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ARCOArcos Dorados Holdings Inc.Sell6.7·$8.28+0.61%
SellModerate Confidence
Investment thesis

An attractively valued restaurant operator screens cheap versus peers on virtually every metric, has beaten earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters with an average surprise well above expectations, and has broken out technically — but elevated leverage and a reward-to-risk ratio that narrowly misses the ideal entry threshold argue for patience before adding size.

Thesis pillars

  • Strong Earnings Beat StreakStable
  • Leverage Headwind Caps UpsideStable
  • Compelling Valuation Peer DiscountStable
  • +1 more pillar — see the Why tab for full reasoning

Full reasoning →

Open full analysis

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO) Stock Analysis

Inst Constrain edge

SellVALUE-TRAP 1/5Moderate Confidence

Consumer Cyclical · Restaurants

Sell if holding. Engine flags exit at $8.28. Leverage penalty (D/E 2.8): -1.5.

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants. It has the exclusive right to own, operate, and grant franchises of McDonald's restaurants in 21 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil,... Read more

$8.28+17.1% A.UpsideScore 6.7/10#1 of 32 Restaurants
QualityF-score6 / 9FCF yield10.52%
IncomeYield3.40%Payout22.52%sustainable
Stop $7.76Target $9.70(analyst − 13%)A.R:R 2.7:1
Analyst target$11.15+34.7%9 analysts
$9.70our TP
$8.28price
$11.15mean
$14

Sell if holding. Engine flags exit at $8.28. Leverage penalty (D/E 2.8): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Score 6.7/10, moderate confidence.

Passes 8/8 gates (positive momentum, favorable risk/reward ratio, clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, news events none recent, earnings proximity 45d clear, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Suitability: aggressive.

TrendMatrix Research · upcoming catalyst calendar

Upcoming dated catalysts

Wed, Aug 19, 202645d to earnings· next earnings call

Thesis

Rewards
Strong earnings beat streak (3/4)
Attractive valuation
Strong growth profile
Risks
Leverage penalty (D/E 2.8): -1.5

Key Metrics

P/E (TTM)7.4
P/E (Fwd)9.6
Mkt Cap$1.7B
EV/EBITDA6.1
Profit Mgn4.9%
ROE36.3%
Rev Growth12.9%
Beta0.48
Dividend3.40%
Rating analysts14

Quality Signals

Piotroski F6/9MoatNarrow

Options Flow

P/C0.14bullish
IV66%elevated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

Rating Breakdown

1 ceiling hit

GatesMomentum 6.9>=5.5A.R:R 2.7 ≥ 1.5Insider activity: OKNo SEC red flagsNEWS EVENTS NONE RECENTEARNINGS PROXIMITY 45d clearSEMI CYCLE PEAK CLEARMATERIALS CYCLE PEAK CLEARSuitability: Aggressive
RSI
34 · Neutral
20D MA 50D MA 200D MAGOLDEN CROSSSupport $7.98Resistance $9.00

Price Targets

$8
$10
A.Upside+17.1%
A.R:R2.7:1

Position Sizing

ConvictionNone
Suggested %0.5%
Max %1%
RegimeSteady

Analyst Consensus

Analysts14
Consensus4.1/5
Avg Target$11

Earnings

B
B
B
M
3/4 beats
Next Earnings2026-08-19 (45d)

Verdict History

reverse chrono — latest first
Loading history...
Verdicts are recorded on every nightly pipeline run. Rows capture transitions (verdict flips, score deltas ≥0.3, entry/TP/SL changes). Rows with a ▶ can be expanded to see the change reason. Aggregate cohort performance is tracked in the recommendation ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ARCO stock a buy right now?

Sell if holding. Engine flags exit at $8.28. Leverage penalty (D/E 2.8): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Prior stop was $7.76. Score 6.7/10, moderate confidence.

What is the ARCO stock price target?

Take-profit target: $9.70 (+17.1% upside). Prior stop was $7.76. Stop-loss: $7.76.

What are the risks of investing in ARCO?

Leverage penalty (D/E 2.8): -1.5.

Is ARCO overvalued or undervalued?

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. trades at a P/E of 7.4 (forward 9.6). TrendMatrix value score: 9.1/10. Verdict: Sell.

What do analysts say about ARCO?

14 analysts cover ARCO with a consensus score of 4.1/5. Average price target: $11.

What does Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. do?Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants. It has the exclusive right to own,...

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants. It has the exclusive right to own, operate, and grant franchises of McDonald's restaurants in 21 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas, and Venezuela. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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