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Cracker Barrel — Mar 4, 2026 release

Fiscal 2026 second-quarter results · 8-K Item 2.02 · Exhibit 99.1 · 0001104659-26-023472
Open on SEC.gov ↗
Showing in the filing
Total revenue
“$3.24 billion to $3.27 billion”
Period
FY2026
Measure
GAAP-tied
Source
Prose
All guidance in this release · 10
New Cracker Barrel stores for FY2026
“2”
Net cash benefit for Q3 FY2026
“approximately $46 million”
Net cash benefit from litigation settlement for Q3 FY2026
“approximately $46 million”
Quarterly dividend declared for FY2026
“$0.25 per share”
Quarterly dividend
“$0.25 per share”
Total revenue for FY2026
“$3.24 billion to $3.27 billion”
Adjusted EBITDA for FY2026
“$85 million to $100 million”
Commodity inflation for FY2026
“2.0% to 2.5%”
Hourly wage inflation for FY2026
“2.5% to 3.0%”
Capital expenditures for FY2026
“$105 million to $115 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 SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2026 RESULTS AND UPDATES FISCAL 2026 OUTLOOK   LEBANON, Tenn. – March 4, 2026 – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (“Cracker Barrel” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 ended January 30, 2026.   Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Julie Masino said, “Our disciplined focus on operational excellence is driving significant improvements in several key guest metrics, many of which serve as important leading traffic indicators. We have also taken additional actions to improve financial performance and remain confident that we are well-positioned to regain prior momentum.”   Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Highlights   · Total revenue was $874.8 million. Compared to the prior year quarter, total revenue decreased 7.9%.   o Compared to the prior year quarter, comparable store restaurant sales decreased 7.1% and comparable store retail sales decreased 9.2%.   · GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.06, and adjusted 1 earnings per diluted share were $0.25.   · GAAP net income was $1.3 million compared to the prior year quarter GAAP net income of $22.2 million.   · Adjusted EBITDA 1 was $38.2 million, compared to the prior year quarter adjusted EBITDA 1 of $74.6 million.       Second Quarter Ended   (In thousands, except per share amounts)   1/30/26     1/31/25   Revenue   $ 874,817     $ 949,439   GAAP net income   $ 1,282     $ 22,207   Adjusted net income 1   $ 5,580     $ 30,921   Adjusted EBITDA 1   $ 38,162     $ 74,628   GAAP earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.06     $ 0.99   Adjusted 1 earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.25     $ 1.38     - MORE - Page 2   Balance Sheet & Capital Allocation   · The Company ended the second quarter with total debt of $531.5 million and a consolidated senior leverage ratio 3 of 0.3x.   · During the Company’s third quarter the Company expects to record a net cash benefit of approximately $46 million following the Company’s settlement of certain litigation matters.   · 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 May 13, 2026 to shareholders of record as of April 10, 2026.   Fiscal 2026 Outlook   The Company provided the following updated outlook for fiscal 2026 :   · Total revenue of $3.24 billion to $3.27 billion (vs. previous outlook of $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion)   · Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $85 million to $100 million 2 (vs. previous outlook of $70 million to $110 million 2 )   · Commodity inflation of 2.0% to 2.5% (vs. previous outlook of 2.5% to 3.5)%   · Hourly wage inflation of 2.5% to 3.0% (vs. previous outlook of 3% to 4)%   · Capital expenditures of $105 million to $115 million (vs. previous outlook of $110 million to $125 million)   · 2 new Cracker Barrel stores (no change vs. previous outlook)   1 EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings 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 1 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 1 set forth above to a forward-looking estimate of net income, 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 senior leverage is defined as total debt (other than subordinated debt and unsecured debt) divided by adjusted EBITDA 1 (as defined under our revolving credit facility).   Fiscal 2026 Second 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 March 18, 2026.   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   - MORE - Page 3   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 or liquidity ; the impact of adverse or extreme weather events on sales and customer travel; 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; 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.   - MORE - Page 4   CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts, percentages and ratios)       Second Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended       1/30/26     1/31/25     Percentage Change     1/30/26     1/31/25     Percentage Change   Total revenue   $ 874,817     $ 949,439       (8 )%   $ 1,672,005     $ 1,794,528     (7 )% Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)     292,660       309,832       (6 )     541,065       568,733     (5 ) Labor and other related expenses     315,725       326,336       (3 )     617,027       633,561     (3 ) Other store operating expenses     217,503       220,025       (1 )     446,348       431,573     3   General and administrative expenses     48,048       61,672       (22 )     96,008       121,316     (21 ) Impairment and store closing costs     418       2,451       (83 )     3,891       3,151     23   Operating income (loss)     463       29,123       (98 )     (32,334 )     36,194     (189 ) Interest expense     4,033       4,978       (19 )     7,757       10,800     (28 ) Income (loss) before