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Potbelly Corporation (PBPB)
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Potbelly (PBPB) AI Stock Analysis

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PBPB

Potbelly

(NASDAQ:PBPB)

Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
$14.00
▲(10.67% Upside)
Potbelly's strong financial recovery and positive earnings call are the most significant factors driving the score. The technical analysis supports a stable outlook, while the high P/E ratio suggests caution on valuation. Overall, the company is well-positioned for growth with some risks to monitor.
Positive Factors
Growth Strategy
Unit growth is expected to inflect beyond 10% with new franchised and company units opening in strategic markets.
Menu Innovation
New menu introductions, including the Prime Rib Steak sandwich, continue to drive incremental visits and brand trial for Potbelly.
Sales Performance
Potbelly's second-quarter same-store sales rose 3.2%, above guidance and consensus as trends progressively improved throughout the quarter.
Negative Factors
Cost Management
Higher-than-expected G&A costs were nearly $2 million above estimates.

Potbelly (PBPB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Potbelly Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPotbelly Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns, operates, and franchises Potbelly sandwich shops. As of December 26, 2021, it had 443 shops in 33 states and the District of Columbia, which included 397 shops and 46 franchisees operated shops. The company was formerly known as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Inc. and changed its name to Potbelly Corporation in 2002. Potbelly Corporation was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyPotbelly generates revenue primarily through the sale of food and beverages at its retail locations. The company operates a franchise model, where a portion of its revenue comes from franchise fees and royalties. Key revenue streams include in-store sales, online orders, and catering services, allowing for a broad customer base that includes individuals, families, and corporate clients. Additionally, Potbelly has developed partnerships with delivery services to enhance its reach and convenience, contributing to its earnings. Seasonal promotions and limited-time menu offerings also play a significant role in driving sales and attracting customers.

Potbelly Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted Potbelly's strong growth in same-store sales, successful shop expansions, particularly in franchise commitments, and robust digital sales performance. The adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations, showcasing financial strength. However, there were some challenges with increased general and administrative expenses and a slight decrease in sales mix. Overall, the highlights significantly outweigh the lowlights.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Same-Store Sales Growth
Potbelly reported a 3.2% same-store sales growth, with a 1.1% increase in transactions and a 2.1% increase in average check.
Shop Expansion Success
The company opened 8 new shops during the second quarter, exceeding their original expectation of 6 new shops.
Franchise Growth Acceleration
Potbelly added 54 new franchise shop commitments, marking the strongest quarter ever and bringing the total open and committed shop count to 816.
Digital Sales Performance
Digital business represented over 41% of total shop sales, an increase of approximately 140 basis points versus last year.
Adjusted EBITDA and Financial Performance
Adjusted EBITDA reached $9.6 million, representing a 13% year-over-year growth and achieving the high end of guidance.
Negative Updates
General and Administrative Expenses
G&A expenses increased by 50 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to payroll costs, increased bonus accrual, and nonrecurring consulting and legal settlement costs.
Slight Mix Decrease
There was a slight 0.6% decrease in mix within the same-store sales growth components.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter of 2025, Potbelly Corporation reported a same-store sales growth of 3.2%, driven by a 1.1% increase in transactions and a 2.1% increase in average check. The company opened 8 new shops, surpassing expectations, and plans to open at least 38 new shops in 2025. The adjusted EBITDA reached $9.6 million, aligning with the high end of their guidance range, while system-wide sales rose by 6.7% to $154.2 million. Digital sales accounted for over 41% of total shop sales, marking an increase of approximately 140 basis points from the previous year. Potbelly's focus on menu innovation and digital enhancements, such as the introduction of a new website and mobile app, contributed to these achievements. The company also reported a net income of $2.5 million and an adjusted net income of $2.9 million. Looking ahead, Potbelly raised its full-year 2025 guidance, anticipating same-store sales growth of 2.0% to 3.0% and an adjusted EBITDA of approximately $34.0 million to $35.0 million.

