Cracker Barrel — Dec 9, 2025 release
Fiscal 2026 first-quarter results · 8-K Item 2.02 · Exhibit 99.1 · 0001104659-25-119675
Showing in the filing
Adjusted EBITDA - aggregate advertising expense reduction (Q2-Q4)
“$12 million to $16 million”
Period
Q2 FY2026
Measure
Company-defined measure
Source
Guidance table
All guidance in this release · 11
New Cracker Barrel stores for FY2026
“2”
Quarterly dividend
“$0.25 per share”
Total revenue for FY2026
“$3.2 billion to $3.3 billion”
Adjusted EBITDA for FY2026
“$70 million to $110 million”
Adjusted EBITDA - annualized G&A savings con… for FY2026
“$20 million to $25 million”
Annualized savings in general and administra…
“$20 million to $25 million”
Adjusted EBITDA - aggregate advertising expe… for Q2 FY2026
“$12 million to $16 million”
Aggregate advertising expense reduction for Q2 FY2026
“$12 million to $16 million”
Commodity inflation for FY2026
“2.5% to 3.5%”
Hourly wage inflation for FY2026
“3.0% to 4.0%”
Capital expenditures for FY2026
“$110 million to $125 million”
Exhibit 99.1 · full document
EXHIBIT 99.1
Exhibit 99.1
Investor Contact: Adam Hanan
(615) 443-9887
Media Contact: Heidi Pearce
(615) 235-4135
CRACKER BARREL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER FISCAL
2026 RESULTS AND UPDATES FISCAL 2026 OUTLOOK
LEBANON, Tenn. – December
9, 2025 – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (“Cracker Barrel” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CBRL)
today reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 ended October 31, 2025.
Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer
Julie Masino said, “First quarter results were below our expectations amid unique and ongoing headwinds. We have adjusted our
operational initiatives, menu, and marketing to ensure we are consistently delivering delicious food and exceptional experiences. Additionally,
we are executing a variety of cost savings initiatives to bolster our financial performance. Although our recovery will take time, our
teams are more committed than ever, and we are confident that we will regain momentum.”
First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Highlights
· Total revenue was $797.2 million. Compared to the prior year first quarter, total
revenue decreased 5.7%.
o Comparable store restaurant sales decreased 4.7% over the prior year quarter, and
comparable store retail sales decreased 8.5%.
· GAAP earnings (loss) per diluted share were ($1.10), and adjusted 1 earnings
(loss) per diluted share were ($0.74).
· GAAP net income (loss) was ($24.6) million compared to the prior year quarter GAAP
net income of $4.8 million.
· Adjusted EBITDA 1 was $7.2 million, compared to the prior year quarter
adjusted EBITDA 1 of $45.8 million.
First Quarter Ended
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
10/31/25
11/1/24
Revenue
$ 797,188
$ 845,089
GAAP net income (loss)
$ (24,622 )
$ 4,844
Adjusted net income (loss) 1
$ (16,429 )
$ 10,165
Adjusted EBITDA 1
$ 7,193
$ 45,806
GAAP earnings (loss) per share – diluted
$ (1.10 )
$ 0.22
Adjusted 1 earnings (loss) per share – diluted
$ (0.74 )
$ 0.45
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Page 2
Balance Sheet & Capital Allocation
· The Company ended the first quarter with total debt of $550.3 million, comprised
of $149.4 million of short-term debt related to its 0.625% Convertible Senior Notes due June 2026, $335.9 million of long-term debt related
to its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030, and $65.0 million drawn on the revolver.
· The Company ended the first quarter with a consolidated total leverage ratio 3
of 2.8x and available liquidity 3 of $485 million.
· The Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend
of $0.25 per share of the Company’s common stock. The quarterly dividend is payable on February 11, 2026 to shareholders of record
as of January 16, 2026.
Fiscal 2026 Outlook
The Company provided the following updated
outlook for fiscal 2026:
· Total revenue of $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion (vs. previous outlook of $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion)
· Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $70 million to $110 million 2 (vs. previous outlook of $150 million
to $190 million 2 )
o The above amount contemplates $20 million to $25 million in annualized savings in general and administrative
expenses, primarily driven by a restructuring of the corporate support center
o The above amount also includes an aggregate advertising expense reduction of $12 million to $16 million
for the fiscal second quarter through the fiscal fourth quarter compared to the same period in the prior year
· Commodity inflation of 2.5% to 3.5% (no change vs. previous outlook)
· Hourly wage inflation of 3.0% to 4.0% (no change vs. previous outlook)
· Capital expenditures of $110 million to $125 million (vs. previous outlook of $135 million to $150 million)
· 2 new Cracker Barrel stores (no change vs. previous outlook)
1 Adjusted net income
(loss), adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share are non-GAAP financial measures. For definitions of these non-GAAP
measures and reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, please refer to the Reconciliation
of GAAP-Basis Operating Results to Non-GAAP Operating Results section of this release.
