Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Last Blog...

I would not mind at all working for this company. They have good values and seem to care a lot about their employees and community.

I would like to invest in this company. They have managed steady growth.
As of today, it finished at: 53.60. September 1, it was trading at: 34.20. I would have bought 29 shares with 1,000 dollars. I would have an extra $562.60 if I would have invested on September 1.


As far as being customer, I cannot never visit IHOP enough.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Most Interesting Thing I learned About My Company

The most interesting things I learned about my company was that it was owned by DinEquity, which also owns Applebee's. I also learned that:

  • More than 99 percent of IHOP restaurants are operated by franchisees, who are independent business people.
  • As of September 30, 2010, there were 1,483 IHOP restaurants located in 50 states and the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • National Pancake Day is IHOP's largest one-day event and to date has raised more than $5.35 million in support of Children's Miracle Network and other local charities

Sunday, November 28, 2010

How Cheap Is DineEquity's Stock by the Numbers?

How Cheap Is DineEquity's Stock by the Numbers?

 Numbers can lie -- yet they're the best first step in determining whether a stock is a buy. In this series, we use some carefully chosen metrics to size up a stock's true value based on the following clues:
  • The current price multiples.
  • The consistency of past earnings and cash flow.
  • The amount of growth we can expect.
 Let's see what those numbers can tell us about how expensive or cheap DineEquity (NYSE:DIN) might be.
The current price multiplesFirst, we'll look at most investors' favorite metric: the price-to-earnings ratio. It divides the company's share price by its earnings per share (EPS). The lower the P/E, the better.
Then we'll take things up a notch with a more advanced metric: enterprise value to unlevered free cash flow. This tool divides the company's enterprise value (basically, its market cap plus its debt, minus its cash) by its unlevered free cash flow (its free cash flow, adding back the interest payments on its debt). As with the P/E, the lower this number is, the better.
Analysts argue about which is more important -- earnings or cash flow. Who cares? A good buy ideally has low multiples on both.
DineEquity has a P/E ratio of 232.1 and an EV/FCF ratio of 12.0 over the trailing 12 months. If we stretch and compare current valuations with the five-year averages for earnings and free cash flow, we see that DineEquity has a negative P/E ratio and a five-year EV/FCF ratio of 17.4.
A one-year ratio of less than 10 for both metrics is ideal. For a five-year metric, less than 20 is ideal.
DineEquity has a mixed performance in hitting the ideal targets, but let's see how it stacks up against some of its competitors and industry mates. 
Company
1-Year P/E
1-Year EV/FCF
5-Year P/E
5-Year EV/FCF
DineEquity
232.1
12.0
NM
17.4
Cheesecake Factory (Nasdaq: CAKE)
31.2
14.4
28.0
33.9
Brinker International (NYSE: EAT)
12.4
9.7
12.7
13.5
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store(Nasdaq: CBRL)
15.5
11.1
13.3
18.6
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's; NM = not meaningful.
Numerically, we've seen how DineEquity's valuation rates on both an absolute and relative basis. Next, let's examine …
The consistency of past earnings and cash flowAn ideal company will be consistently strong in its earnings and cash-flow generation.
In the past five years, DineEquity's net income margin has ranged from -4.4% to 12.6%. In that same time frame, unlevered free cash flow margin has ranged from 14.0% to 22.4%.
How do those figures compare with those of the company's peers? See for yourself:

 In addition, over the past five years, DineEquity has tallied up three years of positive earnings and five years of positive free cash flow.
Next, let's figure out …
How much growth we can expectAnalysts tend to comically overstate their five-year growth estimates. If you accept them at face value, you will overpay for stocks. But even though you should definitely take the analysts' prognostications with a grain of salt, they can still provide a useful starting point when compared with similar numbers from a company's closest rivals.
Let's start by seeing what this company's done over the past five years. Because of prior losses, DineEquity's EPS growth rate isn't meaningful. Meanwhile, Wall Street's analysts expect future growth rates of 14.0%.
Here's how DineEquity compares with its peers for trailing five-year growth:

 And here's how it measures up with regard to the growth analysts expect over the next five years:

 The bottom line
The pile of numbers we've plowed through has shown us how cheap shares of DineEquity are trading, how consistent its performance has been, and what kind of growth profile it has -- both on an absolute and a relative basis.
The more consistent a company's performance has been and the more growth we can expect, the more we should be willing to pay. We've gone well beyond looking at a 232.1 P/E ratio.
I find the three comp companies more enticing than DineEquity and its Applebee's and International House of Pancakes brands. But that's just me.
If you find DineEquity's numbers compelling, don't stop here. Continue your due-diligence process until you're confident that the initial numbers aren't lying to you.

share price update

54.41
+0.46 (0.85%)
Nov 26 - Close

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Chapter 12

The part of Chapter 12 that most pertains to my company is "Grounding the Culture in Core Values and Ethics." This is an excerpt from DinEquity's website, under Responsibilty:

"We operate under a cultural framework that we call our Vision and Values. Our Vision and Values are the foundation of our relationships with our guests, suppliers, neighborhoods and each other. It is an articulation of our values and behaviors that defines who we are and how we work. We value innovation, collaboration and diversity and we behave with integrity. These core values and beliefs are also how we hold ourselves and each other accountable to the vision of what we want DineEquity to be."

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

stock price update

49.58
-1.18 (-2.32%)
Real-time:   3:27PM EST
NYSE real-time data -
Currency in USD

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Assignment 11

I could not find any scandals about my company, but I found many YouTube videos. There were a lot of people just scarfing as many pancakes as they could handle.

IHOP looks forward to the holiday season because they change their menu slightly just for the occasion. They offer specialty pancakes during the holiday season.

I must say, I look forward to it as well.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Veterans Day

Applebee's(R) Says 'Thank You' to More Than 1 Million Veterans and Active Duty Military With a Free Meal on Veterans Day

Posted on: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:45:00 EST

Symbols: DIN
LENEXA, KS, Nov 12, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar (R) gave a heartfelt thanks to the nation's military yesterday as 1,024,000 veterans and active duty troops enjoyed a free meal in honor of Veterans Day.
Across the country, members of the military gathered at their neighborhood Applebee's to connect with fellow soldiers, swap stories and remember the sacrifices they made on behalf of our country. Neighborhoods came together as lines formed at 1900 Applebee's restaurants from coast to coast. This marked the third year Applebee's honored veterans and active duty military with a free meal.
"We are proud to serve America's heroes on this day of respect and remembrance," said Mike Archer, president of Applebee's Services, Inc. "It's an absolute honor to meet our nation's military, hear their stories and serve them a great meal -- on the house. It's a small gesture of thanks for all the sacrifices they've made on our behalf."
Military personnel could select from seven of Applebee's top menu items. The most popular item? Applebee's 7 oz. House Sirloin. More than 391,000 Veterans and Active Duty military enjoyed a steak on the house as thanks for their service. Additionally, Applebee's served 163,000 Bacon Cheeseburgers and 146,000 Double Crunch Shrimp meals.
Applebee's Facebook page included a virtual wall of honor where thousands of Americans posted messages of thanks to our military. Meanwhile, veterans and active duty military from World War II to Afghanistan posted messages of gratitude on the company's Facebook page, many sharing the sentiment that the day was not so much about free food, but about the opportunity to connect with fellow soldiers.
"That's what this day is about for us," said Archer. "Saying thank you to our neighbors who served and giving them a chance to connect."

share price update

49.97
-1.53 (-2.97%)
Real-time:   2:19PM EST 

Monday, November 8, 2010

share price update

DineEquity Looks to Continue to Trade Above its Annual-High Share Price Today (DIN)

(via COMTEX News Network)--Shares of DineEquity (NYSE: DIN) traded at a new 52-week high today of $51.95. Approximately 137,000 shares have traded hands today vs. average 30-day volume of 320,000 shares.
DineEquity is currently trading at $51.94, approximately 18.6% above its 50-day moving average of $43.79. SmarTrend will be monitoring shares of DIN to see if this bullish momentum will continue.
SmarTrend is bullish on shares of DineEquity and our subscribers were alerted to Buy on November 03, 2010 at $50.34. The stock has risen 3.2% since the alert was issued.


Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/10/11/c590076/dineequity-looks-to-continue-to-trade-above-its-annual-high-share-price#ixzz14jo4N5px

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Chapter 10

It was difficult to find a lot to relate from Ch 10 to my company. However, I did find this on DinEquity's website. It shows the importance they place on employees:

"We believe that our most important strength is having the right people in the right positions,
motivated to perform individually and collectively. We strive to provide a work environment
where all team members have the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to the
company’s success."

This statement says a lot. You have to have the right workers for the job if you want your strategy to work, and they emphasize that. They also encourage workers to contribute. This is unlike a command and control environment, where workers only do what they are told. Workers need to feel like they have contributed something if you want them happy. Happy workers make for a better implemented strategy.

Investor Day on November 9th

Nov. 4, 2010, 4:00 p.m. EDT

DineEquity, Inc. to Host Investor Day on November 9th


GLENDALE, CA, Nov 04, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- DineEquity, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!din/quotes/nls/din (DIN 51.22, +0.29, +0.57%) , the parent company of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP Restaurants, invites investors and the media to join DineEquity's 2010 Investor Day via webcast on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company's Investor Day will include presentations by the DineEquity, Applebee's and IHOP management teams, which will focus on a discussion of Applebee's and IHOP's growth strategies and the strength of DineEquity's highly franchise business model, among other topics.
A live webcast of DineEquity's Investor Day will be available on the Company's Web site at www.dineequity.com, and may be accessed by visiting Calls & Presentations under the site's Investor Information section. Participants should allow approximately ten minutes prior to the event's start time to visit the site and download any streaming media software needed to listen to the webcast. An online archive of the Investor Day webcast also will be available on the Investor Information section of DineEquity's Web site shortly after the conclusion of the event.
About DineEquity, Inc.
Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc., through its subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands. With nearly 3,500 restaurants combined, DineEquity is the largest full-service restaurant company in the world. For more information on DineEquity, visit the Company's Web site located at www.dineequity.com.
SOURCE: DineEquity, Inc.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Share Price update

43.71
-1.10 (-2.45%)
After Hours: 43.71 0.00 (0.00%)
Oct 28, 5:18PM EDT  

Monday, October 25, 2010

Halloween

Media Alert: Free Scary Face Pancakes for Kids October 29 at IHOP No Tricks - Just Treats as Kids 12 and Under Celebrate Halloween a Little Early



© Marketwire 2010
25.10.2010 13:04:10

(live-PR.com) - GLENDALE, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/25/10 --



WHAT:
IHOP restaurants nationwide will celebrate Halloween a little early this year, offering kids 12 and under a free Scary Face Pancake as part of its No Tricks - Just Treats program designed to provide kids with a safe and fun Halloween event. The "design-your-own" Scary Face Pancake includes an oversized signature buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini OREO® cookies and candy corn on the side to allow kids to create their own Halloween hotcake.





WHY:
IHOP wants to provide trick or treaters with a safe and fun Halloween celebration that they can enjoy with friends and family.



WHEN:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.




WHERE:
Participating IHOP restaurants nationwide.



ADDITONAL INFORMATION:


  • The Scary Face Pancake is a fun and flavorful play on IHOP's popular Funny Face Pancake.
  • The Scary Face Pancake will be offered throughout October and, like all IHOP kids menu items, is under 600 calories. Throughout IHOP's new menu, items under 600 calories are designated with a SIMPLE & FIT icon.
  • In a nationwide "Name IHOP's Scary Face Pancake" online contest, which concluded October 20, more than 1,300 entries were received and the winning name is "Count Spatula."



ABOUT IHOP
For 52 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of June 30, 2010, there were 1,476 IHOPs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).



