Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOBE)

Decent dividend, good price to sales & price to book ratios relative to the industry... and frankly, I just like Bob's and am hoping just after the ex-dividend date is a good time to jump in.

Bob Evans Farms stock is my new favorite. Just listened to their January 2013 investors presentation and heard about all the changes afoot to unlock value in this small cap Ohio based regional family restaurant chain.

Their Bob Evans restaurant 'Farm Fresh Refresh' remodeling project is going gangbusters resulting in increased sales per renewed store; they purchased a food manufacturing facility to upgrade and broaden their grocery product range beyond sausage to convenience breakfast items and family side dishes; and they are streamlining and retraining staff and promoting take out, catering and bakery sales. Already management is seeing improvement in revenue because of these changes and they are only part way into this transition.

But probably the biggest critical difference for the company is that they just announced the sale of their Mimi's Cafe division, albeit at a big markdown from the original purchase price, but still an effective strategy to shed this drag on the financials and permit stronger focus on their Bob Evan's brand.

And one additional growth driver that I believe may have an effect on Bob Evan's prosperity is that Bob Evans originated and the still have many many restaurants in the eastern Ohio Utica Shale oil field region. The wells are expected to bring many thousands of new workers and billions of dollars into the region creating a boom in 2013 and 2014. I predict Bob's famous biscuits and gravy and other hearty home style fixins will become wildly popular with the roustabouts, truck drivers, and riggers and their patronage will be yet another factor in driving the stock price up.

I think Bob Evans is a promising stock to watch and it ain't bad eatin' either!

Bearish consumer discretionary

Check out my thoughts here: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/11/23/bob-evans-stay-on-the-farm.aspx

Nothing against the product, it just seems to be a little overdone, the spike that is.

BOBE just raised dividend by 11%; yield is similar to McDonald's.

Too many cost saving measures will utlimately affect the quality of the product. The supplier change that just occurred shifts it fundamental business operations more towards a profit only mentality and that's bad news for the employees.

Extreme overvaluation; their low debt ratio probably helped support this for an unneccesarily long period of time. Wall Street isn't showing much confidence and neither is the Fool community; I predict imminent devaluation, share dillution, or the current prolonged state of stagnation with +/- 10% volatility in the year to come.

Reupping. This is a pretty solid, if boring, company but the next six to twelve months aren't going to be much nicer to restaurant and food stocks. Bob is also having to deal with the impact of higher pork prices on his sausage packing business.

I am trying to pick the best companies in their respective industry that also pay a dividend.

recent increase in dividends is good news

TOO FAT FAST FOODS

Sector call

short the spike

Excellent earnings, low debt. Great outlook thru 2009. Need I say more?

Why not

Check out their newest concept, Mimi's Cafe. Definitely a hit. New Orleans theme, great food & great prices.

Great place for breakfast

great name