Zacks Research Brokers Decrease Earnings Estimates for PLAY

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) – Zacks Research cut their FY2025 EPS estimates for shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research report issued on Tuesday, December 24th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the restaurant operator will post earnings of $2.46 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $2.54. The consensus estimate for Dave & Buster’s Entertainment’s current full-year earnings is $2.52 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Dave & Buster’s Entertainment’s Q4 2025 earnings at $0.67 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.03 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.97 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.00 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.82 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on PLAY. Benchmark assumed coverage on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research report on Monday, October 7th. They set a “hold” rating for the company. Loop Capital cut their target price on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $59.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Truist Financial restated a “hold” rating and issued a $36.00 price target (down from $56.00) on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. William Blair reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.38.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Stock Performance

Shares of PLAY stock opened at $29.14 on Friday. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment has a 1 year low of $25.00 and a 1 year high of $69.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.38, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $1.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.43 and a beta of 2.13. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $35.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.29.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 1.9% in the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 16,200 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $645,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. GDS Wealth Management grew its holdings in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 3.3% in the third quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 15,202 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $518,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the period. Kimelman & Baird LLC acquired a new position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Cerity Partners LLC raised its stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 3.2% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 23,204 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $790,000 after purchasing an additional 710 shares during the period. Finally, Lombard Odier Asset Management USA Corp raised its stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 21.4% during the second quarter. Lombard Odier Asset Management USA Corp now owns 6,900 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 1,217 shares during the period. 91.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

In related news, CEO Kevin M. Sheehan acquired 19,025 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $26.44 per share, for a total transaction of $503,021.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 69,025 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,825,021. This trade represents a 38.05 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Christopher Daniel Morris bought 14,912 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The shares were bought at an average price of $33.67 per share, for a total transaction of $502,087.04. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 83,847 shares in the company, valued at $2,823,128.49. The trade was a 21.63 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought 71,672 shares of company stock valued at $1,966,596 in the last 90 days. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc owns and operates entertainment and dining venues for adults and families. Its venues offer a menu of entrees and appetizers, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages; and an assortment of entertainment attractions centered on playing games and watching live sports, and other televised events.