Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Dave & Buster's (PLAY) Q1 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

Read MoreHide Full Article

Dave & Buster's (PLAY - Free Report) reported $559.2 million in revenue for the quarter ended April 2026, representing a year-over-year decline of 1.5%. EPS of $0.22 for the same period compares to $0.76 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.08% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $571.09 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.37, the EPS surprise was -40.54%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Dave & Buster's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Comparable Store Sales - Total: -5.4% compared to the -2.6% average estimate based on four analysts.
  • Stores Count - End of Period: 247 compared to the 244 average estimate based on four analysts.
  • Company-owned stores at end of period - Dave & Buster's: 182 compared to the 181 average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Company-owned stores at end of period - Main Event: 65 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 62.
  • Entertainment revenues: $345.1 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $358.35 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -5.9%.
  • Food and beverage revenues: $214.1 million versus $212.51 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +6.5% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for Dave & Buster's here>>>

Shares of Dave & Buster's have returned +27.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Published in