What is Popeye’s stock price, and are they publicly traded? Investors cannot purchase shares of Popeyes because it’s a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR).
If you didn’t know, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. (Popeyes) operates and franchises quick-service restaurants (QSR). Under this umbrella, we have the trade names Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen and Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits.
If you’re interested in franchising, you have domestic and international options. Regarding the food choices, their Louisiana-style menu features spicy chicken, fried shrimp, and other seafood, chicken tenders, red beans, rice, and other regional items.
Is Popeyes Publicly Traded?
Popeyes is now a division of Restaurant Brands International, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under (NYSE: QSR).
Restaurant Brands International owns “Quick Service Restaurant” brands, hence the ticker QSR on the NYSE. Under the QSR umbrella, you have the heavy hitters Burger King, Tim Horton’s, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
I must add that a mind-boggling 27,000 restaurants operate under the $QSR brand, generating $34 billion in sales each year.
Even though Burger King, Tim Horton’s, and Popeyes have been around for 40+ years, RBI is relatively new. RBI was formed only in 2014 with the merger of Burger King and Tim Horton.
Fast forward three years, and RBI bought Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen for $1.6 billion to create its “PLK segment.” PLK is now its fastest-growing segment and carries positive sales momentum despite the challenging market conditions. For proof, look no further than their latest press release dated June 29, 2020:
“And Popeyes continues to demonstrate incredibly strong comparable sales momentum in the U.S. with sales growth remaining in the very high 20s last week, even as we begin to lap the strongest 2019 period before the national launch of the Chicken Sandwich. Nearly all Popeyes restaurants in our home market are open for takeout and delivery, with dining rooms mostly closed. In mid-June, the team also brought our Chicken Sandwich to Canada in a test market where we have seen strong demand, giving us optimism that the quality of our sandwich will transcend markets and continue to attract new guests to our brand.”
Popeyes Company Overview
Founded in 1973, Popeyes is a multinational fried chicken chain that’s been satisfying diners’ appetites ever since.
As of December 25, 2016, Popeyes operated and franchised 2,688 restaurants throughout 48 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and 25 foreign countries.
Furthermore, 84% of the 55 Company-operated restaurants are in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
If you head to the company’s official website, the estimated startup cost ranges from $400K–$1.3 million, excluding real estate.
Based on the type of store you want to build, the prices range even further:
- A stand-alone restaurant costs more than $948,000 to over $1,687,000 at startup
- An in-line restaurant is worth between $604,000 to around $914,000
- If you opt for a conversion restaurant, the initial investment ranges from $698,000 to over $1.1 million
Source: Franchise Direct. While there’s a focus on Popeyes’ stock price, franchising could be a way to get in on this popular company.
Popeyes Revenue and Financial Overview
| Year | Estimated Revenue ($bn) | 2025 (est.) | $7.6 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.3 |
| 2023 | $7.1 |
| 2022 | $6.5 |
| 2021 | $5.6 |
Public Fast-Food Restaurant Companies to Consider
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| YUM | Yum Brands! |
| MCD | McDonald’s |
| CMG | Chipotle Mexican Grill |
| TXRH | Texas Roadhouse |
| JACK | Jack in the Box |
| DPZ | Domino’s Pizza |
| SBUX | Starbucks |
Popeyes Largest Competitor
Popeyes is the second-largest restaurant chain of its kind. Not surprisingly, the mighty Kernel takes the top spot, operating more than 30,000 restaurants in the United States and internationally.
KFC is part of the Yum! The brand’s parent company. Yum! Brands, Inc. is the world’s largest restaurant company in system restaurants, with over 40,000 locations in more than 130 countries and territories and employing more than one million associates.
Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Effect
Even COVID-19 couldn’t stop the sales of Popeye’s chicken sandwiches. Since Popeyes released its chicken sandwich in August, it has reported same-store sales growth far outpacing its competition.
According to Restaurant Brands International, sales at their Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants grew 26% in the first quarter of 2020. At the same time, Tim Horton’s comparable sales fell 10.3%, while Burger King’s dropped 3.7%.
With that kind of growth, it’s unfortunate there is no Popeyes stock price. Knowing how to buy shares of stock would help if you could buy Popeyes. But there are many other companies to invest in.
Final Thoughts on Popeyes Stock
There might be no Popeyes stock price, but you can trade $QSR. Nothing can guarantee that your stock portfolio thrives.
However, by adding food industry stocks to your portfolio, you can protect some of the wealth that you have already acquired. People need food and can only cut spending on it by so much. Even though there’s no Popeyes stock, there are several fast food companies that traders can invest in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popeyes stock was delisted and is no longer on a stock exchange. They are owned by Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR).
A division of Restaurant Brands International owns Popeyes (NYSE: QSR).
The stock symbol for Popeyes was PLKI, but it was delisted. It is owned by Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR).
