Americans are flocking back to old favorites. Be it Starbucks, Domino’s or Chipotle, America’s favorite chain restaurants just posted bullish quarterly reports as American consumers shake off pandemic anxiety and return to some form of normalcy. Shares of Domino’s climbed 12% on Tuesday after it beat out Wall Street’s estimates. Despite concerns about “pizza fatigue” and impressive sales from a year ago, Domino’s outdid itself, with US same-store sales growing more than 3%. Domino’s stock has risen 38% year to date. While less dramatic, Chipotle also saw a second quarter which beat analysts’ expectations, continuing a growth trend which has seen the stock rise 28% this year. Starbucks’, too, saw a strong second quarter. The stock has risen 13% this year. Just as retailers are seeing growth which is outpacing analysts’ expectations, it’s clear that America is ready to leave the kitchen and head out to old favorite restaurants. However, not everything is rosy for these chains—particularly those who rely more on in person experiences than delivery—as the Delta variant of the coronavirus raises concerns about waning consumer interest, mask mandates and potential lockdowns. While the United States government hasn’t made moves to enact restrictions, the Delta variant anxiety shook markets on Monday, leading to one of the worst days in months. The contest between Delta anxiety, rising cases, low vaccine numbers and the American consumer’s desire for normalcy will be an interesting one, but for now companies are enjoying the boom of the return to normal. Source