BUZZ-Papa John's shares fall after company lowers annual sales forecast

November 5 - ** Papa John's Pizza PZZA.O shares fell 7.7% in pre-market trading to $18.45

** The pizza chain lowered its full-year global system-wide restaurant sales guidance for the second time; now expects a decline of around 5%

** Its 2026 adjusted EBITDA forecast was cut from the previous $180 million to $190 million to around $175 million

** PZZA CEO Rob Lynch said the company still faces intense market competition pressure

** Third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings per share both missed expectations

** PZZA's current price-to-earnings ratio (based on forward 12-month earnings per share) is 15.28 times, trailing peer Domino's DPZ.O (16.59 times)

** Of 14 brokerages, 3 rate the stock as “buy,” 10 as “hold,” and 1 as “sell”; the median price target is $26 — LSEG

** As of the last session close, PZZA’s year-to-date decline exceeds 48%

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