Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) Receives Average Rating of “Reduce” from Analysts

Posted by George Bondi on Sep 12th, 2026

Shares of Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA – Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the nine brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and six have assigned a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $32.00.

A number of brokerages have commented on PZZA. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on Papa John’s International from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Mizuho cut their price objective on Papa John’s International from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 31st. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $24.00 price objective (down from $38.00) on shares of Papa John’s International in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Wall Street Zen raised Papa John’s International from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, July 26th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their target price on Papa John’s International from $33.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 7th.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Papa John’s International

Papa John’s International Trading Down 4.2%

NASDAQ PZZA opened at $20.56 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $27.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.82. The stock has a market cap of $676.84 million, a P/E ratio of 26.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.08. Papa John’s International has a 12-month low of $20.53 and a 12-month high of $55.74.

Papa John’s International (NASDAQ:PZZA – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.01. Papa John’s International had a net margin of 1.34% and a negative return on equity of 10.98%. The firm had revenue of $482.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $481.25 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.41 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Papa John’s International will post 1.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Papa John’s International News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Papa John’s International this week:

Positive Sentiment: Walmart partnership could expand delivery reach. Walmart is reportedly adding Papa John’s to its restaurant-delivery partner network, potentially improving customer access, order volumes and brand visibility. The financial terms and expected revenue contribution were not disclosed. Walmart Adds Papa John’s to Restaurant Delivery Partner List
Neutral Sentiment: Investors have until November 2, 2026, to seek lead-plaintiff status. Multiple law firms are publicizing an already-filed securities class action covering investors who purchased PZZA shares from August 7, 2025, through August 5, 2026. The notices primarily seek shareholder participation and do not represent a court finding of wrongdoing. Rosen Papa John’s Class Action Notice
Negative Sentiment: Class-action allegations add legal and reputational risk. The complaints allege Papa John’s misled investors about the progress of its strategic transformation, which plaintiffs say was taking longer than represented. The allegations reference an approximately $5.11 per-share one-session loss and suspension of the dividend on August 6, 2026. Continued legal publicity may weigh on sentiment, while potential litigation costs and damages remain uncertain. Levi and Korsinsky Papa John’s Class Action Notice

Institutional Trading of Papa John’s International

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of PZZA. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new stake in shares of Papa John’s International in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Persistent Asset Partners Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Papa John’s International during the second quarter worth $33,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Papa John’s International during the second quarter valued at $59,000. Leonteq Securities AG acquired a new position in Papa John’s International during the fourth quarter valued at $71,000. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Papa John’s International in the fourth quarter valued at $73,000.

About Papa John’s International

(Get Free Report)

Papa John’s International, Inc is a leading American pizza restaurant chain known for its focus on high-quality ingredients and consistent product offerings. Founded in 1984 by John Schnatter in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the company has grown to operate thousands of restaurants across the United States and in more than 40 international markets. Papa John’s restaurants are primarily franchised, supported by a network of corporate-owned outlets that together drive brand standards, operational guidance and marketing efforts.

The core menu at Papa John’s centers on a variety of hand-tossed and pan pizzas made with a signature stone-baked crust and topped with real cheese, vine-ripened tomato sauce and premium meats and vegetables.