Potbelly Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Potbelly shows strong financial recovery with improving profitability and cash flows. The income statement reflects healthy profitability with a net profit margin of 9.2%. The balance sheet indicates strengthening equity, though moderate leverage remains a risk. Cash flow performance is solid, with a significant free cash flow growth rate, though free cash flow relative to earnings is limited.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Potbelly has shown a positive trajectory in revenue and profitability. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross profit margin stands at 31.3% and the net profit margin at 9.2%, indicating healthy profitability. The revenue growth rate from 2024 to TTM is modest at 0.5%, reflecting stability. However, the slight decline in gross profit margin from 33.2% in 2024 suggests some cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows improvement in equity with a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53 in TTM, down from 2.65 in 2024. Return on equity is strong at 73.1%, driven by improved profitability. However, the equity ratio of 22.1% indicates moderate leverage, posing potential risk in downturn scenarios.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Potbelly's cash flow performance is solid with a free cash flow growth rate of 92.2% from 2024 to TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.64 suggests efficient cash generation relative to net income. Despite this, the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.17, indicating limited free cash flow relative to earnings.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue465.13M462.60M491.41M451.97M380.05M291.28M
Gross Profit145.64M153.66M162.05M126.19M94.10M47.00M
EBITDA24.50M21.29M21.90M44.07M-6.58M-51.30M
Net Income43.00M40.29M5.12M4.34M-23.62M-65.67M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets265.76M263.15M252.46M245.17M253.24M283.36M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments14.76M11.66M33.79M15.62M14.35M11.13M
Total Debt148.64M154.74M186.99M196.91M214.69M240.76M
Total Liabilities207.40M205.20M238.37M240.90M255.65M277.86M
Stockholders Equity58.87M58.39M14.69M4.48M-2.32M5.77M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow7.29M379.00K2.44M4.05M-13.92M-22.53M
Operating Cash Flow27.60M19.66M19.49M12.48M-4.87M-11.61M
Investing Cash Flow-20.27M-19.08M-10.77M-8.43M-9.05M-10.92M
Financing Cash Flow-5.23M-22.64M10.20M-2.78M17.15M14.85M

Potbelly Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price12.65
Price Trends
50DMA
12.46
Positive
100DMA
11.15
Positive
200DMA
10.81
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.12
Positive
RSI
52.43
Neutral
STOCH
42.61
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PBPB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 12.65 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 12.63, above the 50-day MA of 12.46, and above the 200-day MA of 10.81, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.12 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.43 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.61 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for PBPB.

Potbelly Risk Analysis

Potbelly disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Potbelly 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

Potbelly Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$382.19M35.5319.65%-1.72%-70.31%
71
Outperform
$431.73M18.30-102.54%1.90%6.38%9.98%
66
Neutral
$311.65M12.429.46%1.85%-0.99%
61
Neutral
$17.97B12.87-5.29%2.97%1.26%-14.45%
55
Neutral
$111.40M92.02%-3.09%-30.16%
46
Neutral
$103.74M36.29-5.04%0.96%10.67%-181.88%
41
Neutral
$32.04M-978.37%-1.23%-68.38%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PBPB
Potbelly
12.65
5.06
66.67%
NATH
Nathan's Famous
105.00
30.30
40.56%
RRGB
Red Robin Gourmet
6.17
3.13
102.96%
NDLS
Noodles & Co
0.67
-0.66
-49.62%
LOCO
El Pollo LoCo
10.46
-2.60
-19.91%
GENK
GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. Class A
3.11
-4.62
-59.77%

Potbelly Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Potbelly Corporation Holds 2025 Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 16, 2025

On May 15, 2025, Potbelly Corporation held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders where key decisions were made, including the election of eight directors, ratification of KPMG LLP as the independent auditor for 2025, approval of executive compensation for 2024, and an amendment to increase shares in the Long-Term Incentive Plan. These decisions are expected to impact the company’s governance and financial strategies, potentially influencing its market position and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (PBPB) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Potbelly stock, see the PBPB 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: Aug 19, 2025