Top Restaurant Stocks To Watch Right Now

Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI  ) reported Q4 and full-year earnings Friday. The news was not good.

Sales at the company that runs not only Olive Garden, but the Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse chains besides, grew 11% in the final quarter of fiscal 2013. That didn't keep profits from heading the other way, however -- down 12% year over year, to $1.15 per diluted share. Thus continued Darden's year-long slump, which has seen fiscal 2013 profits fall an equal 12% in comparison with fiscal 2012. Darden ended fiscal 2013 with just $3.14 per diluted share in profits.

Among Darden's several chains, Olive Garden posted the weakest same-restaurant sales, with receipts growing only 1.1% in the quarter as compared with a year ago. Red Lobster did nearly three times better than that at 3.2%. Meanwhile, shoppers who could still afford to buy steak helped lift LongHorn to the best performance of all, with sales climbing 3.5%.

Top Restaurant Stocks To Watch Right Now: First Niagara Financial Group Inc.(FNFG)

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. operates as the holding company for First Niagara Bank, N.A. that provides retail and commercial banking, and other financial services to individuals, families, and businesses. It offers retail deposit accounts, which include savings, negotiable order of withdrawal, checking, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as provides business savings and checking, money market, cash management accounts, and municipal deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate and multi-family loans; commercial business loans; residential real estate loans; home equity loans; and consumer loans consisting of indirect mobile home loans, and personal secured and unsecured loans. It also sells insurance products, including commercial and personal insurance, surety bond, life, disability, and long-term care coverage products. In addition, the company offers risk management consulting services comprising altern ative risk and self-insurance services, claims investigation and adjusting services, and third party administration services for self insured workers? compensation plans. Further, it provides employee benefits plan and compensation consulting services. Additionally, First Niagara Financial Group offers wealth management services that manage client funds utilizing various third party investment vehicles consisting of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities, as well as other investment products, such as individual retirement accounts, education savings plans, and retirement plans. As of December 31, 2010 it operated 257 bank branches, including 115 in Upstate New York and 142 branches in Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1870 and is based in Buffalo, New York.

Top Restaurant Stocks To Watch Right Now: Poligrafici Edt(POLI.MI)

Poligrafici Editoriale SpA. operates in the publishing industry in Italy. The company publishes folders, newspapers, magazines, and catalogues, as well as illustrated and scolastic books. It also provides advertising services. The company was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in Bologna, Italy. Poligrafici Editoriale SpA. is a subsidiary of Monrif S.p.A.

Top Media Companies To Buy Right Now: Thundelarra Explrn Ltd(Canada CUFS)

Thundelarra Exploration Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Australia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, uranium, and nickel deposits in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The company is based in West Perth, Australia.