The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) secured a small gain in October. The benchmark index rose 0.4% to end the month at 8,881.9 points. There were a number of shares which outperformed the index for the month, but the best performer and strongest growth stock was Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP).
The Domino's share price stormed 38.3% higher and ended the month at $18.31 a piece, far outpacing the index gains over the same period.
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What drove Domino's share price higher in October?
The main catalyst for the ASX 200 growth stock's share price hike throughout the month was media speculation that the fast-food pizza chain operator has a looming takeover offer from Bain Capital Specialty Finance Inc (NYSE: BCSF).
Purportedly, Bain Capital valued the company at $4 billion. At the time, Domino's market cap was around $1.5 billion.
But, according to Domino's, the speculation is untrue. Domino's Pizza has denied the claims and said there has been no takeover discussion with Bain Capital.
In a statement to the ASX following the media report, the company said:
Domino's confirms that, as far as it is aware, it has not received any proposal from Bain Capital or had any communication with that organisation. Looking at the price and volume of Domino's security trading at or around and after the time the AFR Online article was released, it is clear that the change in price of Domino's securities and the increase in volume … all occurred after that article was published..
The AFR did a follow-up story the following day quoting Domino's executive chair, Jack Cowin, who said he was open to a deal, but only after he was able to repair the company's share price.
The question, now, is whether it's time to consider buying? Or have investors missed the boat?
What's next for the ASX 200 growth stock?
Domino's shares have some way to go before they've recuperated the losses shed over the past year. At the time of writing the shares are 2.01% lower and changing hands at $18.745. For the year they're a huge 40.68% lower.
Analysts are divided about the stock's potential too. According to TradingView data, out of 17 analysts, 6 have a buy or strong buy rating, 8 have a hold rating, and the other 3 have a sell or strong sell rating on the shares.
The projected share price varies significantly too. The maximum target price on the ASX 200 growth stock is $30.00, and the average is $17.82. Some even predict the shares will fall to $13.00 a piece.
That represents a range of a potential 59.02% upside to a potential 31.07% downside for investors over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.
Morgans has a buy rating and $18.00 price target on its shares and says the business is making positive steps to take significant costs out of the business.
But Bell Potter Securities' Christopher Watt is one analyst with a sell recommendation on the shares. He explained that despite a retrace over the past year, the shares could have further to fall.
