Cracker Barrel Earnings Rise, Guides FY2027 Sales Growth
Cracker Barrel earnings showed Q4 profit and adj EPS gains despite lower revenue and FY2027 guidance ties upside to comp-store trends shaping flows.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- GAAP net income rose to $12M and adjusted EPS climbed to $0.99 per share.
- Adjusted EBITDA rose 11.4% to $62M.
- Guidance calls for $3.3B-$3.4B revenue and $180M-$200M adjusted EBITDA with no new stores.
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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) reported on Sept. 23, 2026, that earnings rose, with profit and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) higher despite a revenue decline. The company issued fiscal 2027 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance linked to comparable-store trends and pricing.
Quarter Results and Profitability
For the fiscal fourth quarter ended July 31, 2026, Cracker Barrel reported revenue of $849.3 million, down 2.2% from the prior year. GAAP net income rose to $12.2 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, compared with $6.75 million, or $0.30 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS increased to $0.99 from $0.74.
Adjusted EBITDA, a proxy for operating profit that excludes specified items, rose 11.4% to $62.1 million from $55.7 million a year earlier. Restaurant sales accounted for $698.5 million of revenue, while retail sales contributed $150.8 million.
Comparable-restaurant sales declined 2.1% year over year, while comparable-retail sales rose 0.7%. Management cited improving traffic trends, stronger guest metrics, and progress in its turnaround program. The company’s release stated that the results “underscore continued improvement in key operating and financial metrics.”
Secondary summaries noted that adjusted EBITDA included about $9.1 million related to tariff refunds, net of investments.
Fiscal 2027 Guidance
Cracker Barrel set fiscal 2027 revenue guidance between $3.325 billion and $3.4 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected at $180 million to $200 million. Management expects roughly 3% total pricing, highest in the first quarter and declining sequentially. The outlook assumes commodity inflation near 3.0% and hourly-wage inflation of about 2.5% to 3.0%.
Capital expenditures are forecast at $110 million to $125 million, with approximately 65% allocated to maintenance and 35% to technology and strategic initiatives. The company anticipates comparable-restaurant sales growth of about 3% to 5% and indicated no new store openings. As a result, the revenue outlook depends primarily on comparable-store performance, pricing, and retail results from the existing store base.
No mergers, divestitures, regulatory orders, or other material approvals were reported in connection with the results or outlook.
