Middleby ( NASDAQ:MIDD ) just hit a 52-week high of over $168, climbing 36% from its lows, and investors are finally taking notice. The commercial kitchen giantwhose equipment powers the likes of McDonald's and Starbuckshas been grinding through a tough restaurant environment, but a 20% jump in operating cash flow to $447 million shows resilience. That said, Commercial Foodservice revenues took a hit, prompting Middleby to launch a $50 million restructuring push to boost profitability. Meanwhile, its latest acquisition of Italy's Gorreri Food Processing Technology signals a continued expansion into high-margin food processing.

But the real catalyst? Activist investor Garden Investments, led by Trian Fund Management co-founder Ed Garden, has taken an almost 5% stake and isn't here to sit quietly. The firm is pushing for a sharper focus on Middleby's core commercial food service business while reassessing its residential segment. On top of that, it's gunning for board seats and a shake-up in capital allocation. For Garden, this is the first big move under its new banner, and it's clear they see serious upside in turning Middleby into a more efficient, growth-focused machine.

Wall Street is loving the drama. Middleby stock spiked over 15.3% in the afternoon, the biggest single-day pop since 2020. Shares are now up nearly 24% year-to-date, with investors betting that activist pressure and restructuring efforts could unlock even more value. With Q4 expectations hovering near $1 billion in revenue and stable EBITDA margins, Middleby's next moves could define whether this rally sticksor fizzles out.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus .