurants in the US. Thanks to several private investments, Cava has invested in infrastructure, technology, and talent to support its nationwide rollout.
In a strategic 2018 move, it acquired the Zoe’s Kitchen restaurant chain for $300 million. Today, Cava is the largest Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant operator in the United States.
Cava Group went public in June of 2023, raising over \$300 million in its IPO. It was one of the hottest and most successful IPOs of the year. The company is profitable thanks to new restaurant openings and same-store sales growth; revenue has increased by almost 50% YoY.
Since its IPO, the stock has been up by almost 80%, and its market cap is nearing \$8B. Not bad for a company that had a single restaurant less than 20 years ago. This could entice Panera Bread stock to IPO soon.
2. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG)
Chipotle is one of the fastest-growing chains in the US. It operates 3,200 restaurants in the US, Canada, Germany, France and the UK. Chipotle faced significant challenges in 2015 due to food safety incidents but successfully implemented a turnaround strategy under new leadership, focusing on digitalization and enhancing food safety protocols. Today, its market cap is second in the industry, trailing McDonald’s.
Chipotle’s stock has grown by more than 300% in the last five years. During this period, the company missed its quarterly estimates only twice. However, there are concerns about the stock’s valuation. Some argue that its growth is unsustainable.
Since that disastrous period in 2015, the company’s revenue has more than doubled. Last year, it nearly reached $10B. Not only is Chipotle growing, but it is also increasing its profits. It seems like an attractive investment, but beware of the rapid growth.
3. Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ)
Domino’s Pizza has been a customer favorite since its creation in 1960. Today, there are nearly 20,000 restaurants worldwide and 6,400 in the US. Despite the heavy competition, Domino’s has grown, innovated, and delivered strong financials.
Thanks to its user-friendly mobile app and sophisticated tracking system, consumers can have a worry-free time ordering and receiving their pizza. During the COVID pandemic, the company adapted to the adversity and delivered more pizzas and stronger financial results than ever.
In the last 15 years, Domino’s annual revenue and profits have increased almost yearly. What else can you ask for as a shareholder? Speaking of which, they have been well-rewarded. The stock is up nearly 4,000% since 2010 and 88% in the last five years.
Additionally, Domino’s issues a yearly dividend yield of 1.34% as of March 2024. We’ll have to wait and see if Panera Bread stock also has dividend payments.
4. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)
Starbucks and Panera attract a similar demographic of customers seeking delicious and convenient breakfast and lunch options. During the morning rush, customers may choose between Starbucks for their coffee fix or Panera for a quick breakfast sandwich or pastry.
Starbucks and Panera Bread have cultivated strong brand identities and loyal customer bases. This could bode well for Panera Bread stock. Starbucks is often associated with premium coffee and a trendy, urban vibe, while Panera Bread emphasizes fresh ingredients and healthier eating options.
Starbucks has been a strong food and beverage industry player for as long as I can remember. The company’s financials seem to get better with time. In 2023, it reached a record revenue of nearly $36B, which more than doubled in the last ten years.
Starbucks also offers a respectable yearly dividend yield of 2.52% as of March 2024. However, the company’s stock remains sore due to its union practices and involvement in the Middle East.
Final Thoughts: Panera Bread Stock
To conclude, Panera Bread stock was once very successful and popular. In 2024, many investors anticipate its return to the US stock market under the Panera Brands umbrella, including other companies owned by JAB Holding.
The company has seen a lot of growth and may become one of the hottest IPOs of 2024. Keep your eyes open for more news regarding the IPO date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Panera Bread was publicly traded before being bought out by a private company. However, there may be Panera Bread stock available to trade once more if they IPO in 2024.
JAB Holding owns Panera Bread along with other popular brands such as Keurig and Dr Pepper.
It remains unknown how much one share of Panera Brands will cost. The target valuation for the company is around $10B.
