Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Craig Allen Keefner
Industry statistics* show location counts and tech rollouts, but stock performance reveals where investors are putting real capital.
The newly launched TIG Restaurant 20 Equity Index (R20)—an equal-weighted basket of 20 major publicly traded restaurant brands relevant to self-service, digital ordering, and labor automation—reveals a stark market divide:
-
Casual / Full Service (5 stocks): +38.0% YoY (Led by CAKE +71.3%, EAT +53.2%)
-
Limited Service / QSR (9 stocks): -7.8% YoY
-
Fast Casual / Growth (6 stocks): -30.4% YoY (Impacted by WING -65.4%, SG -37.3%, CMG -22.9%)
While headline inflation and consumer belt-tightening hit digital-first fast casuals, traditional casual dining operators have produced massive gains.
👉 Read the complete methodology, stock breakdown, and full analysis on Retail Systems:
Restaurant Industry Equity Index — Full Breakdown on Retail Systems
* Industry statistics are purely financial market data clearly stated in 10Qs and reports. There are no opinions or speculation — just measurement.
