Five Fast Food Stocks to Buy Now

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) also gained a vote of confidence during the quarter, as the number of long hedge fund positions rose to 61 from 54 at the end of the third quarter. John Burbank sees great upside potential for the specialty coffee company, having boosted his investment to approximately 1.8 million shares by the end of December. Jim Simons‘ Renaissance Technologies, having reported a new position that contained 1.38 million shares at the end of 2015. Arguably the hottest fast-food company at the moment, Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) shows no signs of slowing down. The company is pressing on with its expansion plans, as the recent results show great growth potential. The company reported a 9% increase in sales for the 2016 fiscal first quarter, having opened 171 new stores in the U.S. alone. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is also investing heavily in Europe and Asia, with China being its second largest market outside the U.S.

The popularity of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) also received a boost, with the number of hedge funds invested having increased to 39 at the end of December, from 28 at the end of the third quarter. The stock has recently entered a downtrend, after news emerged that the restaurant chain is heading towards as first ever quarterly loss as a public company. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) said February sales fell by 26% year-over-year, while March sales were down by 22%. As a result, analysts slashed their earnings projections, now expecting 2016 earnings to range between $5.25 and $6 per share. Tiger cub Andreas Halvorsen is betting big on Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), having initiated a stake during the fourth quarter that rose to 689,383 shares valued at more than $330 million. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies, on the other hand, reported 305,800 shares, down by 37% on the quarter.