Image Available: www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1399389 : www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1399389

share price update

47.94
-0.95 (-1.94%)
Oct 25 - Close

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Share Price update

47.30
+0.51 (1.09%)
After Hours: 47.30 0.00 (0.00%)
Oct 21, 5:07PM EDT  

Attention Veterans!

Applebee’s® Thanks Neighborhood Veterans And Active Duty Military With A Free Meal On Veterans Day

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar® Served More than One Million Free Meals on Veterans Day in 2009
LENEXA, Kan., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Once again, Applebee’s will thank our nation’s veterans and active duty military by inviting them to their neighborhood Applebee’s for a free meal on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.  Last year, Applebee’s served more than one million military men and women and expects that number to be even higher this year. The company’s appreciation efforts last year were the largest of its kind to give back to the communities nationwide  where Applebee’s restaurants are located.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, click:  http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/applebees/46625/
“It is a real privilege for us to serve our veterans and active duty military on this national day of respect and remembrance,” said Mike Archer, president, Applebee’s Services, Inc. “Veterans Day at Applebee’s is a time for our military to connect with fellow service men and women, swap stories and enjoy a great meal. For us, serving those who serve our country is a true honor. The entire day is filled with fun, memories and great conversations. We’re looking forward to hosting them again this year.”
Guests are encouraged to say thanks to veterans and active duty personnel on Applebee’s “virtual wall of honor” at www.facebook.com/applebees or www.applebees.com.
At Applebee’s across the country last year, lines formed before the doors opened, tables were packed and members of the military and veterans met with old friends, made new ones and celebrated their dedication to our country.
Applebee’s new Veterans Day menu will offer signature and favorite items, including:
  • 7 oz. House Sirloin
  • Bacon Cheeseburger
  • Three Cheese Chicken Penne
  • Chicken Tenders Platter
  • Oriental Chicken Salad
  • Fiesta Lime Chicken®
  • Double Crunch Shrimp

Veterans and active duty military will need to provide proof of service, which includes U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation.
All neighborhood Applebee’s will be open 11 a.m.-midnight.  Guests should inquire with their local restaurant about extended hours. Offer is valid for dine-in only. Traditional sides are included with the free entrees. 2 for $20, appetizers, upgraded side items or extras, beverages, desserts and gratuity are not included.
About Applebee’s
Applebee’s (www.applebees.com) is the world’s largest casual dining chain, with approximately 2,000 locations in 49 states, 16 countries and one U.S. territory. Based in Lenexa, Kan., Applebee’s takes pride in providing a welcoming, neighborhood environment where everyone can enjoy the dining experience.  Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is a DineEquity, Inc. (DIN: 47.30 +0.51 +1.09%) brand, and is franchised and operated by Applebee’s Services, Inc. and its affiliates.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Acquistions, China

IHOP acquired Applebee's in 2007, then followed that by changing the parent name to DineEquity.
As of now, IHOP has no operations in China, however, they do have operations in the Carribean Islands, as well as Canada and Mexico.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Share Price update

50.04
-0.31 (-0.62%)
 
  1. Range49.90 - 51.24
  2. 52 week 19.97 - 51.24
  3. Open 50.53
  4. Vol / Avg. 243,713.00/284,000.00
  5. Mkt cap 897.10M

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Vertical Integration/ Outsourcing

IHOP does not really have a need to do either of these strategies. With the close relationship that they have with suppliers, it would not make sense to integrate backward. As far as outsourcing goes, I am not sure how they could outsource anything in the restaurant biz. It would be interesting to imagine what that would be like though.

Share Price update

DineEquity, Inc. 

