Dave & Buster's Stock Tanks on Earnings Miss: What To Know
Dave & Buster's stock is plunging after the entertainment and restaurant chain reported weaker-than-expected Q1 earnings. Here's what you need to know.


Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) stock is down more than 10% Thursday after the entertainment and dining chain's fiscal first-quarter results fell short of analysts' expectations.
In the 13 weeks ended May 5, Dave & Buster's revenue decreased 1.5% year-over-year to $588.1 million, driven by a 5.6% decline in same-store sales. The company also said its earnings per share (EPS) were down 26.3% from the year-ago period to $1.12.
"We continue to make material progress advancing our key organic growth initiatives," Dave & Buster's CEO Chris Morris said in a statement. "We have seen meaningful success growing our loyalty database through our new marketing engine, highlighting our enhanced food and beverage offering through compelling promotions, refining our games pricing strategy, driving incremental special events and clear outperformance in our remodel initiative which we expect will lead to substantial improvement in revenue and profitability over the medium term."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The top- and bottom-line results came up short of analysts' expectations. According to MarketWatch, Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $616 million and earnings of $1.73 per share. Analysts' were also expecting a smaller same-store sales decrease of 3.8%.
Is Dave & Buster's stock a buy, sell or hold?
Even though PLAY is down nearly 17% for the year to date, analysts remain bullish. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for the consumer staples stock is $65.71, representing implied upside of more than 48% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is Buy.
Financial services firm William Blair is one of those with an upbeat outlook on PLAY stock, maintaining its Outperform rating (equivalent to Buy) even after the weak quarter.
"While the pace of remodels creates some near-term difficulty in modeling, we are encouraged by the recent improvement in comparable trends in May and so far in June and remain optimistic on management's initiatives to unlock significant EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] in coming years,” said William Blair analyst Sharon Zackfia in a note.
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
The Trump GOP Tax Bill Could Worsen California Cost of Living
State Tax Energy bills in the Golden State may shock you if Republican lawmakers in Congress remove certain energy tax credits through Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.'
-
The Best Covered-Call ETFs to Buy
Covered-call ETFs can provide consistent, above-average income generation, but they can also cap potential upside. Here's what to look for.
-
The Best Covered-Call ETFs to Buy
Covered-call ETFs can provide consistent, above-average income generation, but they can also cap potential upside. Here's what to look for.
-
Wealth Advisers: In Estate Planning, the End Is Just the Beginning
We need to keep the lines of communication with our clients open so that we can anticipate and help them navigate issues that arise over time.
-
Stood Up by a Radio Show: But Was It a Breach of Contract?
A conscientious financial planner reschedules his clients after being invited onto a talk show and ends up losing one of them at a cost of $5,000. What does the radio show owe him, if anything?
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Stable as Inflation, Tariff Fears Ebb
Constructive trade war talks and improving consumer expectations are a healthy combination for financial markets.
-
Eight Estate Planning Steps to Protect Your Loved Ones (and Your Legacy)
Two-thirds of Americans don't have an estate plan. If you're one of them, these are the essential steps to take now to prevent problems for your family later.
-
The Six Pros This Adviser Says You Need to Sell Your Business
Selling your business isn't as simple as getting the best price and walking away. These are the six professionals you'll need to get a deal across the finish line.
-
The Three C's to Financial Success: A Financial Planner's Guide to Build Wealth
Consistency, commitment and confidence in your chosen strategy are more critical to your financial success than finding the 'perfect' financial plan.
-
A Financial Adviser's Guide to Solving Your Retirement Puzzle: Five Key Pieces
If retirement's a puzzle you're struggling with, try answering these five questions. The answers will guide you toward a solution.