Research Analysts Issue Forecasts for PLAY FY2025 Earnings

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) – Analysts at Zacks Research decreased their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note issued on Tuesday, December 24th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the restaurant operator will earn $2.46 per share for the year, down from their prior 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 equities research analysts also recently commented on PLAY. Benchmark began coverage on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a report on Monday, October 7th. They set a “hold” rating for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Loop Capital cut their price objective on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $59.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Gordon Haskett reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $34.00 price target (down from $40.00) on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $36.00 price objective (down previously from $56.00) on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.38.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Stock Performance

Shares of PLAY opened at $29.14 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $35.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.29. 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 stock has a market cap of $1.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.43 and a beta of 2.13. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment has a one year low of $25.00 and a one year high of $69.82.

Insider Activity

In other Dave & Buster’s Entertainment news, CEO Kevin M. Sheehan purchased 37,735 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $25.48 per share, for a total transaction of $961,487.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 139,011 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,542,000.28. The trade was a 37.26 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher Daniel Morris acquired 14,912 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $33.67 per share, for a total transaction of $502,087.04. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 83,847 shares of the company’s stock, 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 acquired 71,672 shares of company stock worth $1,966,596 over the last three months. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PLAY. Eminence Capital LP lifted its position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 69.3% in the second quarter. Eminence Capital LP now owns 3,768,476 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $150,023,000 after buying an additional 1,542,154 shares during the last quarter. Rubric Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 104.7% in the 2nd quarter. Rubric Capital Management LP now owns 1,225,000 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $48,767,000 after acquiring an additional 626,497 shares during the period. Sea Cliff Partners Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 90.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sea Cliff Partners Management LP now owns 515,043 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $20,504,000 after acquiring an additional 245,043 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 36.2% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 640,096 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $25,482,000 after purchasing an additional 170,286 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,266,280 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $50,411,000 after purchasing an additional 95,499 shares during the last quarter. 91.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.