Papa John’s NNN Investor Hub | Cap Rate Trends, Credit Rating Trends, Lease Terms & Due Diligence

Papa John’s logo

Last Year Cap

6.5%

This Year Cap

6.8%

Cap Change

0.3%

Last Year Rating

BB-

This Year Rating

BB-

Rating Change

No change

Papa John’s – NNN Cap Rate Trend

Cap Rate Trends

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Tenant Year Cap Rate
5779 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,020 6.5
5780 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,021 6.3
5781 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,022 6.0
5782 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,023 6.3
5783 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,024 6.6
5784 admin2 2026 04:17 AM admin2 2026 04:17 AM 7 Brew 2,025 6.6
Tenant Year Cap Rate

Credit (what net-lease buyers care about)

Credit Snapshot

Papa John’s

Cap Rates NNN
Last Year 6.5%
This Year 6.8%
Change 0.3%
S&P Rating CREDIT
Last Year BB-
This Year BB-
Change No change

Papa John’s Net Lease: Secure, Essential Investment

Papa John’s International is a nationally recognized quick-service restaurant tenant in the net lease market. This guide reviews cap rates, lease terms, tenant credit, and key due diligence considerations for buyers and sellers.

For 1031 exchange buyers, Papa John’s Ground Lease Properties are important to compare against fee simple Papa John’s assets, as lease structure can materially impact pricing, financing, and long-term resale value.

Investors often target Papa John’s assets for:

  • Consistent Quick-Service Restaurant Demand
  • National Brand Recognition
  • Franchise-Based Growth Model
  • Attractive 1031 Exchange Compatibility

Papa John’s Ground Lease Properties require close comparison of rent escalations, remaining lease term, franchisee strength, extension options, and residual land value versus fee simple ownership.

Papa John’s Ground Lease Properties for 1031 Exchange Buyers

Papa John’s Ground Lease Properties often trade differently than fee simple Papa John’s assets. Buyers should carefully evaluate lease structure, remaining term, renewal options, franchise guarantees, landlord responsibilities, and reversion rights to understand long-term risk and return.

Papa John’s – Credit Trend (S&P vs Moody’s)

Tenant_Rating_Trend

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at TenantKey Tenant Year Moody SP Moody_Grade SP_Grade Moody_GradeRank SP_GradeRank
1 admin2 2025 03:43 PM admin2 2025 03:43 PM 7eleveninc 7-Eleven, Inc. 2022 Baa2 A Lower Medium Grade Upper Medium Grade 5 6
2 admin2 2025 03:43 PM admin2 2025 03:43 PM 7eleveninc 7-Eleven, Inc. 2023 Baa2 A Lower Medium Grade Upper Medium Grade 5 6
3 admin2 2025 03:43 PM admin2 2025 03:43 PM 7eleveninc 7-Eleven, Inc. 2024 Baa2 A Lower Medium Grade Upper Medium Grade 5 6
4 admin2 2025 03:43 PM admin2 2025 03:43 PM 7eleveninc 7-Eleven, Inc. 2025 Baa2 A Lower Medium Grade Upper Medium Grade 5 6
5 admin2 2025 03:43 PM admin2 2025 03:43 PM 99centsonlystoresllc 99 Cents Only Stores, LLC 2022 Caa2 CCC+ Substantial Risk Substantial Risk 2 2
TenantKey Tenant Year Moody SP Moody_Grade SP_Grade Moody_GradeRank SP_GradeRank

Papa John’s Stock Price (NASDAQ: PZZA)

Papa John’s Investment Market Statistics

AVERAGE SALE PRICE

$3,500,000

BUILDING SIZE

1,200 – 2,500 SF

AVERAGE NOI

$180,000

LAND

0.30 – 1.00 acres

$/SF RANGE

$350 – $700

LEASE TERM SHOWN

15 years

Papa John’s Investor Snapshot (Quick Facts)

Origins & Growth (Past)

  • Founded in 1984 in Indiana
  • Expanded nationwide through franchising
  • Built a large domestic and international restaurant network
  • Strong presence in suburban and neighborhood retail locations
  • Adopted online and mobile ordering technology
  • Became one of the leading U.S. pizza chains
 

Where Papa John’s International Stands Today

  • Extensive U.S. and international restaurant footprint
  • Leading quick-service pizza brand
  • High daily carryout and delivery order volume
  • Primarily franchise-operated restaurant locations
  • Expanding digital and mobile ordering platforms
  • Focus on operational efficiency and cost control

Where Papa John’s International Stands Today

  • Increased adoption of digital and mobile ordering
  • Continued focus on automation and operational efficiency
  • Growth in app-based and online sales platforms
  • Strong customer engagement through loyalty programs
  • Optimizing restaurant operations and delivery systems
  • Focus on core pizza and carryout business
  • Benefiting from continued demand in quick-service dining

 

Why investors buy Papa John’s NNN Properties or Papa John’s ground Lease Properties?

