LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States University (USU), a subsidiary of the parent company Aspen Group, Inc. ("AGI") (OTCQB: ASPU), today announced a new strategic alliance with PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE! (PMEL) and RADCO Music Group, LLC, a multi-award-winning Music and Wellness organization based in the Greater Los Angeles area. This collaboration expands USU's growing portfolio of innovative academic and community partnerships and, introduces PMEL's new after-school group piano instru ...

DALLAS, March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ:PLAY), ("Dave & Buster's" or "the Company"), an owner, operator, and franchisor of entertainment and dining venues, today announced that it will report financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 3, 2026 after the market closes on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Management will host a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Tim ...

Core Viewpoint - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. will report its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 3, 2026, on March 31, 2026, after market close [1] Group 1: Financial Reporting - The financial results announcement is scheduled for March 31, 2026, at market close [1] - A conference call to discuss these results will take place on the same day at 4:00 p.m. Central Time [2] - Participants can access the conference call via a toll-free number or through a live and archived webcast on the company's website [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Dave & Buster's operates 243 venues in North America, including 179 Dave & Buster's stores and 64 Main Event stores [3] - The company offers a combination of dining and entertainment experiences, allowing guests to "Eat Drink Play and Watch" [3] - Dave & Buster's is also in early-stage growth internationally, with four franchise stores currently open [3]

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Group 1 - Benchmark upgraded Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) from Hold to Buy with a price target of $30, citing a credible setup for positive same-store sales in Q1, marking the first inflection in approximately 13 quarters [2] - The upgrade is supported by improving food and beverage execution and increased traffic from the expanded Half Price Games promotion launched on January 4 [2] - Truist Securities analyst lowered the price target on PLAY to $18 from $23, maintaining a Hold rating, noting a mixed outlook for 2026 due to various economic factors [3] Group 2 - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. operates as a U.S. restaurant and entertainment company, combining full-service dining, bars, arcade games, and live sports viewing in its venues [4] - The company is recognized as one of the 12 Cheap Small-Cap Stocks to invest in before the next breakout, ranking fourth on the list [1]

Core Viewpoint - Dave & Buster's reported mixed Q3 fiscal 2025 results, with earnings exceeding estimates but revenues falling short, reflecting ongoing challenges in the entertainment segment and comparable store sales [2][3][5]. Financial Performance - The company incurred an adjusted loss per share of $1.14, which was narrower than the consensus estimate of a loss of $1.16, compared to a loss of 45 cents in the same quarter last year [5]. - Quarterly revenues were $448.2 million, missing the consensus mark of $460 million by 2.6%, and decreased 1.1% from $453 million reported in the prior-year quarter [5]. - Food and Beverage revenues, accounting for 37.7% of total revenues, increased 6.6% year over year to $168.8 million, while Entertainment revenues, making up 62.3%, fell 5.2% year over year to $279.4 million [6]. Operational Highlights - Comparable store sales declined 4% year over year, but management noted steady monthly improvement, with October comps down only about 1% from the prior year [7]. - The operating loss for the quarter was $16.2 million, compared to an operating income of $6.3 million in the year-ago quarter, with adjusted EBITDA at $59.4 million, down from $68.3 million in the previous year [8]. Strategic Initiatives - The company is implementing a Back-to-Basics strategy, focusing on marketing, games innovation, operations, and remodels, which management believes will stabilize performance and enhance long-term shareholder value [4]. - New menu launches and increased adoption of the Eat & Play Combo have shown early positive results, contributing to better trends through the quarter and into November [4]. Balance Sheet and Liquidity - As of November 4, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $13.6 million, up from $6.9 million as of February 4, 2025, while net long-term debt was approximately $1.55 billion [10]. - The company maintains available liquidity of $441.9 million, including its revolving credit facility [10]. Growth and Development - In Q3, the company opened one domestic store and three new Main Event locations, with plans for additional international openings and remodels scheduled for early 2026 [11][12]. Market Sentiment - Since the earnings release, there has been a downward trend in estimates revision, with the consensus estimate shifting down by 11.96% [13]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expectations for an in-line return in the coming months [15].

