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Noodles & Co. (NDLS)
NASDAQ:NDLS
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Noodles & Co (NDLS) AI Stock Analysis

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NDLS

Noodles & Co

(NASDAQ:NDLS)

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Neutral 41 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:41Neutral
Price Target:
$0.50
▼(-33.33% Downside)
Noodles & Co's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its poor financial performance, characterized by declining revenues, high leverage, and liquidity issues. Technical analysis indicates bearish momentum, and valuation metrics are unattractive due to negative earnings. While the earnings call showed some operational improvements, the financial outlook remains challenging.
Positive Factors
Strategic Alternatives Review
The strategic review could lead to significant structural changes, such as refinancing or refranchising, potentially enhancing long-term shareholder value and operational efficiency.
Digital Engagement Growth
Improved digital engagement indicates successful adaptation to consumer trends, potentially driving sustained revenue growth through increased online sales and customer loyalty.
Same-Store Sales Growth
Positive same-store sales growth reflects effective marketing and menu strategies, suggesting potential for ongoing revenue improvement and competitive positioning.
Negative Factors
Negative Profitability
Sustained net losses highlight ongoing profitability challenges, which may hinder investment in growth initiatives and strain financial resources over the long term.
Leveraged Balance Sheet
A leveraged balance sheet with negative equity poses significant risks to financial stability, potentially limiting the company's ability to invest in growth or weather economic downturns.
Nasdaq Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with Nasdaq requirements risks delisting, which could reduce market liquidity and investor confidence, impacting long-term capital access and stock performance.

Noodles & Co (NDLS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Noodles & Co Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNoodles & Company, a restaurant concept company, develops and operates fast-casual restaurants. It offers cooked-to-order dishes, including noodles and pasta, soups, salads, and appetizers. As of December 28, 2021, the company operated 448 restaurants in 29 states, which included 372 company locations and 76 franchise locations. Noodles & Company was founded in 1995 and is based in Broomfield, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyNoodles & Company primarily generates revenue through the sale of its food and beverage offerings in its restaurants. The company's revenue model includes dine-in, takeout, and delivery services, allowing it to cater to different customer preferences. Key revenue streams include the sale of noodle dishes, salads, and other menu items, with a focus on upselling drinks and desserts. Additionally, Noodles & Company has embraced digital ordering through its mobile app and website, which has increased convenience and sales. The company may also benefit from strategic partnerships with delivery platforms, which can enhance its reach and sales volume. Promotions and loyalty programs further drive repeat business, contributing to consistent revenue growth.

Noodles & Co Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 05, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 05, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call revealed strong performance in comparable sales growth and strategic initiatives, such as the Delicious Duos platform and digital sales improvements. However, challenges remain with a slight decrease in total revenue and a net loss impacted by restaurant closures.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Comparable Sales Growth
Comparable sales grew 4% in the third quarter, with an acceleration to 8% in October, outperforming the industry average.
Digital Sales and NoodlesREWARDS Program
Digital sales, driven by third-party delivery, increased by 12%. Enrollment in the NoodlesREWARDS program also increased, supported by targeted promotions.
Introduction of Delicious Duos Platform
The Delicious Duos platform has been successful, mixing around 4% to 5% of sales and being viewed as a regular menu option.
Improved Restaurant Contribution Margins
Restaurant contribution margins improved by 40 basis points, with an adjusted EBITDA increase of 33%, driven by sales improvement and cost controls.
Strategic Restaurant Closures
The strategic closure of underperforming restaurants is expected to improve 2026 restaurant-level contribution by over $2 million.
Negative Updates
Total Revenue Decline
Total revenue decreased by 0.5% compared to last year, with a net loss of $9.2 million in the third quarter.
Impact of Restaurant Closures on Net Loss
The net loss for the third quarter included a $5.3 million non-cash impairment charge related to the closure of underperforming restaurants.
Slight Decrease in Company Comp Traffic
Company comp traffic decreased slightly by 0.6% during the third quarter, though it was positive in the second half of the quarter.
Company Guidance
During Noodles & Company's Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided a positive outlook, highlighting several key metrics and initiatives driving growth. Comparable sales increased by 4% in Q3, with momentum accelerating to an 8% increase in October, surpassing industry averages. Digital sales, particularly through third-party delivery, grew by 12%, while the Delicious Duos platform launched in late July contributed significantly to sales, mixing at approximately 4-5% across the business. Additionally, restaurant contribution margins improved by 40 basis points to 13.2%, and adjusted EBITDA rose by 33% to $6.5 million. The company also noted a strategic focus on closing underperforming restaurants, projecting a positive impact on 2026 restaurant-level contribution by over $2 million. For the full year 2025, Noodles & Company expects total revenue between $492 million and $495 million, with comp restaurant sales growth of 3.6% to 4.2% and capital expenditures of $12 million to $13 million.