(Public, NYSE:DIN)

45.66
-0.91 (-1.95%)
After Hours: 45.66 0.00 (0.00%)
Oct 6, 4:26PM EDT

Generic Strategies

IHOP appears to follow the generic strategy of broad differentiation. They offer buyers something attractively different from competitors such as Bob Evans and Denny's. IHOP has various ways to offer pancakes unlike anyone else, and they continually mix it up as seasons change; which leads me into the many product lines that they offer - in pancakes alone! They tout these differentiating features as well in their ads (like the New York Cheesecake pancakes). Lastly, they concentrate on these differentiating areas, while the rest of the menu is relatively comparable to other restaurants.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Share Price Update

44.96
-0.02 (-0.04%)
After Hours: 44.96 0.00 (0.00%) Oct 1, 5:17PM EDT 

DineEquity In Preliminary Deals To Refranchise 86 Applebee's


 DineEquity In Preliminary Deals To Refranchise 86 Applebee's
by Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires Posted: Friday, October 1, 2010 at 12:18PM EDT

DineEquity Inc. (DIN) said it has reached three preliminary deals to refranchise a combined 86 company-owned Applebee's restaurants, continuing its effort to move to a franchisee operating model.
Since IHOP bought Applebee's in 2007 to form DineEquity, the company has been selling company-owned Applebee's restaurants to help pay down debt. As of June 30, it had total debt of about $2.2 billion.
The potential sales in the latest deals include 36 locations in St. Louis, 20 in Virginia and 30 in the Washington D.C. market. DineEquity said in a filing Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it would continue to have a significant amount of debt after the transactions are completed.
The company refranchised 110 Applebee's since the merger through June 30, leaving 393, or 20%, of the chain's total number of locations. A deal is in place to sell 63 in Minnesota and Wisconsin and is slated to close in the fourth quarter. But DineEquity noted Wednesday that if the deal is terminated by mid-November, the company won't be able to carry out plans to redeem $28 million of preferred stock.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Wall Street Journal.

Monday, September 27, 2010

IHOP's Strengths

I was hard-pressed to find any weaknesses that IHOP might have, but I did come up with some strengths: They have many "product lines." Don't let their name fool you, they have a lot more to offer than just pancakes. They have broad market coverage - there are restaurants in all 50 states, and in Canada and Mexico. Their marketing skills are good (have you seen their commercials?). Everyone knows that IHOP has the best pancakes. They also have many diverse ways in which they serve pancakes; in other words, they know how to keep people coming back. That is related to brand name reputation as well. People know that when they go there, they expect a delicious meal. And they get it!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Share Price update

Shares of DineEquity are Moving Higher on 1x Above-Average Volume (DIN)

By Chip Brian
Shares of DineEquity (NYSE:DIN) are trading up 2.8% to $41.71 today on above average volume. Approximately 271,000 shares have traded hands today vs. average 30-day volume of 269,000 shares.
Spikes in volume can validate a breakout or signify a potential turning point. As such, SmarTrend will continue to monitor shares of DIN to see if this bullish momentum will continue.
SmarTrend is bullish on shares of DineEquity and our subscribers were alerted to buy on September 02, 2010 at $35.82. The stock has risen 16.4% since the alert was issued.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

DineEquity - Mission

I have looked and looked, and it appears that DineEquity has no mission statement. They have set goals, objectives, and have a "Vision and Values" statement, (I blogged about these in my Chapter 2 blog) yet they remain quiet on their mission. Therefore, I will attempt to come up with one. "Our mission is to serve a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner, day or night, to every customer at a great price." I think that sums up who they are, what they do, and why they are here.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

IHOP on Facebook

IHOP has a great facebook page. If you visit their page (http://www.facebook.com/IHOP), you will see that they have nearly 148,000 fans (as of now). They have fun little activities to do - like "disguise your mug" - and you can sign up for promotions. Right now, if you sign up for their club, you'll get a free meal for signing up, a free meal on your birthday, and a free meal on the first anniversary of signing up. Sounds too good to pass up! Check it out next time you're on Facebook.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Thursday, September 16, 2010

DineEquity's Relative Performance...

