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• U.S. restaurants face tough order locking in low beef prices

  Chili's Grill& Bar parent Brinker International Inc was one of the first large operators to signal the trend. We can just lock in supply but not price, " Guy Constant, Brinker's said on a conference call with analysts last week.

• Key Banc downgrades Bob Evans

  KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Christopher O'Cull downgraded his rating on restaurant chain Bob Evans Farms Inc. Friday, citing concerns about its near-term performance.

• Sunday's winner: wings, beer and pizza

  The restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. was upgraded Friday by KeyBanc Capital Markets. Analyst Christopher O'Cull gave the restaurant chain a "Buy" rating with an $85 price target, saying that the company's stock makes an attractive investment after a recent price drop.

• Nathan's Famous 3Q profit falls, hurt by Sandy

  JERICHO, N.Y.-- Hot dog and burger chain Nathan's Famous said Friday that its fiscal third-quarter net income fell 8 percent, hampered by restaurant closings due to Superstorm Sandy. Nathan's Famous Inc. said that all of its company-owned restaurants were forced to close when Sandy struck in October.

• Beef Price Spike Makes $1 Burger Harder to Stomach

  

  McDonald's popular $1 McDouble cheeseburger, which has lured customers to the Golden Arches since 2008, is getting hard to sustain as rising beef prices threaten the company's profit margin.

• ANALYSIS-Beef price spike makes $1 McDouble harder to stomach

  *McDouble price above $1 in LA, Manhattan and Chicago McDonald's promoting $1 Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger. Feb 1- McDonald's popular $1 McDouble cheeseburger, which has lured customers to the Golden Arches since 2008, is getting hard to sustain as rising beef prices threaten the company's profit margin.

• Taste for Shark Fin Fades Slightly in China

  

  Summer Palace, a restaurant tucked inside one of the capital's most expensive hotels, offers the standard selection of Chinese delicacies: abalone, braised sea cucumber and imperial bird's nest soup, which sells for about 700 renminbi, or more than $100, a serving. Noticeably absent, however, is a mainstay of Chinese cuisine — shark fin soup. The NYT reports.

• Starbucks Earnings Hit Target, Shares Rise

  

  Starbucks reported quarterly earnings that met analysts' expectations but revenue was slightly lower than anticipated. In after-hours trading, the stock initially slipped then turned higher.

• Starbucks profit rises on strength in U.S.

  Jan 24- Starbucks Corp reported higher quarterly profit on Thursday, after customers in the United States, its top market, spent more than expected during the economically turbulent winter holiday season. The world's biggest coffee chain reported net earnings of $432.2 million, or 57 cents per share, for the fiscal first quarter that ended Dec. 30.

• CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-McDonald's U.S. December sales help 4th-qtr profit

  Jan 23- McDonald's Corp reported an unexpected rise in sales in December at established U.S. restaurants, helping to lift its fourth-quarter profit above analysts' estimates. McDonald's shares rose to $93.55 in premarket trading, up from Tuesday's New York Stock Exchange close of $92.95.

• Golden Arches Losing Its Shine? 

  

  Nicole Miller Regan, Piper Jaffray analyst, breaks down the restaurant chain's fourth quarter numbers, and weighs in on concerns over expected sales numbers for January.

• Wednesday's Market Roadmap: Hits & a Miss 

  

  The "Squawk on the Street" news crew reports on today's market moving stories, including McDonald's earnings beat; a surge in IBM and Google; and Coach stock taking a hit after missing on the top and bottom line.

• McDonald's Earnings Beats Expectations 

  

  R.J. Hottovy, Morningstar senior restaurant analyst, reviews McDonald's fourth quarter numbers, and explains why the company is focusing on its "dollar menu."

• UPDATE 1-McDonald's U.S. December sales help 4th-qtr profit

  Jan 23- McDonald's Corp reported an unexpected rise in sales in December at established U.S. restaurants, helping to lift its fourth-quarter profit above analysts estimates. Net income at the world's biggest restaurant chain rose to $1.40 billion, or $1.38 per share, from $1.38 billion, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier.

• McDonald's 4th-quarter profit rises

  Net income at the world's biggest restaurant chain rose to $1.40 billion, or $1.38 per share, from $1.38 billion, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier.

• McDonald's Profit Beats; Warns of Sales Slump in January

  

  McDonald's reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat analysts' expectations on Wednesday, but warned that it sees sales lower early in the first quarter.

• UPDATE 3-McDonald's says January restaurant sales will fall

  Jan 23- McDonald's Corp on Wednesday forecast a decline in global restaurant sales for January, as it and other fast-food chains fight for customers who are spending cautiously during continued economic uncertainty.

• McDonald's running low on quick fixes for U.S. sales

  *Christmas Day openings, McRib schedule boosted U.S. in December. Jan 22- McDonald's Corp is running out of quick-fix strategies for stemming declines in U.S restaurant sales inflicted by tougher competition for customers who are pinching pennies in a weak economic recovery. McDonald's posts December sales and fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

• UPDATE 2-Sales at Chili's parent Brinker miss Street forecast

  *CEO says Brinker has won market share. Jan 22- Chili's Grill& Bar parent Brinker International Inc on Tuesday reported slower-than-expected quarterly sales growth at established restaurants as fewer diners came through its doors, sending its shares down more than 4 percent.

• UPDATE 1-Chili's parent Brinker misses Wall Street revenue forecast

  *CEO says Brinker has won market share. Jan 22- Chili's Grill& Bar parent Brinker International Inc on Tuesday reported quarterly sales at established restaurants that rose less than expected despite help from higher menu prices, lifting profit only modestly.