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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL)
NASDAQ:CBRL

Cracker Barrel (CBRL) AI Stock Analysis

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Cracker Barrel

(NASDAQ:CBRL)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$75.00
▲(12.14%Upside)
Cracker Barrel's stock score is driven by strong technical performance and positive earnings call insights, indicating potential for recovery and growth. However, high valuation and financial risks due to low profit margins and declining free cash flow present challenges. The company shows resilience with effective cost management and strategic initiatives, but retail sales decline and tariff impacts remain concerns.
Positive Factors
Advertising and Branding
The company is investing in advertising to highlight brand refinement and new menu offerings, which is expected to leverage loyalty and improve operations.
Financial Performance
Management raised FY25 AEBITDA guidance to a range of $215M-$225M, indicating confidence in future performance despite some pressures.
Product Offering
The return of Campfire Meals, a historical customer favorite, was strongly embraced, contributing to positive SSS trends.
Negative Factors
Operating Expenses
Restaurant operating expenses are anticipated to remain elevated due to additional investments in media, impacting overall cost management.
Stock Valuation
CBRL is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio above its 5 and 10-year averages, contributing to the reiteration of an Underperform rating.
Traffic Decline
CBRL's 3Q traffic decline of approximately 5.3% lagged behind full-service peers, indicating challenges in attracting customers despite industry-wide headwinds.

Cracker Barrel (CBRL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Cracker Barrel Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) is an American chain of combined restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee, Cracker Barrel operates throughout the United States, offering a unique dining experience that includes traditional Southern cuisine. The company is renowned for its country-style décor and a retail store that sells a variety of items such as home goods, toys, and food products.
How the Company Makes MoneyCracker Barrel generates revenue through two primary streams: its restaurant operations and its retail stores. The restaurant segment is the largest contributor, offering a menu of Southern-inspired meals that attract a wide range of customers. Its retail stores complement the dining experience by selling unique and themed merchandise that appeals to their customer base. The synergy between the dining and retail aspects encourages patrons to spend more time and money at each location. Additionally, Cracker Barrel benefits from strategic locations near highway exits, catering to both local customers and travelers. The company also makes money through catering services and offers seasonal promotions that drive additional foot traffic and sales.

Cracker Barrel Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Chart InsightsCracker Barrel's steady increase in company-owned restaurants reflects a strategic expansion, with a notable rise since 2019. Despite a slight dip in early 2023, the trend remains upward, aligning with the company's focus on enhancing restaurant sales and operational efficiency. The latest earnings call highlights effective cost management and a strong start to Q4, suggesting that the expansion strategy is supported by robust restaurant performance and loyalty program success. However, challenges in retail sales and tariff impacts could pose risks to overall growth.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Cracker Barrel Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jun 05, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: 15.77%|
Next Earnings Date:Sep 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Cracker Barrel's third quarter results show positive signs with continued growth in restaurant sales, effective cost management, and successful loyalty program developments. However, challenges remain with declining retail sales, tariff impacts, and increased operating expenses. The company has a strong start to Q4, indicating potential recovery and improvement.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Positive Comparable Store Restaurant Sales
Cracker Barrel reported positive comparable store restaurant sales for the fourth consecutive quarter, indicating a consistent trend of growth.
Adjusted EBITDA Exceeds Expectations
Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter exceeded expectations, demonstrating effective cost management and operational performance.
Improvement in Employee Metrics
Hourly turnover improved by approximately 14 percentage points, and internal net sentiment scores increased by 2.3% compared to the prior year quarter.
Loyalty Program Achievements
Cracker Barrel achieved its fiscal 2025 target of acquiring 8 million Cracker Barrel Rewards members, with over one-third of tracked sales associated with loyalty members.
Successful Back House Optimization Initiative
Phase one of the back house optimization initiative was implemented, resulting in improved quality, profitability, and positive employee feedback.
Strong Start to Q4
The fourth quarter is off to a strong start, driven by the successful Campfire promotion and an improvement in sales trends.
Negative Updates
Retail Revenue Decline
Retail revenue decreased by 2.7% compared to the prior year, with comparable store retail sales decreasing by 3.8%.
Impact of Tariffs on Retail Products
Approximately one-third of retail products are sourced from China, with tariffs expected to impact Q4 EBITDA by approximately $5 million.
February Traffic Challenges
The quarter started with soft traffic in February due to weather and macroeconomic uncertainty, affecting overall traffic performance.
Increased Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by 80 basis points, driven by higher advertising expenses and depreciation.
Company Guidance
During the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Conference Call, the company reported total revenue of $821.1 million, a 0.5% increase from the prior year. Restaurant revenue rose by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue declined by 2.7% to $141.8 million. Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 1%, while retail sales decreased by 3.8%. Pricing for the quarter was approximately 4.9%, and labor-related expenses decreased by 70 basis points to 37.1% of revenue. The company experienced commodity inflation of around 2.9%, primarily due to higher beef, egg, and pork prices. Adjusted EBITDA slightly increased to $48.1 million, representing 5.9% of total revenue. Moving forward, Cracker Barrel anticipates total revenue for Fiscal 2025 to range between $3.45 billion and $3.5 billion, with an expected full-year adjusted EBITDA between $215 million and $225 million. The company also forecasts commodity and hourly wage inflation in the mid-2% range.

