0520 GMT - Collins Foods gets a new bull at Bell Potter, where analyst Leo Armati sees the Australian fast-food restaurant operator as its preferred sector pick in a challenging consumer environment. Acknowledging cost-of-living pressures, Armati says that KFC franchise operator Collins is leveraged to global growth through its geographic expansion, value proposition and restaurant economics. Menu innovation through the introduction of healthier options and a move toward drive-thru and delivery via digitization are also key themes in the sector, he writes in a note. Bell Potter places a buy rating and a A$10.80 target price on the stock, making Collins its top pick among Australian fast-food stocks, over Guzman Y Gomez and Domino's Pizza Enterprises. It has hold ratings on each of those. Collins shares are up 2.3% at A$8.73. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 21, 2026 01:20 ET (05:20 GMT)
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