By: Matt @ Home And Pocket
September 5, 2025
There are a lot of things Americans argue about—politics, sports teams, whether pineapple belongs on pizza – which it does NOT.
But there’s one thing we can all agree on: Pizza is Awesome.
Nobody loves pizza more than me.
Trust Me.
The molten cheese, the crispy crust, the smell that fills the house before you even open the box. Pizza isn’t just food—it’s tradition, it’s comfort, it’s a Friday night ritual.
And in my family, Pizza Friday has become a weekly tradition that brings all of us together after those long weeks.
But here’s the cheesy question, what is better than eating pizza?
Owning Pizza!
No, I’m not talking about buying a local shop or firing up your own oven – though nothing wrong with that and I do like making my own pizza from time to time.
I’m talking about buying a slice of the pizza industry itself—through the stock market.
That’s right, some of your favorite pizza brands are publicly traded companies, meaning you can buy stock in them, collect dividends, and watch your portfolio grow right alongside your waistline.
Today we’re looking at the big names—Papa John’s, Domino’s, Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut’s parent), Rave Restaurant Group (Pizza Inn & Pie Five), and even Nestlé, which owns DiGiorno and other frozen pizza staples.
For the record: Papa John’s was my first stock purchase and YUM Brands is one of my favorite Stocks due to its diversification.
Check out the rest of my portfolio HERE!
Let’s dive into each, see what they pay shareholders, and figure out which pie is worth adding to your portfolio.
FIRTS UP, THE BIG PAPA!
Papa John’s International (Ticker: PZZA)
Papa John’s is one of the largest pizza delivery chains in the U.S., known for its “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” motto—and for a little controversy along the way.
But leaving the drama aside, Papa John’s has worked to stabilize its image and keep delivering to hungry customers worldwide.
Dividend Profile:
- Dividend yield: ~3.8–3.9%
- Annual payout: about $1.84 per share, paid quarterly
- Payout ratio: around 80%
For dividend lovers, Papa John’s looks tasty.
A nearly 4% yield is solid in today’s market, and the company has shown a commitment to rewarding shareholders even as it navigates a competitive pizza landscape.
The one caution? That payout ratio is on the high side.
In simple terms, the company is paying out about 80 cents of every dollar it earns back to shareholders.
That leaves less room for reinvestment or growth, so if earnings stumble, the dividend could feel pressure. Still, if you like steady income, Papa John’s delivers.
Investment Verdict: A strong dividend payer with brand recognition. More of a defensive, income play than a growth rocket, but that’s not always a bad thing.
Fun Fact: Did you know Papa John’s Founder John Schnatter, sold his 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 in 1983 for $2,800.
He used the money to help save his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Additionally, it was used to start the pizza business.
He later tracked down the car, offering a $250,000 reward for its return, which was successfully claimed by Jeffrey Robinson in 2009.
NEXT UP – THE “TECHNOLOGY” COMPANY
Domino’s Pizza (Ticker: DPZ)
Domino’s is the heavyweight champ of delivery pizza.
Domino’s Pizza has been referred to as a “technology company that makes pizza” and a “tech company that happens to make pizza”
Over the past two decades, Domino’s pulled off one of the greatest corporate turnarounds in history. The pizza wasn’t great, the stock was stagnant, and customers weren’t exactly singing its praises.
Then Domino’s revamped its recipes, invested in technology, and rebranded itself as a tech company that just happens to deliver pizza.
That strategy worked. Domino’s stock has been a monster performer, up thousands of percent since the early 2000s.
Dividend Profile:
- Dividend yield: ~1.5%
- Annual payout: about $6.96 per share
- Dividend streak: 13 consecutive years of increases
- Dividend growth: about 17–18% annually over the past five years
Unlike Papa John’s, Domino’s doesn’t lure you in with a fat yield. But where it shines is growth.
This company is still expanding internationally, still grabbing delivery market share, and still growing its dividend at a fast clip.
If you buy today, you won’t get much income upfront—but 10 years from now, that payout could be several times bigger if growth continues.
Investment Verdict: A textbook “growth + dividend” stock. You’re betting on Domino’s tech-driven delivery machine to keep delivering—both pizza and shareholder returns—for years to come.
Fun Fact: A fun fact is that Domino’s once delivered nearly 30,000 pizzas to U.S. military bases in Afghanistan on July 4, 2012, in an effort to show appreciation to the troops
#3 – THE DIVERSIFIER
Yum! Brands (Ticker: YUM)
Now we get to Pizza Hut. Yum! Brands owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut—three of the biggest fast-food brands on the planet.
Pizza Hut has lost ground to Domino’s and Papa John’s in the U.S., but it still dominates internationally. Yum! Brands operates in more than 150 countries, making it a true global play.
WHAT ELSE MAKES YUM BRANDS A GREAT STOCK TO BUY? READ HERE!
