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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL)
NASDAQ:CBRL

Cracker Barrel (CBRL) AI Stock Analysis

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CBRL

Cracker Barrel

(NASDAQ:CBRL)

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Neutral 55 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:55Neutral
Price Target:
$28.00
▲(6.83% Upside)
Cracker Barrel's overall stock score reflects significant challenges in financial performance and technical analysis, with bearish momentum and declining profitability. While valuation metrics and dividend yield provide some support, the negative sentiment from the earnings call and operational difficulties weigh heavily on the score.
Positive Factors
Loyalty Program Growth
The growth in the loyalty program indicates strong customer engagement and potential for sustained revenue through repeat business, enhancing long-term customer retention and sales stability.
Cash Flow Improvement
Improved free cash flow growth suggests better financial health and operational efficiency, providing the company with more flexibility for investments and debt management.
Strategic Cost Management
Effective cost management through improved productivity and strategic pricing enhances margin sustainability, supporting long-term profitability.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage increases financial risk, potentially limiting the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and manage economic downturns effectively.
Traffic Decline
The significant decline in customer traffic post-logo change suggests potential brand perception issues, impacting revenue and market position negatively.
Decreased Revenue Outlook
Lowered revenue outlook reflects challenges in achieving growth targets, potentially affecting investor confidence and long-term strategic planning.

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

Cracker Barrel Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. develops and operates the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store concept in the United States. The company's Cracker Barrel stores consist of a restaurant with a gift shop. Its restaurants serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as dine-in, pick-up, and delivery services. The company's gift shops comprise various decorative and functional items, such as rocking chairs, seasonal gifts, apparel, toys, cookware, and various other gift items, as well as various candies, preserves, and other food items. As of September 15, 2021, it operated 664 Cracker Barrel stores in 45 states. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee.
How the Company Makes MoneyCracker Barrel generates revenue primarily through its restaurant operations, where it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to customers. The company’s revenue model is heavily reliant on food and beverage sales, which account for the majority of its income. Additionally, the retail segment contributes to earnings by selling various products, including home goods, toys, and clothing, enhancing the overall customer experience. Key revenue streams include dine-in sales, takeout orders, and retail merchandise sales. The company also benefits from seasonal promotions and partnerships with suppliers for exclusive products, which can drive additional traffic and sales. Furthermore, Cracker Barrel has implemented strategies such as loyalty programs and targeted marketing to increase customer retention and boost overall sales.

Cracker Barrel Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Indicates the scale of Cracker Barrel's operations, reflecting its market presence and potential for revenue generation through its owned locations.
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:The Fly

Cracker Barrel Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 09, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Negative
The earnings call reflects a challenging period for Cracker Barrel, marked by declines in revenue, traffic, and earnings. While there are positive steps being taken in terms of leadership changes, menu innovation, and cost-saving initiatives, the significant downturn in key financial metrics and operational challenges weigh heavily on the overall performance.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Leadership and Operational Changes
Cracker Barrel made key operational leadership changes, promoting Doug Hisel to Senior Vice President, Store Operations. The changes emphasize flawless food, operational precision, and shared accountability, leading to improvements in guest metrics such as Google star ratings and service quality.
Loyalty Program Growth
Cracker Barrel Rewards Loyalty Program continues to grow impressively, with over 10 million members now accounting for 40% of tracked sales. The program helps in driving traffic and receiving valuable feedback from guests.
Introduction of New Menu Items
New and returning menu items, like the Breakfast Burger and Country Fried Turkey, have been well-received by guests, indicating positive feedback and the potential for increased traffic.
Cost-Saving Initiatives
The company is implementing cost-saving actions, including a restructuring of the corporate support center and reducing planned advertising spend, anticipating G&A savings of approximately $20 million to $25 million annually.
Negative Updates
Decline in Revenue and Traffic
Total revenue for Q1 was down 5.7% from the prior year, with comparable store restaurant sales decreasing by 4.7% and traffic declining 7.3%.
Challenges with Back-of-House Initiative
Phase 1 of the back-of-house initiative faced execution challenges at scale, leading to inconsistencies in food quality and a decision to revert to previous processes, impacting cost savings.
Retail Segment Struggles
Retail revenue decreased 9.4%, with comparable store retail sales down 8.5%, driven by traffic decline and unfavorable retail mix.
Negative Earnings Per Share
Adjusted earnings per diluted share were negative $0.74, and adjusted EBITDA was $7.2 million, significantly lower than the previous year.
Company Guidance
During Cracker Barrel's Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Conference Call, the company provided guidance on several key financial metrics. The company reported a total revenue of $797.2 million, down 5.7% from the previous year, with restaurant revenue decreasing by 4.8% and comparable store restaurant sales dropping by 4.7%. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $7.2 million, or 0.9% of total revenue, significantly down from $45.8 million or 5.4% of total revenue in the prior year. The company highlighted challenges, including a 7.3% decline in traffic and a negative 1.2% menu mix, exacerbated by a difficult macroeconomic environment. Fiscal 2026 projections include total revenue between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion, commodity inflation of 2.5% to 3.5%, and adjusted EBITDA ranging from $70 million to $110 million. Cracker Barrel also announced a reduction in capital expenditures to $110 million to $125 million, alongside a restructuring to achieve annualized G&A savings of approximately $20 million to $25 million.