2
The Company has determined to provide guidance focused on adjusted EBITDA because the Company believes it will be more useful to
investors to evaluate the Company’s performance prior to the impact of depreciation, taxes,
impairment charges, and other items that management believes are not reflective of the Company’s current operations. The Company
is not able to reconcile the forward-looking estimate of adjusted EBITDA set forth above to a forward-looking estimate of net income (loss),
the most directly comparable estimated measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, without unreasonable efforts because the Company is
unable to predict, forecast or determine the probable significance of certain items impacting these estimates, including interest expense,
taxes, impairment charges and share-based compensation, with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, the most directly comparable
forward-looking GAAP estimate is not provided.
3 Consolidated total
leverage is defined as total debt divided by adjusted EBITDA 1 (as defined under our revolving credit facility). Available liquidity
is defined as cash and cash equivalents on hand plus revolving credit facility capacity less amount drawn on revolving credit facility
and standby letters of credit.
- MORE -
Page 3
Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Conference
Call
As previously announced, the live broadcast
of Cracker Barrel’s quarterly conference call will be available to the public online at investor.crackerbarrel.com today beginning
at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The online replay will be available tomorrow and through December 23, 2025.
About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ®
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
– rooted in a rich legacy of warmth, generosity, and tradition – is on a mission to bring the goodness of country hospitality
to life. Since 1969, when the first store opened in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel has been serving up abundant portions of craveable
homestyle food and offering one-of-a-kind retail finds. With approximately 660 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ®
locations in 43 states, and ownership of the fast-casual Maple Street Biscuit Company, the brand continues to honor its heritage while
welcoming everyone with more than a meal. For more information, visit CrackerBarrel.com .
CBRL-F
Except for specific historical information,
certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of items such as revenues or expenditures, statements
of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These and similar statements regarding events
or results that the Company expects will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking information is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these risks, uncertainties and other factors.
Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions,"
"target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals,"
"objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may,"
"will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue"
(or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology. The Company believes that the assumptions underlying
any forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, actual results may
differ materially from those projected in or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks of ordinary business
operations, factors and risks that may result in actual results differing from this forward-looking information include, but are not limited
to risks and uncertainties associated with inflationary conditions with respect to the price of commodities, ingredients, transportation,
distribution and labor; disruptions to the Company’s restaurant or retail supply chain; effects of changes in international, national,
regional and local economic and market conditions (such as the imposition of trade barriers or other changes in trade policy) on our business;
the Company’s ability to manage retail inventory and merchandise mix; the Company’s ability to sustain or the effects of plans
intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance, including the Company’s multi-year strategic plan; the effects
of increased competition at the Company’s locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; consumer behavior based
on negative publicity or changes in consumer health or dietary trends or safety aspects of the Company’s food or products or those
of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about outbreaks of infectious disease as well as the possible effects of such
events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our restaurants; the effects of the Company’s indebtedness and associated
restrictions on the Company’s financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue its operating plans and objectives;
changes in interest rates, increases in borrowed capital or capital market conditions affecting the Company’s financing costs and
ability to refinance its indebtedness, in whole or in part; the Company’s reliance on a single distribution facility and certain
significant vendors, particularly for foreign-sourced retail products; information technology disruptions and data privacy and information
security breaches, whether as a result of infrastructure failures, employee or vendor errors or actions of third parties; the Company’s
compliance with privacy and data protection laws; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations
and interpretations affecting tax, health and safety, animal welfare, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; the actual results
of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations; or the Company’s ability to manage the impact of negative
social media attention and the costs and effects of negative publicity; the impact of activist shareholders; the Company’s ability
to achieve aspirations, goals and projections related to its sustainability initiatives; the Company’s ability to enter successfully
into new geographic markets that may be less familiar to it; changes in land, building materials and construction costs; the availability
