Short Interest in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) Declines By 14.3%

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) was the target of a large drop in short interest in June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,170,000 shares, a drop of 14.3% from the May 31st total of 7,200,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,540,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.0 days. Approximately 15.9% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:PLAY traded down $1.07 during trading on Monday, reaching $38.74. 1,473,509 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,258,560. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment has a fifty-two week low of $33.07 and a fifty-two week high of $69.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.41. The firm has a market cap of $1.53 billion, a PE ratio of 16.49 and a beta of 2.14. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $54.35.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, June 12th. The restaurant operator reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.44). Dave & Buster’s Entertainment had a net margin of 4.48% and a return on equity of 48.50%. The business had revenue of $588.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $615.88 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.45 earnings per share. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment’s revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Dave & Buster’s Entertainment will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. William Blair restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in a research note on Thursday, June 13th. UBS Group reduced their target price on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $66.00 to $56.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $78.00 to $67.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 11th. Finally, Loop Capital reduced their target price on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment from $86.00 to $63.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $65.71.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

In other Dave & Buster’s Entertainment news, SVP John Mulleady sold 42,824 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.58, for a total transaction of $2,851,221.92. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,132 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,803,848.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Michael J. Griffith sold 5,203 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.57, for a total transaction of $341,160.71. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 33,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,199,611.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP John Mulleady sold 42,824 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.58, for a total value of $2,851,221.92. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,132 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,803,848.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dave & Buster’s Entertainment

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment by 67.3% in the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 726 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Dave & Buster’s Entertainment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. 91.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Company Profile

Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc owns and operates entertainment and dining venues for adults and families. Its venues offer a menu of entrees and appetizers, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages; and an assortment of entertainment attractions centered on playing games and watching live sports, and other televised events.