Franchise index recovers losses for 2009

An index that tracks publicly traded companies engaged in business format franchising has recovered the losses it recorded earlier in 2009.

The Rosenberg Center Franchise 50 Index had climbed 11.1 percent by the end of the second quarter 2009 with widespread gains in 40 of 50 components, some in excess of 100 percent.

"The tentatively positive economic signs that started to appear by the end of March 2009 were confirmed by a number of economic reports suggesting that the worst of the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression was behind us," said Hachemi Aliouche, associate director of the Rosenberg International Center of Franchising at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics. "These include improved credit flows, a stabilizing housing market and a slowing rate of layoffs."

The RCF 50 is down 1.8 percent over the year, compared to an increase of 1.8 percent for the Standard & Poor's 500. Since its inception in 2000, however, the RCF 50 is up 41.2 percent, compared to a drop of 34.1 percent for the S&P 500 over the same period.

The best performer in the second quarter of 2009 was Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. DTG recorded a 1,106.2 percent gain. DTG rents and leases vehicles under the Dollar and Thrifty brand names.

Although still incurring losses in early 2009, DTG's overall performance improved compared with a year ago, according to Aliouche. Also, it took measures to reduce its exposure to financially troubled automaker Chrysler, its principal supplier.

"By the end of the second quarter 2009, it became apparent that rental car companies would face no long-term negative impacts from the severe problems of the U.S. automakers and that in fact they may benefit from the improving economic prospects," Aliouche said. "These developments propelled the stocks of the rental car companies, and more particularly that of DTG."

By contrast, Burger King, the operator and franchisor of fast-food restaurants, was the worst performer this quarter, dropping 24.6 percent in market value, Aliouche said. Investors sold off BKC shares after the company announced larger than expected declines in March traffic across many of its markets, particularly Germany and Mexico.