Group 1 - Shares of Dave and Buster's Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) fell 15.7% to $20.38 following disappointing second-quarter earnings of $0.40 per share on revenue of $557.4 million and lackluster same-store sales [1] - The stock is experiencing its lowest levels since May and is down 30% year to date, marking its fourth post-earnings loss in six quarters [2] - Major financial institutions such as Piper Sandler, Truist Securities, and UBS have lowered their price targets in response to the earnings report [1] Group 2 - Options traders have shown increased bearish sentiment, with the equity's 10- and 50-day put/call volume ratios ranking in the 85th and 99th percentiles of its annual range [3] - A significant number of puts have been traded today, with 16,000 puts compared to 9,513 calls, indicating six times the overall average daily options volume [4] - The stock has been placed on the short sell restricted (SSR) list amid the current volatility [4]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates a year-over-year decline in earnings for Dave & Buster's despite an increase in revenues, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][3]. Earnings Expectations - Dave & Buster's is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.88 per share, reflecting a decline of 21.4% year-over-year, while revenues are projected to be $564.4 million, an increase of 1.3% from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 4.62% over the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Most Accurate Estimate for Dave & Buster's is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in a positive Earnings ESP of +3.41%, suggesting a likelihood of beating the consensus EPS estimate [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Dave & Buster's had an expected EPS of $0.96 but reported $0.76, resulting in a surprise of -20.83%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates twice [13][14]. Investment Considerations - While a potential earnings beat may influence stock movement, other factors can also affect investor sentiment, making it essential to consider the broader context [15][17].