Dividend Profile:
- Dividend yield: around 1.9–2.0%
- Annual payout: about $2.68 per share
- Payout ratio: ~40–50%, healthy and sustainable
- Dividend growth: steady increases over the past decade
Owning Yum! Brands isn’t just buying pizza—it’s buying a global fast-food empire.
The dividend isn’t huge, but it’s stable, and the diversification (tacos, fried chicken, pizza) makes it less vulnerable to one brand stumbling.
Investment Verdict: A safe, steady dividend payer with global reach. If you want pizza exposure but don’t want to put all your dough in one oven, Yum! Brands is a smart pick.
Fun Fact: Yum! Brands acquired The Habit Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of The Habit Burger Grill, on March 18, 2020. The acquisition was for $375 million and marked a strategic move by Yum! Brands to enter the fast-casual market.
THE NEWBIE OF PIZZA
Rave Restaurant Group (Ticker: RAVE)
Ever heard of Pizza Inn or Pie Five? That’s Rave Restaurant Group.
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve only seen a handful of these restaurants and I’ve never ate at one. Just being honest.
It’s a much smaller player in the pizza world compared to Papa John’s or Domino’s, but it is publicly traded.
Here’s the catch: RAVE doesn’t pay dividends. The last time it did was over 20 years ago.
Instead, the company occasionally does share buybacks, but this is very much a speculative stock.
It trades for just a few dollars a share and is more of a penny-stock pizza play than a reliable investment.
Dividend Profile:
- Dividend yield: 0%
- Last dividend: 2000 (no, that’s not a typo)
Investment Verdict: If you want stable income, skip it. If you’re looking for a lottery ticket in the pizza space, this is it—but don’t bet the rent money.
Fun Fact: Rave Restaurant Group, Inc. changed its name from Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc. in 2015. This change was made to reflect its transformation from a single-brand company to a multi-brand portfolio group. The new name also helps avoid confusion.
Pizza Inn has been a buffet and delivery-focused restaurant company for over six decades. Meanwhile, Pie Five is a more modern fast-casual concept.
THE HOMEMAKER!
Nestlé S.A. (Ticker: NSRGY)
You probably don’t think of Nestlé as a pizza company. But in the frozen pizza aisle, they’re the king. And like me, most of your probably grew up on one of their brands.
Nestlé owns DiGiorno, California Pizza Kitchen (frozen), and Tombstone. If you’ve ever baked a frozen pie at 2 a.m., odds are you’ve supported Nestlé’s bottom line.
Unlike the others, Nestlé isn’t a pure pizza play.
It’s a global food giant with coffee, chocolate, pet food, bottled water, and more.
That diversity makes it safer, and it also makes the dividend reliable.
Dividend Profile:
- Dividend yield: ~3.3–4.0%
- Annual payout: $3.10–$3.68 per share
- Payout frequency: once a year (Swiss companies tend to pay annually)
- Payout ratio: ~70–75%
Nestlé has been paying dividends for decades. It’s one of those “sleep well at night” companies—steady, global, and unlikely to vanish anytime soon.
Investment Verdict: If you want stability, Nestlé is a great pick. You won’t get Domino’s growth or Papa John’s yield, but you’ll get global diversification and a safe dividend.
Fun Fact: The Nestlé company logo, which features a bird’s nest with a mother bird feeding her young, is inspired by the family coat of arms of its founder, Henri Nestlé.
The German word “Nestlé” means “little nest,” and the logo has been used to symbolize the company’s focus on nutrition and safety for over 150 years.
Comparing the Slices
| Company | Dividend Yield | Payment Frequency | Dividend Growth | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papa John’s | ~3.8–3.9% | Quarterly | Low/modest | Income-focused investors |
| Domino’s | ~1.5% | Quarterly | High | Growth + income |
| Yum! Brands | ~2.0% | Quarterly | Steady | Diversified fast-food exposure |
| RAVE | 0% | None | None | Speculative play |
| Nestlé (NSRGY) | ~3.5% | Annual | Moderate | Conservative, global exposure |
So, Which Pizza Stock Should You Buy?
It depends on your appetite:
- Want income today? Papa John’s and Nestlé offer the highest yields.
- Want growth for tomorrow? Domino’s is the top choice—it’s been raising its dividend aggressively for over a decade.
- Want diversification? Yum! Brands gives you pizza, tacos, and chicken in one package.
- Feeling risky? RAVE is the wild card—but don’t expect dividends.
Final Slice
Here’s the big takeaway: pizza isn’t just food—it’s business. And while millions of Americans eat pizza every week, you could also be earning from it.
You can find a way to let your love of pizza pay you back. Choose through Papa John’s quarterly payouts. Alternatively, consider Domino’s growth engine or Nestlé’s global stability.
So next Friday, when you order that large pepperoni, remember: you could own a piece of the company that made it.
And in my book, that’s the only way pizza tastes even better.
And for final transparency, I currently own YUM Brands. I will probably buy Dominos and Papa John’s again at some point.
However, for the time being, I like a company with a portfolio of over 70 stocks. It owns multiple subsidiaries under it.
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