PLAY
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
Entertainment
Market Cap$664M
5Y Perf.-20.6%
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Stock Comparison
PLAY vs ARKR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ARKR
Ark Restaurants Corp.
Restaurants
Market Cap$27M
5Y Perf.-39.6%
PLAY vs ARKR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PLAY | ARKR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Restaurants |
| Market Cap | $664M | $27M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.11B | $162M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $300K | $-14M |
| Gross Margin | 30.7% | 6.9% |
| Operating Margin | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| Forward P/E | 82.9x | — |
| Total Debt | $3.14B | $86M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7M | $11M |
PLAY vs ARKR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PLAY
ARKR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave & Buster's Ent… (PLAY) | 100 | 79.4 | -20.6% |
| Ark Restaurants Cor… (ARKR) | 100 | 60.4 | -39.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PLAY vs ARKR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PLAY leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Ark Restaurants Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
PLAY
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
The Income Pick
PLAY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 2.24
- Rev growth -3.3%, EPS growth -49.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 17.8%
- -3.3% revenue growth vs ARKR's -9.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
ARKR
Ark Restaurants Corp.
The Long-Run Compounder
ARKR is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- -36.1% 10Y total return vs PLAY's -71.4%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.42, current ratio 0.77x
- Beta -0.42, current ratio 0.77x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PLAY | -3.3% revenue growth vs ARKR's -9.7% |
| Quality / Margins | PLAY | 0.0% margin vs ARKR's -8.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ARKR | Lower D/E ratio (267.0% vs 21.5%) |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ARKR | -37.3% vs PLAY's -50.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PLAY | 0.0% ROA vs ARKR's -10.5%, ROIC 5.1% vs -2.6% |
PLAY vs ARKR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
PLAY vs ARKR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLARKRLAGGINGPLAY
PLAYDave & Buster's Enter…
2leads
ARKRArk Restaurants Corp.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PLAYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PLAY5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ARKR3/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PLAY6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ARKR6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ARKR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLAY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLAY is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.1B annually — 13.1x ARKR's $162M. PLAY is the more profitable business, keeping 0.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ARKR's -8.5%. On growth, PLAY holds the edge at -1.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.1B | $162M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $405M | $2M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $300,000 | -$14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$175M | -$1M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.7% | +6.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.1% | -0.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.0% | -8.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.3% | -0.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.1% | -9.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -45.2% | -71.6% |
PLAY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ARKR leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $664M | $27M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.8B | $101M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.17x | -2.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 82.90x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.28x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.31x | 0.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.87x | 0.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
ARKR leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLAY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLAY delivers a 0.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $0 in annual profit, vs $-42 for ARKR. ARKR carries lower financial leverage with a 2.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PLAY's 21.53x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLAY scores 6/9 vs ARKR's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.2% | -41.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.0% | -10.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.1% | -2.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.4% | -3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 21.53x | 2.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.1B | $74M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7M | $11M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.1B | $86M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.06x | -21.75x |
PLAY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ARKR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ARKR five years ago would be worth $4,406 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,334 for PLAY. Over the past 12 months, ARKR leads with a -37.3% total return vs PLAY's -50.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ARKR at -21.9% vs PLAY's -33.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -38.6% | +12.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -50.1% | -37.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -70.2% | -52.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.7% | -55.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -71.4% | -36.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -33.2% | -21.9% |
ARKR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARKR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARKR is the less volatile stock with a -0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PLAY's 2.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ARKR currently trades 58.7% from its 52-week high vs PLAY's 29.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.24x | -0.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.53 | $12.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.65 | $5.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +29.5% | +58.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.3 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 5K |
ARKR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | PLAYDave & Buster's E… | ARKRArk Restaurants C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $20.25 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +26.2% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ARKR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). PLAY leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency).
Best OverallArk Restaurants Corp. (ARKR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PLAY vs ARKR: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PLAY or ARKR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
(PLAY) is the stronger pick with -3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 7% for Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR). Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) offers the better valuation at 7. 2x trailing P/E (82. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) a "Buy" — based on 19 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — PLAY or ARKR?
Over the past 5 years, Ark Restaurants Corp.
(ARKR) delivered a total return of -55. 9%, compared to -76. 7% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARKR returned -36. 1% versus PLAY's -71. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — PLAY or ARKR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ark Restaurants Corp.
(ARKR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 42β versus Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. 's 2. 24β — meaning PLAY is approximately -632% more volatile than ARKR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 22% for Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PLAY or ARKR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
(PLAY) is pulling ahead at -3. 3% versus -9. 7% for Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. grew EPS -49. 3% year-over-year, compared to -194. 4% for Ark Restaurants Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLAY leads at 17. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — PLAY or ARKR?
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
(PLAY) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 7% net margin versus -6. 9% for Ark Restaurants Corp. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLAY leads at 10. 3% versus -2. 5% for ARKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLAY leads at 85. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Which pays a better dividend — PLAY or ARKR?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is PLAY or ARKR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ark Restaurants Corp.
(ARKR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 42)). Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) carries a higher beta of 2. 24 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARKR: -36. 1%, PLAY: -71. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between PLAY and ARKR?
These companies operate in different sectors (PLAY (Communication Services) and ARKR (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: PLAY is a small-cap deep-value stock; ARKR is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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