Cracker Barrel Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cracker Barrel's financial performance reflects challenges in profitability and leverage management. The income statement shows declining profit margins and inconsistent revenue growth. The balance sheet indicates high leverage, while cash flow generation is improving but still has room for enhancement.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Cracker Barrel's income statement shows a mixed performance. The gross profit margin is stable, but the net profit margin has decreased over the years, indicating pressure on profitability. Revenue growth has been inconsistent, with a notable decline in the most recent year. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also declined, suggesting challenges in operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio, indicating significant leverage which could pose financial risk. Return on equity has decreased over time, reflecting reduced profitability for shareholders. The equity ratio is relatively low, suggesting a reliance on debt financing.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a positive trend in free cash flow growth, recovering from previous declines. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is stable, indicating good cash generation relative to net income. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is moderate, suggesting room for improvement in cash flow management.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.48B3.47B3.44B3.27B2.82B
Gross Profit1.15B1.11B1.11B1.07B973.06M
EBITDA197.33M156.87M239.10M315.07M366.66M
Net Income46.38M40.93M99.05M131.88M254.51M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.16B2.16B2.22B2.29B2.39B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments39.64M12.04M25.15M45.10M144.59M
Total Debt1.13B1.20B1.12B1.20B1.08B
Total Liabilities1.70B1.72B1.73B1.78B1.73B
Stockholders Equity461.69M440.15M483.82M511.48M663.63M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow60.25M40.69M125.07M108.15M231.77M
Operating Cash Flow218.90M168.98M250.46M205.25M301.90M
Investing Cash Flow-156.70M-124.33M-124.32M-98.50M78.33M
Financing Cash Flow-34.59M-57.77M-146.10M-206.24M-672.64M

Cracker Barrel Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price26.21
Price Trends
50DMA
31.31
Negative
100DMA
41.62
Negative
200DMA
46.58
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.31
Negative
RSI
37.59
Neutral
STOCH
30.57
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CBRL, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 26.21 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 27.57, below the 50-day MA of 31.31, and below the 200-day MA of 46.58, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.31 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 37.59 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.57 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative 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 (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Neutral
$6.64B15.49249.07%23.18%138.17%
66
Neutral
$2.59B15.8039.14%2.09%4.90%27.14%
61
Neutral
$392.43M17.281.98%7.81%4.58%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
57
Neutral
$1.34B36.034.51%-0.64%-60.71%
55
Neutral
$585.22M35.253.89%3.54%-1.61%-58.09%
41
Neutral
$81.34M-9.49-8.89%1.21%9.36%-249.08%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CBRL
Cracker Barrel
26.21
-24.55
-48.36%
EAT
Brinker International
149.44
16.35
12.28%
NATH
Nathan's Famous
95.96
19.73
25.88%
PZZA
Papa John's International
40.86
3.05
8.07%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
52.02
5.52
11.87%
GENK
GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. Class A
2.47
-5.07
-67.24%

Cracker Barrel Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Cracker Barrel Shareholders Approve Key Proposals at Meeting
Positive
Nov 24, 2025

On November 20, 2025, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. held its annual meeting of shareholders, where several key proposals were approved. These included the amendment to the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the election of nine directors, and the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditor for the 2026 fiscal year. Additionally, shareholders approved various advisory proposals related to executive compensation and bylaw provisions, reflecting strong shareholder engagement and support for the company’s governance and strategic direction.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Cracker Barrel Announces Leadership and Organizational Changes
Neutral
Oct 2, 2025

On October 2, 2025, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. announced significant leadership and organizational changes, including the departure of Cammie Spillyards-Schaefer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Restaurant and Retail Operations Officer. These changes are part of a strategic initiative to enhance focus on food quality and guest experience, with promotions and role expansions for key personnel. The company aims to streamline operations and improve guest interactions, while ending its engagement with the consultancy firm Prophet.

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: Dec 10, 2025