Editor’s note: This column is part of our Best Stocks for 2015 contest. Rick Rouse’s pick for the contest is Pizza Inn Holdings Inc, which has since changed its name to Rave Restaurant Group (RAVE) and now lists on the Nasdaq.

Earlier this year, I made a road trip to Pie Five, one of Pizza Inn Holdings Inc’s (PZZI) trademarked brands, to learn more about their story and, more importantly, try their pizza.

My first impression was that it was very clean and bright and that the store was located in a great area. When I first walked in, I was greeted by a bevy of pizza choices from the company’s hand-crafted menu, but their aim is for you to create your own perfect pie.

Pie Five’s goal is to have you stuffing your face with the perfect pie in less than five minutes. If you were wondering how Pie Five can cook a pizza in under two minutes, it’s due to their patented ovens. They heat up to 700 degrees and can bake a pie in one minute and 45 seconds.

It essentially feels like the Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) of pizza shops.

And, man, did Pie Five’s knock it out of the park! It was excellent. Instant gratification. I tried the pan crust as well as the thin-crust pizza, and both were fantastic.

Pizza Inn Has Huge Growth Ahead

Of course, managing the bottom line is always important for any company, so I was pleased to see that, much like its pizzas, Pie Five’s recent results came in better-than-expected.

Although the company reported a first-quarter loss of 3 cents per share, it was a penny higher than analysts’ estimates for a loss of 4 cents per share. Revenues came in at $11.3 million versus expectations just north of $10 million for the quarter.

The first Pie Five Pizza location opened in June 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas. With recent multi-unit agreements signed in Colorado and Kentucky, the number of company-owned restaurants is on track to reach 100 over the next five years. The explosive growth will come from franchising, as more than 300 restaurant openings in 16 states and DC are projected over the same period. Pizza Inn gets a nice upfront fee in addition to royalties, which is a beautiful way to expand growth while taking less risk.

The company only had a handful of Pie Five units over the past few quarters, but that number will substantially grow over the next three to five years. The company is also shedding some of its older models and the underperforming Pizza Inn stores to improve its operations. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a change from the iconic name brand Pizza Inn to “Pie Five” or “Pie Five Pizza” at some point in 2015.

How Does PZZI Do it?

The fast-casual pizza market is growing like a weed, and current projections for openings of fast-casual pizza joints over the next five years are as high as 2,000. Pie Five could be the leader in this revolutionary change, as it has a significant leg-up on its competition.

The company also has a top-notch management team, with CEO Randy Gier leading the way. He previously held positions as the chief marketing officer at Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) overlooking their Pizza Hut and KFC divisions. He also worked for Dr Pepper/Snapple Group Inc (DPS) and Borden Dairy Company.

Mr. Gier is a hands-on manager, but not in a bad way. He has built a great track record over the years and has implemented slick operating procedures that have helped lead the company to success.

He is able to monitor the company’s point of sales (POS) system to track revenues and inventory from each store from his mobile device. He can also see which employees are working and when. This is a pretty slick way for the captain of a ship to run and manage the crew.

Pizza Inn and its $65 million market-cap have stayed under Wall Street’s radar, but shares have traded publicly for more than two decades. However, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks — just ask IMAX (IMAX).

I started coverage of IMAX ahead of the 3D boom in 2008 when it was a money-losing company year after year and shares were under $3. Look at it now, trading at nearly 10 times that level.

Outlook for PZZI Stock

Pizza Inn was a struggling pizza chain before reinventing itself. The company has done a tremendous job of eliminating its long-term debt and has nearly $3 million in its cash coffers. Shares of PZZI stock recently closed above their 50-day moving average and are trying to build a nice support base at $7. There is short-term risk to $6.75-$6.50, but shares are in a solid uptrend following a low of $6.12 in early November.

I believe shares will trip low- to mid-double-digits at some point in 2015. If shares clear $7.50-$8.00 over the near term, momentum could easily carry shares past $9 and make a run at $10. This would represent roughly a 30% return from current levels.

If all goes well and Pie Five Pizza has a smooth 2015, a price tag of $14 is easily reachable … though that seems more likely for 2016. Still, we’re talking about a 100% return over a two-year time period.

Again, though, we can’t overlook the small market cap and trading volume of PZZI. Buyers should take precautions to protect their investments, because micro-cap stocks like PZZI stock can move swiftly — in either direction. Conservative traders could cut losses if shares fall below $5. Aggressive traders could leave a stop at $3.50, and a test to these levels would suggest investors are jumping off of the bandwagon.

Insiders own 35% of the company’s shares and institutional ownership is clocking in at just under 15%. I love the fact shares are still under-discovered, although one investment firm recently downgraded the stock to sell from hold. However, I doubt they have done the homework I have over the last two years to learn this company’s business model.

If you have missed the Chipotle burrito train over the past decade, then find the time to hop on this fast casual pizza-pie explosion. Pie Five offers one of the best risk/reward trades heading into 2015 without all of the market noise.

Rick is offering a special free report, “The 5 Golden Rules of Options Investing,” that reveals his rules for options trading success that will help you make double- and triple-digit profits in the months ahead no matter what the market has in store. Just click here to read it right now. 

Whether you’re new to options or have years of experience, the tips Rick will share can help you lock in bigger gains, find new winning ideas, wring the risk out of your trades and become a more confident and successful options investor.  Click here now to download your FREE copy of The 5 Golden Rules of Options Investing.