DineEquity is Among the Companies in the Restaurants Industry With the Best Relative Performance (DIN, CAKE, TXRH, EAT, RT)

By Chip Brian
Below are the top five companies in the Restaurants industry as measured by relative performance. This analysis was compiled based on yesterday's trading activity as we search for stocks that have the potential to outperform.
DineEquity (NYSE:DIN) ranks first with a gain of 4.62%; Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) ranks second with a gain of 3%; and Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:TXRH) ranks third with a gain of 2.9%.
Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) follows with a gain of 2.56% and Ruby Tuesday (NYSE:RT) rounds out the top five with a gain of 2.32%.
SmarTrend is bullish on shares of EAT and our subscribers were alerted to Buy on July 13, 2010 at $15.75. The stock has risen 17% since the alert was issued.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Chapter 4 Observations

In these not-so-great economic times we are in, IHOP has been able to stay steady by offering great promotions. When school started back up, IHOP announced that "Kids eat free" for the entire month of August (certain conditions apply of course). Although this may seem like a crazy idea, this is a great way to keep IHOP on everyone's minds when back-to-school-spending occurs. They hope that word-of-mouth will create enough business to cover the costs of the promotion.

Last year, IHOP offered "All you can eat pancakes", also known as the "2009 Hungry Consumer Relief Plan." This marketing tactic drew in more consumers who could relate to the unstable economic conditions.

In these economic conditions, more people are not getting out to the restaurants when they can save money by cooking at home. However, IHOP keeps people coming back for more by offering great promotions.

IHOP has a distinctive competence in creating innovative pancakes. There are a flurry to choose from. No other restaurant can compare to what IHOP brings with pancakes.

Trading Higher on Heavy Volume

Trading Higher on Heavy Volume are Shares of DineEquity on 1.1x Above-Average Volume (DIN)

(via COMTEX News Network)--


Shares of DineEquity (NYSE: DIN) are trading up 4.4% to $38.51 today on above average volume. Approximately 332,000 shares have traded hands today vs. average 30-day volume of 294,000 shares.



Spikes in volume can validate a breakout or signify a potential turning point. As such, SmarTrend will continue to monitor shares of DIN to see if this bullish momentum will continue.



SmarTrend is bullish on shares of DineEquity and our subscribers were alerted to buy on September 02, 2010 at $35.82. The stock has risen 7.5% since the alert was issued.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Share Price

As of right now, DIN is trading at 37.17, which is down 1.60 (-4.13%).

Friday, September 3, 2010

Chapter 3 Observations

IHOP and Applebee's face a number of rivals (IHOP: Cracker Barrel, Denny's, Bob Evan's; Applebee's: Rafferty's, Outback). With the number of rivals, these restaurants have to continuously keep coming up with new ways to keep their customers coming back to them. They can do this by differentiating their products, or by price adjustments (special offers, discounts). Both restaurants do this everyday. IHOP with their "Tooty Fruity" and Applebee's with their "2 for 20."

It appears that the rivalry is quite high in this industry. There are always specials and commercails being played that help differentiate their products. This means they are always thinking of ways to keep or steal customers. If you "fall asleep" you could lose your customer base.

Buyers have relatively high power. Their switching costs are low to eat somewhere else.

The substitutes vary: there are similar style restaurants (Bob Evans), and there are different style restaurants (McDonalds), and lastly, people can just eat at home (grocery stores). Therefore, differentiation and prices can be very important.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

DineEquity is Efficiency Leader

DineEquity has the Highest Level of Efficiency in the Restaurants Industry (DIN, SONC, RUTH, CHUX, NATH)
Written on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 5:30am

By Chip Brian

Below are the top five most-efficient companies in the Restaurants industry as ranked by Revenue Per Employee (RPE). Analysts use RPE as a measure to compare the productivity of companies in the same industry.

DineEquity (NYSE:DIN) ranks first with an RPE of $2.13M; Sonic (NASDAQ:SONC) ranks second with an RPE of $1.62M; and Ruth's Hospitality (NASDAQ:RUTH) ranks third with an RPE of $0.73M.

O'Charley's (NASDAQ:CHUX) follows with an RPE of $0.42M and Nathan's Famous (NASDAQ:NATH) rounds out the top five with an RPE of $0.24M.

