Between the inherent drive to get away from it all and the fear that you will be squeezed like a sardine / ignored at the counter / trampled by the crowds / have your Luis Vuitton bags smudged / insert your own excuse here, air travel during Thanksgiving has held surprisingly steady over the last 4 years, and just below its all time highs. Here we utilize cellphone data to measure foot traffic in airport locations and airline terminals.

We have all been seeing that with each passing year the panic of shopping on Black Friday has been subsiding. No more stories of pepper-spraying or trampling each other to be the first to grab the best deals. The foot traffic is corroborating that sentiment. As seen in the first graphic below, the Black Friday retail store visits are showing a clearly declining trend. There were fewer Black Friday store visits this year than during the pandemic!

Notable Hit 1: (ROST:NASDAQ) On Thursday November 21, 2024 Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) posted revenues of $5.07 bn missing the analysts estimates by 1% and in the same direction as Advan’s forecasted sales. Advan’s data showed a 7% increase YoY in foot traffic to its stores in Q3 2024; the company’s revenue increased 2.9% YoY. The company also posted an earnings surprise of +6.5%. As a result, the stock next day opened up 9% from previous close.

This is an updated version of our original article analyzing the impact of the recent E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s. With new foot traffic and cross-visit data, we provide fresh insights on how consumer behavior has evolved, including increased visits to competitors like Wendy’s and Burger King as customers seek alternatives. In the wake of McDonald’s E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders, the fast-food giant faced a significant setback, especially in states like Colorado and Nebraska.

Notable Hit 1: (SBH:NYSE) On Thursday November 14, 2024 Sally Beauty (SBH) posted revenues of $935.03 mm meeting the analysts estimates and in the same direction as Advan’s forecasted sales. Advan’s data showed a 4.3% increase YoY in foot traffic to its stores in Q3 2024; the company’s revenue increased 1.5% YoY. The stock up 12% from previous close. Advan’s footfall data has a correlation of 0.94 on a YoY basis with SBH’s top-line revenue over the last 19 quarters.

Notable Hit 1: (PLNT:NYSE) On Thursday November 7, 2024 Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT) posted revenues of $292.25 mm surpassing the mean analysts estimates by 2.4% and in the same direction as Advan’s forecasted sales. Advan’s data showed a 6.2% increase YoY in foot traffic to its fitness locations in Q3 2024; the company’s revenue increased 5.3% YoY. The stock up 16.4% from previous close. Advan’s footfall data has a correlation of 0.

Notable Hit 1: (SHAK:NYSE) On Wednesday October 30, 2024 Shake Shack Inc. (SHAK) posted revenues of $316.9 mm surpassing the mean analysts estimates by 0.3% and in the same direction as Advan’s forecasted sales. Advan’s data showed a 15.7% increase YoY in foot traffic to its restaurants in Q3 2024; the company’s revenue increased 14.7% YoY. The stock next day closed up +7.8% from previous close. Advan’s footfall data has a correlation of 0.

Notable Hit 1: (TXRH:NASDAQ) On Thursday October 24, 2024 Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (TXRH) posted revenues of $1.27 bn surpassing the mean analysts estimates by 8.5% and in the same direction as Advan’s forecasted sales. Advan’s data showed a 6.2% increase YoY in foot traffic to its restaurants in Q3 2024; the company’s revenue increased 13.2% YoY. The stock next day was up +5% from previous close. Advan’s footfall data has a correlation of 0.

In recent weeks, McDonald’s has been under scrutiny due to an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders, leading to illnesses and even a death in several states, most notably Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pointed to slivered onions used in the burgers as the likely source of contamination. The supplier, Taylor Farms, has cooperated fully, recalling onions from its Colorado facility. McDonald’s responded by removing the Quarter Pounder from its menus in affected states and pausing the distribution of onions in the impacted regions.