Cracker Barrel Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cracker Barrel has shown revenue growth and maintains stable gross profit margins, reflecting effective revenue management. However, profit margins are compressed, and leverage levels could pose financial risks. Cash flow generation is adequate but has seen a decline in free cash flow, indicating potential challenges in liquidity management. Overall, the financial position is stable but could benefit from improved profitability and cash flow enhancement.
Income Statement
70
Positive
Cracker Barrel's revenue growth has been steady, with a notable increase in the most recent TTM period. The gross profit margin is solid, indicating good cost management. However, the net profit margin is relatively low, suggesting potential inefficiencies or high expenses. EBIT and EBITDA margins are moderate, indicating average operational performance in the industry.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet shows a moderate level of debt relative to equity, which could pose financial risk if not managed well. Return on Equity (ROE) is reasonable but has shown a declining trend. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a balanced asset financing strategy, though there's room for improvement in strengthening equity.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cracker Barrel's cash flow statements highlight a decline in free cash flow from previous years, which could indicate less cash available for reinvestment or debt reduction. The operating cash flow relative to net income is strong, suggesting good cash generation from operations, but the free cash flow to net income ratio has weakened, reflecting lower cash efficiency.
BreakdownTTMSep 2024Sep 2023Sep 2022Sep 2021Sep 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.51B3.47B3.44B3.27B2.82B2.52B
Gross Profit1.15B1.11B1.11B1.07B973.06M817.86M
EBITDA169.84M156.87M239.10M153.00M366.66M284.07M
Net Income57.76M40.93M99.05M131.88M254.51M109.97M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.14B2.16B2.22B2.29B2.39B2.54B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments9.81M12.04M25.15M45.10M144.59M437.00M
Total Debt1.14B1.20B1.12B1.20B1.08B1.54B
Total Liabilities1.67B1.72B1.73B1.78B1.73B2.13B
Stockholders Equity469.31M440.15M483.82M511.48M663.63M418.39M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow25.06M40.69M125.07M108.15M231.77M-135.01M
Operating Cash Flow186.20M168.98M250.46M205.25M301.90M161.00M
Investing Cash Flow-155.76M-124.33M-124.32M-98.50M78.33M-157.23M
Financing Cash Flow-32.48M-57.77M-146.10M-206.24M-672.64M396.34M

Cracker Barrel Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price66.88
Price Trends
50DMA
54.32
Positive
100DMA
48.48
Positive
200DMA
49.58
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.10
Negative
RSI
65.79
Neutral
STOCH
89.86
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CBRL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 66.88 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 59.45, above the 50-day MA of 54.32, and above the 200-day MA of 49.58, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.10 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.79 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 89.86 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CBRL.

Cracker Barrel Risk Analysis

Cracker Barrel disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cracker Barrel reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Cracker Barrel Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (56)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$3.25B20.6346.60%1.65%4.42%48.23%
74
Outperform
$921.72M28.517.37%4.57%6.89%
71
Outperform
$1.49B25.9612.90%1.47%2.84%-4.44%
70
Neutral
$1.02B49.086.01%2.91%-4.86%
69
Neutral
$1.08B101.381.86%14.43%-53.71%
BHBH
60
Neutral
$889.53M14.87-10.29%0.85%-571.58%
56
Neutral
$3.37B4.05-1.30%6.64%0.16%-63.79%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CBRL
Cracker Barrel
66.88
27.43
69.53%
BH
Biglari Holdings
290.00
105.09
56.83%
BJRI
BJ's Restaurants
46.09
9.63
26.41%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
65.70
28.61
77.14%
FWRG
First Watch Restaurant Group
17.66
0.97
5.81%
PTLO
Portillo's
12.32
2.76
28.87%

Cracker Barrel Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Cracker Barrel Issues $345M Convertible Senior Notes
Neutral
Jun 16, 2025

On June 13, 2025, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. completed the issuance and sale of $345 million in 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030, with net proceeds of approximately $333.9 million. The funds are intended for general corporate purposes, including repurchasing $150 million of existing notes and entering into capped call transactions to mitigate potential stock dilution. The issuance is part of Cracker Barrel’s strategy to manage its debt and financial positioning, with implications for its market operations and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (CBRL) stock is a Buy with a $55.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cracker Barrel stock, see the CBRL Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Cracker Barrel Appoints Steve Bramlage to Board
Positive
May 22, 2025

On May 21, 2025, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. announced the election of Steve Bramlage to its Board of Directors, increasing the board size from nine to ten members. Bramlage, currently the CFO of Casey’s General Stores, brings extensive retail industry knowledge and financial expertise, which is expected to support Cracker Barrel’s strategic transformation and deliver value to shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (CBRL) stock is a Buy with a $55.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cracker Barrel stock, see the CBRL Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Cracker Barrel Enters New Credit Agreement with BofA
Neutral
May 16, 2025

On May 16, 2025, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. entered into a new credit agreement with Bank of America, reducing its revolving credit facility from $700 million to $550 million and introducing a new $250 million delayed draw term loan facility. The company also amended its bylaws to address shareholder concerns, adopting provisions like majority voting in uncontested director elections and proxy access for shareholders owning at least 3% of stock for three years.

The most recent analyst rating on (CBRL) stock is a Sell with a $54.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cracker Barrel stock, see the CBRL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jul 03, 2025