Key Points
- SVP Steve Klohn sold 6,989 shares at an average price of $14.69 on April 17 for $102,668.41, trimming his stake by 15.35% to 38,547 shares (about $566k remaining).
- Dave & Buster's reported quarterly EPS of ($0.35) versus a $0.39 estimate and revenue of $529.6M versus $556.6M, leaving a negative net margin (−2.32%) and negative ROE (−7.93%), signaling weak near‑term fundamentals.
- The stock is volatile with a 52‑week range of $9.61–$35.53 and a market cap near $496M; institutional ownership is high (91.45%) while several analysts have cut ratings/targets (consensus target $21.83, multiple recent "sell"/"strong sell" notes).
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY - Get Free Report) SVP Steve Klohn sold 6,989 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.69, for a total transaction of $102,668.41. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 38,547 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $566,255.43. This represents a 15.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link.
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Price Performance
Shares of PLAY opened at $14.28 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.61, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.29. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $13.78 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.09. Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $9.61 and a fifty-two week high of $35.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $496.09 million, a PE ratio of -9.99 and a beta of 1.83.
Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 31st. The restaurant operator reported ($0.35) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.39 by ($0.74). The business had revenue of $529.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $556.56 million. Dave & Buster's Entertainment had a negative net margin of 2.32% and a negative return on equity of 7.93%. The business's quarterly revenue was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.69 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. will post 2.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dave & Buster's Entertainment
A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of PLAY. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment during the first quarter valued at about $430,000. Creative Planning purchased a new stake in Dave & Buster's Entertainment during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $311,000. Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in Dave & Buster's Entertainment during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $243,000. Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in Dave & Buster's Entertainment by 13.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 22,654 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $681,000 after purchasing an additional 2,644 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caption Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment by 624.7% in the second quarter. Caption Management LLC now owns 14,153 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $426,000 after buying an additional 12,200 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.45% of the company's stock.
Trending Headlines about Dave & Buster's Entertainment
Here are the key news stories impacting Dave & Buster's Entertainment this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Senior management still retains a meaningful stake — after the April 17 sale the SVP owns 38,547 shares valued at roughly $566k, which may reassure some investors that insiders retain exposure. SEC Filing
- Neutral Sentiment: Trading volume is elevated versus average (about 2.9M vs ~1.39M), indicating larger investor activity that can amplify moves in either direction; this may reflect short‑term trading rather than a fundamental shift. MarketBeat PLAY Page
- Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: SVP Steve Klohn sold 6,989 shares at an average $14.69 on April 17, a 15.35% reduction in his holdings — insider selling can be interpreted negatively by the market. SEC Filing
- Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research issued a string of downward EPS revisions across FY2027–FY2029 (Q1–Q4 and full‑year cuts) and maintains a "Strong Sell" rating — these analyst reductions materially worsen near‑term earnings expectations and are likely weighing on sentiment. Bear of the Day: Dave & Buster's (PLAY)
- Negative Sentiment: Third‑party earnings forecasts/coverage: recent coverage (including FY2029 commentary) highlights lowered outlooks and continued analyst skepticism, adding pressure to the stock's valuation and investor confidence. FY2029 Forecast Article
Analysts Set New Price Targets
PLAY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen lowered Dave & Buster's Entertainment from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Monday, April 6th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment from $23.00 to $18.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Dave & Buster's Entertainment from $22.00 to $14.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $21.83.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Dave & Buster's Entertainment
About Dave & Buster's Entertainment
(
Get Free Report)
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc operates a chain of combined restaurant and entertainment venues designed to appeal to families, young adults and corporate groups. Each location features a full-service restaurant and bar alongside an arcade gaming area with ticket-based redemption, virtual reality experiences and skill-based games. Many venues also include multiple large-screen televisions and a sports bar atmosphere, catering to fans who wish to watch live sporting events in a social setting.
The company was founded in 1982 by David Corriveau and James “Buster” Corley, opening its first location in Dallas, Texas.
Further Reading
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