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Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) investor relations material

Dave & Buster's Entertainment Q3 2026 earnings summary

Complete event summary combining all related documents: earnings call transcript, report, and slide presentation.
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Q3 2026 earnings summary9 Dec, 2025

Executive summary

  • Third quarter revenue was $448.2 million, down 1.1% year-over-year, with comparable store sales declining 4.0% due to reduced walk-in business.

  • Net loss for the quarter was $42.1 million ($1.22 per diluted share), compared to $32.7 million ($0.84 per diluted share) last year.

  • Adjusted net loss was $39.4 million ($1.14 per diluted share), versus $17.5 million ($0.45 per diluted share) last year.

  • Adjusted EBITDA was $59.4 million, down 13% from the prior year.

  • The company opened nine new stores and relocated one during the nine-month period, operating 241 stores at period end.

Financial highlights

  • Entertainment revenues were $279.4 million (62.3% of total), food and beverage revenues were $168.8 million (37.7%).

  • Cost of products as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 14.2% from 15.0% year-over-year.

  • Operating payroll and benefits increased to $124.9 million (27.9% of revenues), mainly due to wage increases at new stores.

  • Operating loss was $16.2 million, compared to operating income of $6.3 million in Q3 2024.

  • Interest expense rose to $40.2 million from $32.9 million year-over-year, mainly due to sale-leaseback transactions.

Outlook and guidance

  • Sequential improvement in same-store sales each month of Q3, with the final month down only about 1% year-over-year and further improvement in November.

  • Two additional domestic stores expected to open in Q4, totaling 11 new stores and one relocation for fiscal 2025.

  • At least four more international franchise stores planned over the next six months.

  • Management expects continued variability in store performance and seasonality, with new store openings contributing to fluctuations in quarterly results.

  • Cash and cash equivalents, combined with expected cash flows and available borrowings, are expected to be sufficient for operating and capital needs for at least the next twelve months.

Impact of new menu on F&B sales growth?
International store growth strategy details.
Explain the Q3 G&A expense increase.
Expected impact of 2026 IP game pipeline
Details on cost management initiatives
How remodel capital savings enhance ROI
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Frequently asked questions

Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates entertainment and dining venues for adults and families in North America. The company operates its venues under the Dave & Buster's name. 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, such as billiards, shuffleboard, video game consoles, virtual reality simulators, racing simulators, and dart games, as well as others. The company also provides food delivery services through third-party online platforms. As of February 3, 2019, it owned and operated 133 locations in 39 states of the United States. Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1982 is headquartered in Dallas, Texas

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