restaurant stocks

Panera Bread and Buffalo Wild Wings posted better-than-expected quarterly profits this week, and Chipotle Mexican Grill came through with a blowout quarter last week.

If you're finding it a bit easier to snag a table at your favorite restaurant lately, don't go crediting your debonair charm or your glowing Yelp review. Eateries really are less crowded these days.

Legendary investor Peter Lynch espoused the philosophy "Buy what you know." Well, who doesn't know restaurants? We know where the crowds are, and we know what we like to eat. Here are five chains that managed to grow during the market lull, positioning themselves perfectly for the future.

The New Year brings new hope to the restaurant industry, which suffered heavily during the harsh, eat-at-home recession. As a result, the number of restaurants have dwindled nationwide. But Goldman Sachs says this is very good news for three companies in particular.

It seems McDonald's (MCD) is more popular overseas than at home. The iconic fast-food chain reported Monday that sales at outlets open at least 13 months rose 3.3% overall last month as diners flocked to its restaurants in Europe, Asia and Africa. In the U.S., however, customers were less...