income taxes     (3,570 )     24,145       (115 )     (40,091 )     25,394     (258 ) Provision for income taxes (income tax benefit)     (4,852 )     1,938       (350 )     (16,751 )     (1,657 )   (911 ) Net income (loss)   $ 1,282     $ 22,207       (94 )   $ (23,340 )   $ 27,051     (186 )                                                 Earnings (loss) per share – Basic:   $ 0.06     $ 1.00       (94 )   $ (1.05 )   $ 1.22     (186 ) Earnings (loss) per share – Diluted:   $ 0.06     $ 0.99       (94 )   $ (1.05 )   $ 1.21     (187 )                                                 Weighted average shares:                                               Basic     22,345,041       22,258,289       0       22,317,016       22,238,013     0   Diluted     22,461,839       22,456,421       0       22,317,016       22,423,335     (0 )                                                 Ratio Analysis                                               Total revenue:                                               Restaurant     79.4 %     79.0 %             80.4 %     79.9 %       Retail     20.6       21.0               19.6       20.1         Total revenue     100.0       100.0               100.0       100.0         Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)     33.5       32.6               32.4       31.7         Labor and other related expenses     36.1       34.4               36.9       35.3         Other store operating expenses     24.8       23.2               26.7       24.0         General and administrative expenses     5.5       6.5               5.7       6.8         Impairment and store closing costs     0.0       0.2               0.2       0.2         Operating income (loss)     0.1       3.1               (1.9 )     2.0         Interest expense     0.5       0.6               0.5       0.6         Income (loss) before income taxes     (0.4 )     2.5               (2.4 )     1.4         Provision for income taxes (income tax benefit)     (0.5 )     0.2               (1.0 )     (0.1 )       Net income (loss)     0.1 %     2.3 %             (1.4 )%     1.5 %         - MORE - Page 5   CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)       1/30/26     1/31/25   Assets                 Cash and cash equivalents   $ 8,571     $ 10,346   Accounts receivable     35,353       38,018   Inventories     180,342       172,988   Prepaid expenses and other current assets     59,477       58,906   Property and equipment, net     961,460       969,790   Operating lease right-of-use assets, net     780,952       829,146   Intangible assets     24,325       24,387   Other assets     53,332       45,976   Total assets   $ 2,103,812     $ 2,149,557                     Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                 Accounts payable   $ 126,250     $ 143,161   Current portion of long-term debt     149,625       75   Other current liabilities     305,134       311,004   Long-term debt     381,839       471,465   Long-term operating lease liabilities     618,610       655,669   Other long-term obligations     96,527       107,268   Shareholders’ equity, net     425,827       460,915   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 2,103,812     $ 2,149,557                     Common shares issued and outstanding     22,350,789       22,263,481     - MORE - Page 6   CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Unaudited and in thousands)       Six Months Ended       1/30/26     1/31/25   Cash flows from operating activities:                 Net income (loss)   $ (23,340 )   $ 27,051   Depreciation and amortization     60,722       59,388   Amortization of debt issuance costs     1,329       884   Loss on disposition of property and equipment     4,239       4,246   Impairment     418       2,863   Share-based compensation     639       6,505   Noncash lease expense     30,498       30,436   Amortization of asset recognized from gain on sale and leaseback transaction     6,368       6,368   Decrease in inventories     243       7,970   Decrease in accounts payable     (43,598 )     (19,127 ) Net changes in other assets and liabilities     (39,687 )     (32,891 ) Net cash (used) provided by operating activities     (2,169 )     93,693   Cash flows from investing activities:                 Purchase of property and equipment, net of insurance recoveries     (60,747 )     (76,986 ) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment     234       894   Net cash used in investing activities     (60,513 )     (76,092 ) Cash flows from financing activities:                 Net (payments) proceeds from long-term debt     45,500       (6,000 ) Taxes withheld from issuance of share-based compensation awards     (1,934 )     (1,379 ) Dividends on common stock     (11,956 )     (11,911 ) Net cash (used) provided by financing activities     31,610       (19,290 )                   Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (31,072 )     (1,689 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     39,643       12,035   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 8,571     $ 10,346     - MORE - Page 7       Second Quarter Ended       1/30/26     1/31/25   Company-owned units opened during quarter:                 Cracker Barrel     0       0   Maple Street Biscuit Company     0       0                     Company-owned units closed during quarter:                 Cracker Barrel     0       1   Maple Street Biscuit Company     0       0                     Company-owned units in operation at end of quarter:                 Cracker Barrel     656       657   Maple Street Biscuit Company     54       69                     Total stores at end of period     710       726         Second Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended       1/30/26     1/31/25     1/30/26     1/31/25   Total