Analysis of Yahoo Finance Segment on Restaurant Stocks, Tariffs, and 2026 Market Trends (2025-12-23)

On December 23, 2025, Yahoo Finance hosted a segment discussing tariffs, top 2026 restaurant stocks, AI, VC, and IPOs, featuring Mizuho Senior Equity Research Analyst Nick Setyan. The Consumer Cyclical sector, including restaurants, declined by 0.29895% that day [0]. Dutch Bros (BROS) closed at $63.52, down 0.42% with volume of 2.88M [0], while Starbucks (SBUX) fell 2.51% to $83.86 [0]. Setyan cited BROS as a top 2026 pick due to its competitive pricing (only ~30% price increases, aligning with grocery trends) [1], and criticized SBUX for maintaining premium pricing amid consumer value-seeking and turnaround challenges [1]. A concurrent regulatory event involved FAT Brands reaching a preliminary SEC settlement over a $27M illegal loan scheme by its former CEO [4], raising governance concerns in the restaurant franchising sector. Long-term trends include a consumer shift to home eating [1], VC expectations of 2026 blockbuster IPOs (Anthropic, SpaceX) [2], and an AI market shift toward infrastructure (chips, cloud) [2][3].

1. Consumer value-seeking and home-eating trends are reshaping the restaurant sector, favoring value-focused chains (like BROS) over premium players (SBUX) in 2026.
2. 2026 is projected to be a strong IPO year for high-value private firms, with tech and space companies leading the way.
3. The AI narrative is moving beyond model development to infrastructure control, which could influence investments in tech and restaurant-adjacent AI solutions.

• Risks
  : Consumer behavior shifts (negatively impacting premium restaurants), tariff volatility increasing input costs [0], governance risks (FAT Brands settlement), and AI market dynamics changes affecting related investments.
• Opportunities
  : Value-focused restaurant stocks (BROS) may benefit from consumer trends, and 2026 IPOs could present investment opportunities for VC-backed firms.

• SBUX declined 2.51% on December 23 following an unfavorable outlook from Mizuho’s Setyan.
• BROS closed at $63.52 (-0.42%) and was identified as a top restaurant stock pick for 2026.
• The Consumer Cyclical sector underperformed broader markets, falling 0.29895% on the day.
• FAT Brands reached a preliminary SEC settlement over a $27M executive loan scam.
• VCs anticipate a strong 2026 IPO market with potential listings from Anthropic and SpaceX.
• The AI industry is shifting focus to infrastructure (chips, cloud platforms).