and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development and the Company’s ability to identify those sites; the Company’s ability
to retain key personnel; the ability of and cost to the Company to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees;
uncertain performance of acquired businesses, strategic investments and other initiatives that the Company may pursue from time to time;
the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations;
general or regional economic weakness, business and societal conditions and the weather impact on sales and customer travel; discretionary
income or personal expenditure activity of the Company’s customers; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"); and other factors described from time to
time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications. Any forward-looking
statement made by the Company herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. The Company expressly disclaims any intent,
obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in the Company’s
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
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Page 4
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts,
percentages and ratios)
First Quarter Ended
10/31/25
11/1/24
Percentage
Change
Total revenue
$ 797,188
$ 845,089
(6 )%
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)
248,405
258,901
(4 )
Labor and other related expenses
301,302
307,225
(2 )
Other store operating expenses
228,845
211,548
8
General and administrative expenses
47,960
59,644
(20 )
Impairment and store closing costs
3,473
700
396
Operating income (loss)
(32,797 )
7,071
(564 )
Interest expense
3,724
5,822
(36 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
(36,521 )
1,249
(3024 )
Income tax benefit
(11,899 )
(3,595 )
(231 )
Net income (loss)
$ (24,622 )
$ 4,844
(608 )
Earnings (loss) per share – basic:
$ (1.10 )
$ 0.22
(600 )
Earnings (loss) per share – diluted:
$ (1.10 )
$ 0.22
(600 )
Weighted average shares:
Basic
22,288,991
22,217,737
0
Diluted
22,288,991
22,390,249
(0 )
Ratio Analysis
Total revenue:
Restaurant
81.6 %
80.9 %
Retail
18.4
19.1
Total revenue
100.0
100.0
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)
31.2
30.6
Labor and other related expenses
37.8
36.4
Other store operating expenses
28.7
25.0
General and administrative expenses
6.0
7.1
Impairment and store closing costs
0.4
0.1
Operating income (loss)
(4.1 )
0.8
Interest expense
0.5
0.7
Income (loss) before income taxes
(4.6 )
0.1
Income tax benefit
(1.5 )
(0.5 )
Net income (loss)
(3.1 )%
0.6 %
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Page 5
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)
10/31/25
11/1/24
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 8,937
$ 11,534
Accounts receivable
31,331
39,898
Inventories
209,148
201,915
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
56,169
57,029
Property and equipment, net
968,179
966,557
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
799,892
846,166
Intangible assets
24,331
24,406
Other assets
53,387
45,491
Total assets
$ 2,151,374
$ 2,192,996
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Accounts payable
$ 157,446
$ 159,608
Current portion of long-term debt
149,401
75
Other current liabilities
287,023
288,430
Long-term debt
400,897
527,023
Long-term operating lease liabilities
632,309
667,182
Other long-term obligations
95,530
109,978
Shareholders’ equity, net
428,768
440,700
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$ 2,151,374
$ 2,192,996
Common shares issued and outstanding
22,326,566
22,242,228
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Page 6
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Unaudited and in thousands)
Three Months Ended
10/31/25
11/1/24
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$ (24,622 )
$ 4,844
Depreciation and amortization
30,202
29,154
Amortization of debt issuance costs
663
442
Loss on disposition of property and equipment
1,929
2,338
Impairment
0
700
Share-based compensation
(921 )
2,625
Noncash lease expense
15,297
14,957
Amortization of asset recognized from gain on sale and leaseback transaction
3,184
3,184
Increase in inventories
(28,563 )
(20,957 )
Decrease in accounts payable
(12,402 )
(2,680 )
Net changes in other assets and liabilities
(38,197 )
(39,002 )
Net cash used in operating activities
(53,430 )
(4,395 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment, net of insurance recoveries
(34,165 )
(38,887 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
70
134
Net cash used in investing activities
(34,095 )
(38,753 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from long-term debt
65,000
50,000
Taxes withheld from issuance of share-based compensation awards
(1,903 )
(1,239 )
Dividends on common stock
(6,278 )
(6,114 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
56,819
42,647
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(30,706 )
(501 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
39,643
12,035
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$ 8,937
$ 11,534
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Page 7
First Quarter Ended
10/31/25
11/1/24
Company-owned units opened during quarter:
Cracker Barrel
0
0
Maple Street Biscuit Company
0
3
Company-owned units closed during quarter:
Cracker Barrel
1
0
Maple Street Biscuit Company
14
0
Company-owned units in operation at end of quarter:
Cracker Barrel
656
658
Maple Street Biscuit Company
54
69
Total stores at end of period
710
727
First Quarter Ended
10/31/25
11/1/24
Total revenue*: (In thousands)
Restaurant
$
634,841
$
666,433
Retail
146,526
161,600
Total revenue
$
781,367
$
828,033
Cost of goods sold* (exclusive of depreciation and rent): (In thousands)
Restaurant
$
168,921
$
174,083
Retail
75,278
80,447
Total cost of goods sold
$
244,199
$
254,530
Average unit volume*: (In thousands)
Restaurant
$
966.5
$
1,012.8
Retail
223.1
245.6
Total
$
1,189.6
$
1,258.4
Operating weeks*:
8,539
8,554
Note*: This information is for Cracker Barrel stores only and excludes Maple Street Biscuit Company.