Noodles & Co Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Noodles & Co is facing significant financial challenges. The income statement shows declining revenues and profitability, with a negative growth rate and margins. The balance sheet reflects high leverage and negative equity, indicating financial instability. Cash flow analysis reveals liquidity issues with negative operating and free cash flows. Overall, the financial health is concerning.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Noodles & Co has experienced a decline in revenue growth, with a negative growth rate of -18.5% in the TTM period. The company is facing profitability challenges, as indicated by negative net profit and EBIT margins. The gross profit margin has also decreased from previous periods, reflecting increased cost pressures. Overall, the income statement reflects a challenging operating environment with declining revenues and profitability.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet shows significant leverage, with a high debt-to-equity ratio of -3.28 in the TTM period, indicating financial risk. The company's stockholders' equity is negative, which is concerning for financial stability. Return on equity is positive due to negative equity, but this is not a sustainable situation. Overall, the balance sheet reflects high financial risk and instability.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis reveals negative operating and free cash flows in the TTM period, indicating liquidity challenges. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high due to negative net income, but this is not a positive indicator. The company needs to improve its cash generation to support operations and reduce financial risk.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2019Dec 2018Dec 2017Dec 2016
Income Statement
Total Revenue494.75M493.27M462.41M457.84M456.49M487.47M
Gross Profit117.45M168.96M79.12M72.40M68.89M66.70M
EBITDA-4.77M1.29M26.78M18.49M-9.24M-39.39M
Net Income-43.06M-36.21M1.65M-8.44M-45.45M-71.68M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets273.31M324.65M378.52M172.03M185.23M209.46M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.26M1.15M10.46M4.66M3.36M1.84M
Total Debt284.82M293.51M289.55M44.90M57.62M84.68M
Total Liabilities325.35M330.23M327.95M119.35M149.37M183.64M
Stockholders Equity-30.77M-5.58M50.57M52.68M35.86M25.82M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-18.24M-21.21M11.27M-8.99M-16.73M-18.60M
Operating Cash Flow-986.00K7.56M30.06M5.35M4.10M24.74M
Investing Cash Flow-17.26M-26.71M-18.44M-13.84M-20.83M-42.76M
Financing Cash Flow18.70M17.29M-5.82M9.79M18.27M17.90M

Noodles & Co Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price0.75
Price Trends
50DMA
0.67
Positive
100DMA
0.75
Negative
200DMA
0.93
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
<0.01
Positive
RSI
54.40
Neutral
STOCH
28.26
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NDLS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 0.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.71, above the 50-day MA of 0.67, and below the 200-day MA of 0.93, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of <0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 54.40 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 28.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for NDLS.

Noodles & Co Risk Analysis

Noodles & Co disclosed 37 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Noodles & Co 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

Noodles & Co Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$61.32M14.196.88%1.74%8.83%41.90%
68
Neutral
$33.11M12.5220.12%-1.30%9.43%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
51
Neutral
$14.14M11.443.85%1.84%12.10%
47
Neutral
$25.60M-1.83-33.50%-6.89%-42.75%
41
Neutral
$30.62M-1.23%-68.38%
40
Underperform
$32.02M-0.14201.33%-5.26%-44.78%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NDLS
Noodles & Co
0.75
-0.25
-25.00%
ARKR
Ark Restaurants
7.15
-3.20
-30.92%
BDL
Flanigan's Enterprises
31.55
6.97
28.36%
GTIM
Good Times Restaurants
1.30
-1.47
-53.07%
RAVE
Rave Restaurant Group
2.83
-0.16
-5.35%
FAT
Fat Brands
1.50
-1.47
-49.49%

Noodles & Co Corporate Events

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Noodles & Co Reviews Strategic Alternatives for Growth
Positive
Sep 3, 2025

On September 3, 2025, Noodles & Company announced a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, considering options such as refinancing, refranchising, or selling parts of the business. The company has seen a positive 4.5% increase in comparable restaurant sales in August, attributed to initiatives like the Delicious Duos platform, and aims to strengthen its market position while exploring strategic options.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Noodles & Co Appoints Joseph D. Christina as CEO
Neutral
Aug 5, 2025

On August 5, 2025, Noodles & Company announced the appointment of Joseph D. Christina as the new President and CEO, succeeding Drew Madsen who stepped down for personal medical reasons but will remain on the Board of Directors. The company also rescheduled its second quarter 2025 financial results conference call to August 13, 2025, indicating a strategic focus on operational excellence and growth under Christina’s leadership.

Delistings and Listing ChangesStock SplitRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Noodles & Co Faces Nasdaq Non-Compliance Notice
Negative
Jun 25, 2025

On June 24, 2025, Noodles & Company received a notification from Nasdaq indicating non-compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, as their stock price fell below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. The company has until December 22, 2025, to regain compliance by maintaining a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for ten consecutive business days. If unsuccessful, they may qualify for an additional compliance period by transferring to The Nasdaq Capital Market. Noodles & Company is considering options, including a reverse stock split, to address the issue.

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: Oct 08, 2025