How did PZZA's Q4 earnings surprise analysts?

Papa John's Q4 earnings exceeded analysts' expectations with a net income of $124.96 million, reflecting a robust financial performance and strategic initiatives.

1. Consistent Growth: The company's net income has demonstrated a consistent upward trend over the past four years, with a significant increase from $84.2 million in 2024 Q4 to $124.96 million in 2021 Q4.
2. Positive Surprise: The earnings surprise, which is the difference between the actual earnings per share and the estimated earnings per share, was positive at $0.19 for 2023 Q4, $0.13 for 2024 Q4, $0.05 for 2022 Q4, and $0.04 for 2021 Q4. This indicates that the actual earnings were higher than expected, reflecting efficient operations and effective cost management.