UK 12:45 Monday, 26 October 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
I have not been a fan of The Restaurant Group (RTN) for ages and it does not surprise me that this business, with “approximately 380 restaurants and pub restaurants throughout the UK as at 10 September 2023”, has seen its shares fall by more than 75% during the last five years. And despite the fact that, at some point, I have been to one of its Wagamama restaurants, back in May I regarded the stock as a clear avoid. So am I surprised that it has announced “an agreement in respect of the proposed sale of its Leisure business comprising of 75 trading sites and associated restaurant and management team employees to the Big Table Group”?
It is almost ten months since I previously wrote about The Restaurant Group (RTN). You may or may not be a fan of the group’s Chiquito, Coast to Coast, Frankie & Benny's, Garfunkel's and Wagamama brands, but you are probably a bit surprised to see the shares up about 10% today and back to a share price akin to what it was last July. Does this move make sense or not?
Wagamama, Brunning & Price, Frankie & Benny's and more restaurants and pubs company, Restaurant Group (RTN) has announced results for its year ended 1st January 2023 which it argues are “a robust trading performance” and also emphasises “a very encouraging start to the trading year”. So what of a current share price response to around 39p, down approx. 14%?
While there is disagreement among the investment experts about whether inflation, stagflation or outright recessionary deflation is on the horizon, there seems to be a consensus that times are going to be tough for a the rest of this year and 2023.
It is over two years since I wrote about Restaurant Group (RTN) back in June 2020 HERE but despite the world of deep COVID-19 challenges for any restaurant company having improved, the company’s shares are still down over a third since then. And, if you are a fan of the company, don’t even think about the mere 80% share price fall over the last five years. Good job I have never rated it. What is getting the company all excited earlier today?
