DURHAM, N.H.—The University of New Hampshire’s franchising sector-focused RIFC 50 Index™ gained another 7.3% this quarter on the heels of its 8.4% gain last quarter, continuing its strong rebound from the severe financial markets correction of the fourth quarter of 2018. Developed and published by UNH’s Rosenberg International Franchise Center (RIFC), it is the first stock index to track the financial market performance of the U.S. franchising sector.

“This performance was almost twice as strong as that of the S&P 500 Index’s 3.8% gain this quarter,” said E. Hachemi Aliouche, director of the Rosenberg International Franchise Center at UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

Fifteen components of the index made double-digit gains this quarter. The best performer was Del Taco Restaurants (TACO), the owner, operator and franchisor of fast-service Mexican-American restaurants—with a 32.8% jump in market value.

RIFC 50 Index companies continue to be acquisition targets as take-and-bake pizza franchise chain Papa Murphy’s (FRSH) was the latest component to be snapped up. Canada-based MTY Food Group completed the acquisition of Papa Murphy’s in May 2019 for approximately $190 million, adding it to its extensive portfolio of brands that include TCBY Frozen Yogurt, Cold Stone Creamery, Baja Fresh, Pinkberry, and Planet Smoothie.

The RIFC 50 Index is up 11.3% over the last 12 months, 28.5% over the last five years, and 297.2% since its 2000 inception.

“Our RIFC 50 Index quarterly report offers a succinct look at the financial performance of the U.S. franchising business sector and compares it to the overall market performance represented by the S&P 500 Index,” said Aliouche. Recent quarterly reports are available on the center’s website at unh.edu/rosenbergcenter/rcf-50-index.

To learn more about RIFC, visit unh.edu/rosenbergcenter and follow @RIFC_UNH on Twitter.