Dunkin Donuts to close

“We’ve had a little bit of comps gloom”, Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc.

A Metro Des Moines Dunkin’ Donuts owner told KCCI on Friday that none of his stores will close as part of the company’s announcement Thursday.

Gilligan Oil Company LLC was founded in 1993 and has extensive experience in the gas and convenience industry, including retail and wholesale divisions that provide gasoline to over 80 stations throughout Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Dunkin’ Donuts officials said.

Shares of Dunkin Brands Group Inc., based in Canton, Massachusetts, fell $5.07 to $43.93 in Thursday trading.

Wall Street Analysts have given a mean estimate of $ 0.59 earnings per share to Dunkin Brands Group Incorporated. (NASDAQ:DNKN) is scheduled to issue a dividend payment of $0.265 per share to stock holders of record on 2015-08-24. That falls short of analysts’ expectations of $1.92. A permanent part of the brand’s menu, a macchiato can be customized with any of Dunkin’ Donuts sweetened coffee flavor swirls.

Dunkin’ Donuts is facing more competition from fast-food chains, including Taco Bell, that are now selling breakfast fare. It’s also using DD Perks to increase afternoon sales, for instance. The stores being closed however, are responsible for only 0.1% of Dunkin’ sales in the US. Dunkin’ executives said Thursday that traffic was strong at the stores on National Coffee Day.

The sales growth – and share price – of Dunkin’ Brands (DNKN – Get Report) may be one initial casualty of higher minimum wages being adopted across the country. The company squashed a delivery agreement between the service Foodler and one of its Boston franchisees a year ago, according to Boston.com.

An investor day presentation noted that Dunkin’ maintained its full-year forecast of adjusted earnings of $1.87-$1.91 per share, reported Reuters.

The company said the closings are just a tiny fraction of overall revenue, and more Dunkin’ Donuts will open in California soon.

Dunkin’ Donuts has about 8,200 USA locations; Baskin-Robbins has 2,400.