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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results
to Non-GAAP Operating Results
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share
amounts)
Adjusted Net Income and Earnings Per Share
In
the accompanying press release, the Company makes reference to its first quarter
fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 adjusted net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share. The Company defines adjusted net income (loss) as
net income (loss), calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding, to the extent the following items occurred during the periods presented:
(i) impairment charges, and, for periods prior to the second quarter of fiscal 2025, store closing costs, (ii) expenses related to the
proxy contest in connection with the Company’s 2024 and 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, (iii) expenses associated with the
Company’s strategic transformation initiative, (iv) a corporate restructuring charge that includes consulting fees related to business
model improvement and severance related to a reduction in headcount, (v) a gain on extinguishment of debt related to the Company’s
repurchase of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 0.625% convertible senior notes due June 2026, (vi) store closing costs associated
with MSBC reorganization, and (vii) the related tax impacts of the foregoing. The Company believes excluding these items from its financial
results provides investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's financial results and enhances comparability across periods.
The Company calculates adjusted net income (loss) margin by dividing adjusted net income (loss) by consolidated GAAP revenue. This information
is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or earnings (loss) per share information prepared
in accordance with GAAP.
First Quarter Ended
10/31/25
Margin
11/1/24
Margin
Revenue
$ 797,188
100 %
$ 845,089
100 %
GAAP net income (loss)
(24,622 )
(3.1 )
4,844
0.6
Strategic transformation initiative expenses
0
0.0
3,298
0.4
Impairment and store closing costs
0
0.0
700
0.1
Store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization
3,095
0.4
0
0.0
Proxy contest expenses
1,439
0.2
2,958
0.3
Corporate restructuring charge
6,175
0.8
0
0.0
Tax impacts of the foregoing
(2,516 )
(0.3 )
(1,635 )
(0.2 )
Adjusted net income (loss)
$ (16,429 )
(2.1 )%
$ 10,165
1.2 %
GAAP earnings (loss) per share - basic
$ (1.10 )
$ 0.22
GAAP earnings (loss) per share - diluted
$ (1.10 )
$ 0.22
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share - basic
$ (0.74 )
$ 0.46
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share - diluted
$ (0.74 )
$ 0.45
Weighted average shares - basic
22,288,991
22,217,737
Weighted average shares - diluted
22,288,991
22,390,249
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Page 9
CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results
to Non-GAAP Operating Results
(Unaudited and in thousands)
EBITDA/Adjusted EBITDA
In the accompanying press release and the below
reconciliation tables, the Company makes reference to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss), calculated
in accordance with GAAP, excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense and tax expense. The Company further adjusts EBITDA
to exclude, to the extent the following items occurred during the periods presented: (i) expenses related to share-based compensation,
(ii) impairment charges, and, for periods prior to the second quarter of fiscal 2025, store closing costs, (iii) the proxy contest in
connection with the Company’s 2024 and 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, (iv) expenses associated with the Company’s strategic
transformation initiative, (v) a corporate restructuring charge that includes consulting fees related to business model improvement and
severance related to a reduction in headcount, (vi) a gain on extinguishment of debt related to the Company’s repurchase of $150
million aggregate principal amount of its 0.625% convertible senior notes due June 2026, and (vii) store closing costs associated with
MSBC reorganization. The Company calculates EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin by dividing EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by consolidated GAAP
revenue. The Company believes that presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (together with related margin figures) provides investors
with an enhanced understanding of the Company's operating performance and debt leverage metrics and enhances comparability with the Company’s
historical results, and that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure, when combined with the primary presentation of net income
(loss), is beneficial to an investor’s complete understanding of the Company’s operating performance. This information is
not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or net income (loss) margin prepared in accordance
with GAAP.
First Quarter
Ended
10/31/25
Margin
Revenue
$
797,188
100
%
GAAP Net income (loss)
(24,622
)
(3.1
)
(+) Depreciation & amortization
30,202
3.8
(+) Interest expense
3,724
0.5
(+) Tax expense (tax benefit)
(11,899
)
(1.5
)
EBITDA
$
(2,595
)
(0.3
)%
Adjustments
(+) Share-based compensation
(921
)
(0.1
)
(+) Store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization
3,095
0.4
(+) Proxy contest expenses
1,439
0.2
(+) Corporate restructuring charge
6,175
0.8
Adjusted EBITDA
$
7,193
0.9
%
First Quarter
Ended
11/1/24
Margin
Revenue
$
845,089
100
%
GAAP Net income (loss)
4,844
0.6
(+) Depreciation & amortization
29,154
3.4
(+) Interest expense
5,822
0.7
(+) Tax expense (tax benefit)
(3,595
)
(0.4
)
EBITDA
36,225
4.3
%
Adjustments
(+) Share-based compensation
2,625
0.3
(+) Strategic transformation initiative expenses
3,298
0.4
(+) Impairment and store closing costs
700
0.1
(+) Proxy contest expenses
2,958
0.3
Adjusted EBITDA
$
45,806
5.4
%
- END -
the item shown at left
other guidance in this release
Text is the filed exhibit, verbatim.