Down 52%, is this ASX fast food stock a screaming buy?

It's been a tough ride for investors in this ASX fast food stock.

Guzman y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares are now hovering near 52-week lows, down a hefty 52% over the past year at the time of writing. That's a sharp reversal for a company that debuted with serious hype.

In fact, even IPO investors are now underwater.

Shares were issued at $22 in the June 2024 listing and surged 36.4% on day one to close at $30. Momentum continued, with the ASX stock climbing to $43.35 by December 2024.

Since then? It's been largely downhill.

So, what's gone wrong and could this be a buying opportunity?

Clean ingredients, fast service

Let's start with the strengths.

Guzman y Gomez has built a strong brand in the fast-casual dining space, focusing on fresh, high-quality Mexican-inspired food. Its emphasis on clean ingredients and fast service has resonated with customers, particularly in Australia and expanding international markets.

Growth remains a key attraction for the $1.5 billion ASX stock.

The company continues to roll out new stores and scale its network, which could drive revenue higher over time. If execution is strong, store expansion alone could underpin long-term earnings growth.

Rising labour costs, food inflation

But there are real risks investors can't ignore.

Profitability is a big one. Like many fast-growing restaurant chains, Guzman y Gomez is still balancing expansion with margins. Rising labour costs, food inflation, and operational expenses can eat into profits, especially in a competitive industry.

There's also execution risk. Rapid expansion sounds great in theory, but if new stores underperform or costs blow out, returns can disappoint quickly. That's likely one reason the market has cooled on the ASX stock after its early surge.

And let's not forget sentiment.

High-growth consumer stocks can fall hard when expectations reset and that's exactly what we've seen here.

So, what do the experts think?

According to TradingView data, sentiment is mixed but improving. Out of 13 analysts, seven rate the ASX stock as a buy or strong buy, five have hold ratings, and one has a strong sell.

The average price target sits at $22.67, implying potential upside of around 49% from current levels.

And the bulls are even more optimistic. Some forecasts suggest the stock could climb as high as $31 over the next 12 months. That points to a potential gain of 104%.

Morgans is one broker to back the recovery story. It has a buy rating and a $24 price target on the shares.

Foolish Takeaway

Guzman y Gomez has been hammered, but the growth story isn't dead.

If the company can execute on expansion while improving profitability, this ASX fast food stock could be staging a comeback.

For investors willing to take on some risk, this could be a classic high-risk, high-reward setup.