revenue*: (In thousands)                                 Restaurant   $ 680,363     $ 733,303     $ 1,315,204     $ 1,399,736   Retail     180,407       198,757       326,933       360,357   Total revenue   $ 860,770     $ 932,060     $ 1,642,137     $ 1,760,093                                     Cost of goods sold* (exclusive of depreciation and rent): (In thousands)                                 Restaurant   $ 186,398     $ 199,243     $ 355,319     $ 373,326   Retail     102,417       106,222       177,695       186,669   Total cost of goods sold   $ 288,815     $ 305,465     $ 533,014     $ 559,995                                     Average unit volume*: (In thousands)                                 Restaurant   $ 1,037.1     $ 1,116.2     $ 2,003.6     $ 2,128.9   Retail     275.0       302.5       498.0       548.0   Total   $ 1,312.1     $ 1,418.7     $ 2,501.6     $ 2,676.9                                     Operating weeks*:     8,528       8,541       17,067       17,095     Note*: This information is for Cracker Barrel stores only and excludes Maple Street Biscuit Company.   - MORE - Page 8   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 adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted 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. The Company calculates adjusted net income (loss) per share by dividing adjusted net income (loss) by weighted average shares outstanding for the applicable period. 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 .       Second Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended       1/30/26     Margin     1/31/25     Margin     1/30/26     Margin     1/31/25     Margin   Revenue   $ 874,817       100 %   $ 949,439       100 %   $ 1,672,005       100 %   $ 1,794,528       100 %                                                                   GAAP net income (loss)     1,282       0.1       22,207       2.3       (23,340 )     (1.4 )     27,051       1.5   Strategic transformation initiative expenses     0       0.0       3,965       0.4       0       0.0       7,263       0.4   Impairment and store closing costs     418       0.0       2,163       0.2       418       0.0       2,863       0.2   Store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization     0       0.0       0       0.0       3,095       0.2       0       0.0   Proxy contest expenses     2,633       0.3       5,263       0.6       4,072       0.2       8,220       0.5   Corporate restructuring charge     2,568       0.3       0       0.0       8,743       0.5       0       0.0   Tax impacts of the foregoing     (1,321 )     (0.2 )     (2,677 )     (0.3 )     (3,837 )     (0.2 )     (4,311 )     (0.2 ) Adjusted net income (loss)   $ 5,580       0.6 %   $ 30,921       3.3 %   $ (10,849 )     (0.6 )%   $ 41,086       2.3 %                                                                   GAAP Earnings (loss) per share - basic   $ 0.06             $ 1.00             $ (1.05 )           $ 1.22           GAAP Earnings (loss) per share - diluted   $ 0.06             $ 0.99             $ (1.05 )           $ 1.21                                                                             Adjusted Earnings (loss) per share - basic   $ 0.25             $ 1.39             $ (0.49 )           $ 1.85           Adjusted Earnings (loss) per share - diluted   $ 0.25             $ 1.38             $ (0.49 )           $ 1.83                                                                             Weighted average shares - basic     22,345,041               22,258,289               22,317,016               22,238,013           Weighted average shares - diluted     22,461,839               22,456,421               22,317,016               22,423,335             - MORE - 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.       Second Quarter Ended 1/30/26     Margin     Six Months Ended 1/30/26     Margin   Revenue   $ 874,817       100 %   $ 1,672,005       100 %                                   GAAP Net income     1,282       0.1       (23,340 )     (1.4 ) (+) Depreciation & amortization     30,520       3.5       60,722       3.6   (+) Interest expense     4,033       0.5       7,757       0.5   (+) Tax expense (tax benefit)     (4,852 )     (0.6 )     (16,751 )     (1.0 ) EBITDA   $ 30,983       3.5 %   $ 28,388       1.7 % Adjustments                                 (+) Share-based compensation     1,560       0.2       639       0.0   (+) Impairment     418       0.0       418       0.0   (+) Store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization     0       0.0       3,095       0.2   (+) Proxy contest expenses     2,633       0.3       4,072       0.2   (+) Corporate restructuring charge     2,568       0.3       8,743       0.5   Adjusted EBITDA   $ 38,162       4.4 %   $ 45,355       2.7 %       Second Quarter Ended 1/31/25     Margin     Six Months Ended 1/31/25     Margin   Revenue   $ 949,439       100 %   $ 1,794,528       100 %                                   GAAP Net income     22,207       2.3       27,051       1.5   (+) Depreciation & amortization     30,234       3.2       59,388       3.3   (+) Interest expense     4,978       0.6       10,800       0.6   (+) Tax expense (tax benefit)     1,938       0.2       (1,657 )     (0.1 ) EBITDA     59,357       6.3 %   $ 95,582       5.3 % Adjustments                                 (+) Share-based compensation     3,880       0.4       6,506       0.4   (+) Impairment     2,163       0.2       2,863       0.2   (+) Proxy contest expenses     5,263       0.6       8,220       0.5   (+) Strategic transformation initiative expenses     3,965       0.4       7,263       0.4   Adjusted EBITDA   $ 74,628       7.9 %   $ 120,434       6.7 %   - END -
the item shown at left
other guidance in this release
Text is the filed exhibit, verbatim.