BUZZ-US fast food chains grapple with value wars, weak demand in 2024

** The S&P 500 Restaurants sub index SPLRCREST has risen 2.7% so far this year, compared with a 23.8% rise in the S&P 500 index .SPX

** Higher restaurant menu prices in the United States led to muted consumer demand in 2024, and chains responded with value offerings to renew interest

** Shares of McDonald's MCD.N down 2.3% YTD as of last close, as the company reported two straight quarters of fall in global comparable sales

** Shares of KFC parent Yum BrandsYUM.N up 2% while U.S.-listed shares of Burger King parent Restaurant Brands QSR.N down 16.9%

** Domino's Pizza DPZ.N shares up 2%, Wendy's WEN.O down 16%, while Jack in the Box JACK.O down 48%

** Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG.N shares up 31%, on robust demand for its burritos

** Shares of coffee chain Starbucks SBUX.O, which has contended with weak consumer traffic at its stores, and replaced its CEO in a surprise move in August, saw shares fall 5.6% so far this year

** Sales trends have recovered from their weakness over the summer to a slightly positive trend in recent months, and we expect this underlying trend to continue into the first-half of the new year - BTIG analyst Peter Saleh

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru)

((Juveria.Tabassum@thomsonreuters.com;))