Core Insights - Dave & Buster's (NASDAQ: PLAY) is experiencing a stock reversal after a sell-off, with positive impacts from CEO changes, a Back-to-Basics strategy, and restaurant remodels, despite missing consensus estimates slightly [2] - The stock has shown a double-digit surge in prices, indicating a potential double-bottom reversal pattern, which suggests an improving business outlook [2][3] - Analysts predict a favorable growth trajectory for Dave & Buster's, with price targets indicating a double-digit upside from critical resistance points, suggesting a trend higher throughout 2026 [4][6] Financial Performance - The fiscal year 2026 Q3 results showed a net loss, but this was offset by reinvestment in a turnaround plan and a healthy balance sheet, with a nearly 12% reduction in share count due to share buybacks [6] - Sequential growth was logged in the latest results, indicating a positive trend despite the net loss [2][6] Market Dynamics - The stock is nearing critical mid-December resistance, forming a potential double-bottom reversal setup, which is a classic market signal for upward movement [5] - Analysts have noted a shift in market dynamics from distribution to accumulation, with the 150-day exponential moving average serving as a significant pivot point [7]

Core Insights - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) is implementing a focused remodel strategy as part of its Back to Basics plan, which has resulted in a 700-basis-point positive impact on performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 [1][10] Group 1: Remodel Strategy - The company has recognized past overinvestment in remodels that did not enhance guest experience, leading to ineffective capital spending [2] - Recent consumer insights have guided the company to focus on remodel elements that directly influence guest experience, aiming for improved outcomes and reduced ineffective spending [2] - Currently, three remodels are under construction, with plans to open six additional remodeled locations in the next five months, indicating an accelerated execution of the remodel strategy [3] Group 2: Strategic Importance - The remodel program is a key strategic lever for the company, with a refined investment approach and a faster rollout timetable, contributing to the Back to Basics strategy [4] - Management views the remodels as essential for strengthening operations and enhancing guest experience, positioning the brand for better performance in the future [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) and Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) are also focusing on remodel and reimage programs to enhance unit performance and long-term growth [5] - QSR is modernizing the Burger King system, reporting solid post-remodel uplifts and average unit volumes nearing $2 million, with a significant portion of remodels outperforming the broader system [6] - Brinker is implementing a targeted refresh strategy for Chili's and Maggiano's, with new prototypes and foundational approaches to stabilize traffic [7] Group 4: Financial Performance - Dave & Buster's shares have declined 14.4% over the past three months, compared to a 1.4% decline in the industry [8] - The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.32, significantly below the industry average of 3.23, indicating potential undervaluation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) suggests an 83% year-over-year decline, with no changes in EPS estimates over the past 30 days [13]

Core Insights - The company is focused on executing its "Back to Basics" plan, aiming to enhance guest experience and operational results, which is expected to create significant value for both guests and shareholders [1][42]. Group 1: Back to Basics Plan - The company has made substantial progress on its "Back to Basics" plan, which includes improvements in marketing, food and beverage offerings, operations, and remodels [2][5]. - Sequential improvement in same-store sales was observed each month during the third quarter, with the final month showing a decline of only approximately 1% [2][18]. - The new menu launch contributed positively to same-store sales for food and beverage during the quarter [2][9]. Group 2: Marketing and Promotions - A reconstructed marketing strategy has been implemented, focusing on a simplified promotional calendar and data-driven decisions to enhance guest acquisition and sales performance [6][7]. - The "Eat & Play" combo promotion has seen a significant increase in guest engagement, with double-digit percentage growth in guest attachment since the beginning of the year [10]. Group 3: Food and Beverage Initiatives - The company has successfully revamped its food and beverage offerings, leading to higher average checks and increased traffic in dining areas [8][9]. - October same-store food sales were reported as the best month of the year, with continued positive trends into November [9][18]. Group 4: Operational Enhancements - Comprehensive training programs have been introduced to empower teams and improve guest experiences, resulting in reduced turnover and enhanced engagement [11][16]. - The company is focused on aligning marketing campaigns with high-impact game launches, with plans to introduce 10 new games in 2026 [12][13]. Group 5: Financial Performance - In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company reported revenue of $448 million, a net loss of $42 million, and an adjusted EBITDA of $59 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13% [18][20]. - The company generated $58 million in operating cash flow during the third quarter, ending with $14 million in cash and $442 million in total liquidity [20][21]. Group 6: Growth and Expansion - The company opened 1 domestic D&B store and 3 new domestic Main Event stores in the third quarter, with plans for 11 new domestic store openings and 1 relocation in fiscal 2025 [22][23]. - International franchising is seen as a driver of efficient growth, with agreements for over 35 additional stores in the coming years [23].

Core Insights - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. shares increased over 15% intra-day despite reporting third-quarter results that fell short of analyst expectations due to declining comparable-store sales [1] Financial Performance - The company reported an adjusted loss of $1.14 per share for the quarter ending November 4, 2025, which was wider than the expected loss of $1.04 [2] - Revenue for the quarter was $448.2 million, below the consensus estimate of $461.73 million, and represented a 1.1% decline from the same period last year [2] - Comparable-store sales decreased by 4.0% year-over-year [2] Loss and EBITDA - The net loss widened to $42.1 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $32.7 million, or $0.84 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 [3] - Adjusted EBITDA fell to $59.4 million from $68.3 million a year earlier [3] Management Commentary - Management indicated that same-store sales for food and beverages were positive during the quarter and noted sequential monthly improvement, with the final month experiencing a decline of only about 1% [3]