Pros (what buyers like)

  • Nationally recognized pizza brand
    Strong consumer awareness and large domestic footprint
  • Consistent quick-service restaurant demand
    Pizza remains a high-frequency and convenience-driven dining category
  • Strong digital ordering platform
    High percentage of sales generated through online and mobile ordering
  • Attractive lease structures
    Long-term NNN or ground leases appeal to passive and 1031 exchange buyers
  • High-visibility retail locations
    Many sites are positioned along major retail corridors and signalized intersections

Cons (what can bite you)

  • Franchisee credit variability
    Many locations are franchise-operated, making operator strength important
  • Lease structure variability
    Some assets are NN or modified NNN with landlord responsibilities
  • Limited rent growth
    Certain leases include flat rent periods or minimal escalations
  • Competitive pizza market
    Strong competition from national and regional pizza chains
  • Re-tenanting challenges
    Smaller pizza-specific layouts may require modifications for future tenants

Find out more

Papa John’s Background & History

Papa John’s is a nationally recognized quick-service pizza company best known for its delivery and carryout-focused restaurant model across the United States and international markets. What began as a small pizza business in Indiana evolved into one of the largest pizza restaurant brands in the world.

Over time, the company expanded through franchising, building a broad footprint across suburban, urban, and neighborhood retail markets. In addition to traditional carryout operations, the brand has continued expanding its digital ordering capabilities, delivery infrastructure, and operational efficiencies to support changing consumer preferences.

Today, customers rely on Papa John’s locations for convenient delivery, carryout, and online ordering services, supported by strong brand recognition and a large franchise network.

Why Papa John’s Matters to NNN Investors

Papa John’s International operates thousands of restaurant locations globally, serving customers through a convenience-focused quick-service model centered on pizza delivery and carryout demand. The business benefits from repeat consumer visits, strong digital ordering adoption, and locations positioned within dense residential trade areas and major retail corridors.

Many Papa John’s locations are situated within neighborhood shopping centers, end-cap retail spaces, and high-traffic commercial corridors that help support consistent customer activity and visibility. In addition, the company continues investing in digital platforms, loyalty programs, and operational improvements designed to enhance efficiency and customer engagement.

This focus on convenience-oriented dining helps explain why Papa John’s remains relevant as consumer preferences continue shifting toward online ordering, off-premise dining, and delivery-based restaurant models.

What Buyers and Sellers Should Evaluate

For investors evaluating Papa John’s NNN properties, a Papa John’s net lease, or a Papa John’s ground lease, the investment thesis is typically centered on franchisee strength, real estate quality, and long-term unit performance. As a result, buyers often place significant emphasis on lease structure, operator credit quality, site fundamentals, and market positioning in addition to overall brand recognition.

Common searches include Papa John’s real estate, Papa John’s cap rate, Papa John’s lease term, Papa John’s tenant credit, and restaurant performance. Ultimately, Papa John’s net lease value is driven by site-specific factors, lease economics, franchisee operating strength, and how the location performs within its surrounding trade area.

As quick-service restaurant competition and consumer dining habits continue evolving, the strongest Papa John’s locations tend to be those with strong visibility, convenient access, healthy demographics, and stable sales performance. Buyers and sellers should evaluate each property individually, including traffic counts, ingress and egress, surrounding competition, nearby population density, and lease language that defines landlord responsibilities.

In addition, investors should consider long-term cash-flow durability, franchisee operating history, local market competition, and how the asset may perform across different hold periods and exit strategies.

our team of experts are here for you

Our team helps investors evaluate NNN properties with practical, market-based guidance. In addition, we support buyers and sellers with lease review, pricing analysis, and due diligence strategy.

Whether you are comparing Papa John’s ground lease properties or fee simple Papa John’s assets, we can help you review the details that affect risk and long-term value. As a result, clients can make more confident decisions based on lease structure, location quality, and investment goals.

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