We came across a bullish thesis on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) on Twitter by northeasternsvf. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on PLAY. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)’s stock was trading at $39.76 as of Nov 7th. PLAY’s trailing and forward P/E were 14.30 and 10.09, respectively, according to Yahoo Finance.
Dave & Buster’s (PLAY) is a leading entertainment and dining venue operator, with 226 locations across North America, where it offers a combination of gaming, food, and beverage experiences. Its revenue mix leans heavily on gaming and entertainment (65%), followed by food (23%) and beverages (11%). The company has a unique positioning in value-oriented entertainment, catering to families, groups, and individuals through an engaging experience featuring arcade games, virtual reality, and special events. Recently, Dave & Buster’s has undertaken transformative changes aimed at enhancing customer acquisition, profitability, and overall operational efficiency.
The company’s shift from traditional linear TV advertising to targeted digital marketing has been pivotal in improved customer engagement and loyalty. This strategic move aligns with the influence of Hill Path Capital, an experienced investor with a successful track record in the leisure sector. Since Hill Path’s involvement in 2020, Dave & Buster’s digital marketing reach has expanded significantly, evidenced by an 84% growth in Instagram followers and viral content on TikTok. Additionally, the company has remodeled 18 stores, with 44 planned by fiscal year-end, yielding around a 20% boost in same-store sales—highlighting the positive impact of these renovations.
Moreover, Dave & Buster’s is optimizing its game pricing strategy by transitioning from a uniform pricing model to a dynamic approach that varies by geography and peak times. This adjustment enables the company to capitalize on customer willingness to pay more in high-demand regions or during peak periods, unlocking additional revenue. Management has projected a 10% increase in game prices over the next three years, with potential to add $80M-$120M in incremental EBITDA, making it a critical driver of profitability that the market may be undervaluing.
In the food and beverage (F&B) segment, management is simplifying offerings, moving away from an overly broad menu that previously hindered efficiency and brand coherence. By focusing on popular, high-margin items, Dave & Buster’s aims to capture untapped F&B demand, which is currently lagging behind pre-COVID levels. Additionally, the reintroduction of local event management is expected to revive the high-margin F&B and gaming bundles that were profitable before the pandemic, further enhancing revenue.
However, the company faces risks, including macroeconomic sensitivity, as 76% of its customer base earns below $100,000 annually and may reduce discretionary spending under inflationary pressures. Additionally, high leverage, with $1.2 billion in debt, poses execution risks amid recent management changes and growth initiatives. Nevertheless, Dave & Buster’s has mitigated these risks through debt refinancing and operational efficiencies, supported by Hill Path’s industry experience. Collectively, these strategic moves position Dave & Buster’s as an attractive investment with multiple avenues for growth, despite macroeconomic headwinds.
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) is not on our list of the 31 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 27 hedge fund portfolios held PLAY at the end of the second quarter which was 26 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of PLAY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PLAY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.
Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.