Zacks Research Has Bearish Forecast for PLAY Q1 Earnings

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) – Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note issued to investors on Monday, February 10th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the restaurant operator will earn $1.15 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.16. 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 Q2 2026 earnings at $1.03 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at ($0.54) EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.61 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.19 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.99 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at ($0.42) EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.76 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on PLAY. William Blair reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Loop Capital decreased 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 report on Thursday, December 12th. Gordon Haskett reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $34.00 price target (down from $40.00) on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $51.00 to $47.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $36.00 to $27.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $51.43.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Stock Performance

Shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment stock opened at $24.21 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $28.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.38, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $932.09 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.99 and a beta of 2.17. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment has a 52 week low of $22.83 and a 52 week high of $69.82.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Kevin M. Sheehan bought 19,025 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.44 per share, with a total value of $503,021.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 69,025 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,825,021. This represents a 38.05 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PLAY. NewEdge Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 13.4% during the 4th quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 727,491 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $21,235,000 after purchasing an additional 85,820 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its holdings in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 132.5% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 567,734 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $16,563,000 after purchasing an additional 323,595 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 471,924 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $13,775,000 after buying an additional 9,733 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 1,100.8% in the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 424,967 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $12,405,000 after buying an additional 389,577 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 72.3% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 338,635 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $9,885,000 after buying an additional 142,045 shares during the last quarter. 91.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Company Profile

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.