(This 52-week high article updated with closing prices.)
NEW YORK (
) -- A roster of food and beverage companies, including
Burger King
(BKC)
,
Anheuser-Busch Inbev
(BUD) - Get Report
and
McDonald's
(MCD) - Get Report
, hit fresh 52-week highs on Wednesday.
Burger King shares touched an annual high of $23.68 in morning trading, and closed just a penny below that at $23.67.
. It will be the second time in less than a decade its shares will no longer trade on an exchange.
>> Burger King Agrees to Buyout
With the economy still very much in recovery mode and
the jobs market stubbornly weak
, consumers continue to be choosy about how they spend their limited discretionary funds. For the restaurant industry, that means the competition is stiffer than ever, and some dining establishments are bound to go bust.
>> Bankruptcy Watch: 20 Riskiest Restaurant Stocks
Industry giant McDonald's hit a new high of $76.26 Wednesday afternoon, after
pushing its record price-per-share to $75.98 on Tuesday
. The stock finished the session at $76.08, up 28 cents.
Fast-food sector darling
Chipotle Mexican Grill
(CMG) - Get Report
topped its record high, peaking at$167.04 on Wednesday.
Yum! Brands
(YUM) - Get Report
hit a new high for the second day in row, reaching $44.89.
In the alcoholic beverage sector,
Anheuser-Busch Inbev
(BUD) - Get Report
and
Craft Brewers Alliance
( HOOK) each tapped fresh 52-week highs Wednesday as well, to $55.98 and $8, respectively.
>> Craft Brewers Taps Another 52-Week High
Craft's shares have risen steadily in recent months amid speculation that
Anheuser-Busch may be angling to acquire Craft Brewers
.
In the soft beverage sector,
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
(GMCR)
reached a record-high of $34.20 Wednesday after the Vermont company
announced a price increase on some of its coffee products
. The stock finished the day up 7.6% at $33.58.
Natural drink makers
Hain Celestial
(HAIN) - Get Report
and
Hansen Natural
( HANS) reached 52-week highs for the second consecutive session, reaching $24.73 and $47.96, respectively, on Wednesday.
National Beverage
(FIZZ) - Get Report
also set a new highwater mark of $15 for the past year.
Spice maker
McCormick
's
(MKC) - Get Report
shares rose as high as $41.08, a 52-week high, just after midday. The stock ended at $41.02, tacking on 45 cents.
Convenience store operators
Casey's General Stores
(CASY) - Get Report
and
Pantry
(PTRY)
also hit fresh 52-week highs Wednesday, the second consecutive session for Casey's. Casey's shares rose to $43.67 while Pantry reached $21.84.
Online restaurant reservation service
OpenTable
(OPEN)
peaked at $56.48.
-- Written by Miriam Marcus Reimer in New York.
>To contact the writer of this article, click here:
Miriam Reimer
.
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.
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RELATED STORIES:
>> McDonald's, Yum! Hit Record Highs
>> 5 More Restaurant Stocks to Buy Now
>> Bankruptcy Watch: 20 Riskiest Restaurant Stocks
>> Burger King Agrees to Buyout
>> 3 Restaurant Stocks to Buy Now
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