Thanks for signing up for DividendStocks.com! It's the daily newsletter built for dividend and income investors. Before we can begin sending your daily updates, there’s one quick step left. Please confirm your subscription using the link below so our emails reach your inbox. Click Here to Confirm Your Subscription to DividendStocks.com Here’s a small glimpse of what you’ll get access to: Dividend Stock Ideas — Each newsletter features dividend stocks with high yields, sustainable payouts, and strong growth potential. Ex-Dividend Stocks — Want to capture upcoming dividend payouts? Find out which stocks are going ex-dividend this week. Market News and Events — Stay in the loop on the latest developments impacting popular dividend names like AT&T, Exxon Mobil, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Verizon. Bonus: As a thank-you for confirming, you’ll also receive a free PDF copy of Automatic Income, our popular guide to building wealth through dividend investing. Let’s get your dividend journey started! Discover Top Income-Generating Stocks Here See you in your inbox soon,
The DividendStocks.com Team P.S. Don’t miss out click here to verify your subscription and secure your daily dividend insights and your free investing guide!
Today's Featured Content From Missteps to Momentum: Jack in the Box's Comeback PlanBy Thomas Hughes. Originally Published: 2/21/2026. 
Key Points - Jack in the Box is working through execution and balance-sheet challenges, while McDonald’s highlights what strong operational discipline can deliver.
- Despite weak first-quarter results, analyst targets and ratings suggest continued confidence in a recovery over time.
- Technical support, heavy institutional ownership, and elevated short interest could amplify any upside catalyst.
- Special Report: [Sponsorship-Ad-6-Format3]
Comparing Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) with McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) may sound like comparing apples to oranges, but there is a connection. Where McDonald’s executes at a high level, leans into digital, and takes market share, Jack in the Box suffered a series of executive missteps that culminated in lost market share, reduced shareholder value, higher debt, and suspended capital returns. The connection? Jack in the Box's problems can be corrected. It won't reach McDonald's place as the world's largest restaurant company, but it can take cues from its more successful competitor, reclaim lost ground and reinvigorate shareholder value. Last year's CEO change is the first of many events likely to push this consumer stock higher over time. Analysts Remain Optimistic for a JACK Turnaround I Called Black Monday. Now I'm Calling March 26!
I predicted the 1987 crash six weeks early. I called the fall of the Berlin Wall. I pinpointed the exact bottom in 2009.
Now I'm staking my reputation on March 26, 2026 - the day I believe Elon will announce the SpaceX IPO.
Bloomberg is calling it "the biggest listing of ALL TIME."
A $1.5 TRILLION valuation... the "wealth-building" moment of the decade.
Today, I'll show you how to get in before the big announcement. Click Here to See How to Secure Your "SpaceX Access Code" Weak as Jack in the Box's fiscal Q1 2026 results were, the analyst response shows confidence in the turnaround efforts. (Note that Jack in the Box's fiscal reporting period does not align with the calendar year.) Sales fell more than expected, in part due to store closures intended to rationalize and optimize the franchise footprint, but optimism for a recovery remains high. The first revision tracked by MarketBeat reaffirmed a Hold-equivalent rating while raising the price target to $23. The $23 target is below the consensus $26 but supports the outlook for share-price recovery and potential double-digit gains when momentum returns. Currently, 21 analysts rate the stock a Hold (67% of ratings), and the consensus price target implies more than 40% upside from the critical support level. The critical support level in February 2026 coincides with the long-term low set during the height of the COVID-19 panic. That low represents a market floor and a likely turning point. Price action in 2025 suggests a bottom may be forming, with the potential to evolve into a reversal if upcoming releases reflect business and operational improvements. The post-release price action included a 15% decline—alarming in magnitude but not necessarily a definitive red flag. The decline and subsequent movements generally align with a Head & Shoulders bottom pattern. 
In this scenario, price action could dip in upcoming sessions but should reach lows soon. If Jack falls below the support target and confirms a move to lower prices, the decline could deepen—potentially taking JACK shares to levels not seen in over two decades or back into the single digits. However, technical indicators and institutional activity suggest the $16.80 floor is a meaningful support level. Institutions Set Floor: Short-Sellers Provide Potential for Rapid Share Price Increase Institutions show a high degree of confidence in the brand and its cash-generating ability. Although selling increased in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, buying rose as well and outpaced selling. The net result is accumulation and a solid support base, with institutions owning a very large percentage of outstanding shares. The key question is what happens next; the answer could be a short squeeze or at least a short-covering rally. Near-term headwinds remain, but store rationalization, quality improvements and debt reduction position the business for a healthy recovery, including a return to growth and resumed capital returns. With short interest above 26%, any catalyst could be potent. If a squeeze takes hold, reaching the consensus $26 target would likely be an interim stopping point on the way higher. Technical targets, high short interest and nearly 13 days to cover suggest the market could advance into the $30–$40 range, and potentially higher. Jack in the Box Amid Transformation: Catalysts Ahead Catalysts for Jack in the Box include debt repayments, which will free up cash flow; asset monetization, which will lighten the balance sheet; portfolio rationalization to optimize the footprint; and clearer capital allocation. While capital returns were suspended to pay down debt, the paydown is on track, suggesting dividends and/or share repurchases could resume sometime in 2027. If the company resumes dividends at even half the previously recorded level, the yield would exceed 1%. Q1 highlights show the share count marginally higher while cash increased roughly 57%—improvements that should allow for accelerated debt reduction.
| 