SmarTrend is bullish on shares of NATH and our subscribers were alerted to Buy on August 10, 2009 at $13.80. The stock has risen 12.1% since the alert was issued

Source: www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/dineequity-has-highest-level-efficiency-restaurants-industry-din-sonc-ruth-ch

Jump in Share Price

DineEquity had a nice boost today:

38.02, +3.82 (11.17%)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Chapter 2

After reading Chapter two, I thought I would share this about DineEquity:

1) DineEquity's Vision is this: "DineEquity unites great franchises, brands and team members to create the world's leading restaurant company, one guest experience at a time."
The effective elements I find here are: Directional, Focused, Feasible, Desirable, and Easy to Communicate.
The shortcomings are: Too reliant on superlatives (the world's leading restaurant company).

2) DineEquity has a wonderful set of Values: Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Accountability, Inclusion, Trust, and (my personal favorite) Community. They believe in making a difference in the communites they serve.

3) DineEquity Inc. set goals of "energizing our brands, improving the operational performance of our franchsie systems, and maximizing franchise development" - the intention is to transform Applebee's to a nearly 99% franchised system.

4) DineEquity "expects to continue to apply a new business strategy that includes (1) the franchising of more than 90% of the Applebee's company-operated restaurants, (2) specific changes in the manner in which our Applebee's and IHOP businesses are managed and serviced, such as the February 2009 establishment of a purchasing cooperative, and the procurement of products and services from such purchasing cooperative, (3) the possible introduction of new restaurant concepts and (4) improvements to the overall performance of the Applebee's business by applying some of the strategies we previously applied to the IHOP restaurant business." Source: 2009 10K. Basically, IHOP is using its winning strategy to help Applebee's become more profitable.

5) DineEquity has its Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics for Executives and Directors, and Policies for Business Conduct posted on its website. It does a great job of listing the board's role and goals. This allows every potential investor to better understand what the company stands for, as well as being open about its responsibilities. Nobody can say that they don't know what their role and responsiblity is.




Today, the stock closed at 32.58; down 0.62.

Beta Article

Here is an interesting article for anyone interested in buying restaurant-related shares:

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/shares-dineequity-rank-highest-terms-beta-restaurants-industry-din-ruth-rt-e-1

Rooty Tooty

Here is an article for anyone interested in visiting IHOP soon:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/after-25-years-famous-ihop-dish-still-embarrassing-to-say-but-more-delicious-to-eat-2010-08-30?reflink=MW_news_stmp.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Chapter 1

After reading Chapter One, I thought I would share the following:
1) IHOP Corp acquired Applebee's in an effort to strengthen its market standing and competitiveness (it then changed its name to DineEquity Inc.).
2) Since IHOP and Applebee's are still two distinct restaurants - IHOP in family dining, Applebee's in casual dining - they each have different strategies.
3) IHOP's strategies include energizing the IHOP brand through advertising, as well as improving operations performance and maximizing franchise development.
4) Applebee's strategies include completing their current 3- 5 year brand revitalization plan, which is continuing the effort to drive profitable sales and traffic by offering specials - 2 for $20 - and differentiating themselves through advertising - "There's no place like the neighborhood", and offering a line of healthy meals. They also recently changed their menu design in hopes of increasing profitablilty.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

First Blog

When I thought about which company to use, my first thought was - pancakes. Therefore, I looked up IHOP, one of my favorite places to dine. I was surprised to learn that they acquired Applebee's in 2007 and then renamed their company DineEquity; which is a franchising company that provides franchisees with the strategic tools needed to enhance shareholder value.

DineEquity is the largest full-service dining company in the world. There are Applebee's in 16 countries, while IHOP has 1,400 locations in the US. DineEquity is looking to "re-energize" both brands, something that they believe is a core competency of their's.

As of today, they last traded at 32.24, up 0.06 from the previous day.

I am looking forward to learning more about them, as well as eating their pancakes.