greeksoup/ stock research

Lucky Strike Entertainment Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up, same-store down: Total revenue was $302.6 million, up 3.5% from $292.3 million a year earlier. Same-store revenue decreased 2.6% year over year. Source
  • Net loss widened: The net loss was $25.7 million, compared with a net loss of $13.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down: Adjusted EBITDA was $72.1 million, against $72.7 million, and the margin was 23.8%, against 24.9%. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Net cash provided by operating activities was $17.1 million, against net cash used of $6.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity lower, revolver drawn more: Cash and revolver capacity totaled $323.3 million, against $340.2 million. Revolver borrowings were $112.0 million, up from $100.0 million, and cash was $37.9 million. Source
  • Dividend suspended to fund debt reduction: The Board suspended the quarterly dividend and said the decision concerns where the next dollar goes, not the long-term earnings power of the business. Source
  • Guidance reaffirmed: The company reaffirmed fiscal 2027 guidance first given on August 27, 2026. Source

“We are in a better place than a year ago, but a negative comp is a negative comp, and fixing it comes first.”

Thomas Shannon, Founder and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue growth SourceFiscal 20273% to 5%Kept
Total revenue SourceFiscal 2027$1,280M to $1,310MKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027$340M to $360MKept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027Approximately $90MKept
Capital expenditures, full year relative to fiscal 2024 peak SourceFiscal 2027roughly half its fiscal 2024 peakNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Management reaffirmed the fiscal 2027 guidance it gave on August 27, 2026, with no change to the revenue, Adjusted EBITDA or capital expenditure ranges. Source
  • Ended: The Board suspended the quarterly cash dividend on common stock. The prior quarter's press release had declared a $0.06 per share dividend for the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Source
  • New: The company unveiled a refreshed AMF brand and converted 42 additional locations to the Lucky Strike brand during the quarter. Source
  • New: Management said capital spending is down, no acquisitions are planned, and it expects to direct free cash flow and proceeds from some non-core asset sales to debt reduction. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up, same-store down: Total revenue was $302.6 million, up 3.5% from $292.3 million a year earlier. Same-store revenue decreased 2.6% year over year. Source
  • Water parks and monthly comp trend: Management credited the first full summer with two new water parks. Same-store revenue improved each month of the quarter, and September comped positive. Source
  • Net loss widened: The net loss was $25.7 million, compared with a net loss of $13.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Operating income flat, interest lower: Operating income was $28.2 million in both periods. Net interest expense was $52.0 million, down from $53.4 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Bowling down; food and amusement up: Bowling revenue was $122.1 million, against $125.3 million. Food and beverage was $98.5 million, against $96.1 million. Amusement and other was $82.1 million, against $70.9 million. Source
  • California narrowed the gap: Management called California its weakest market. The gap narrowed every month, and California comped slightly positive in September. Source

“That is a decision about where the next dollar goes, not a change in our view of the long-term earnings power of the business.”

Thomas Shannon, Founder and CEO

Demand and same-store trends

  • Negative comp is the first priority: Management said the negative comparable sales figure must be fixed before other matters. Source
  • Walk-in bowling and alcohol declined: Management attributed the same-store decline to retail bowling, its walk-in business, and alcohol, which it said is down across the restaurant industry. Source
  • Holiday bookings ahead: Management said the holiday event book is ahead, led by corporate events. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down: Adjusted EBITDA was $72.1 million, against $72.7 million, and the margin was 23.8%, against 24.9%. Source
  • Location operating costs up slightly: Location operating costs, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $99.3 million, against $97.8 million. Location payroll and benefit costs were $78.3 million, against $75.2 million. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, were $40.3 million, against $35.3 million. Source
  • Transaction costs down, system spend up: Transactional and other advisory costs were $3.1 million, against $9.5 million. System modernization costs were $2.2 million, against $0.5 million. Source
  • Prior-year modernization costs reclassified: The prior-year quarter's $512 thousand of system modernization costs was reclassified out of transactional and other advisory costs to conform to the current presentation. Source

“Capital spending in the quarter was the lowest in five years, and we expect the full year at roughly half its fiscal 2024 peak.”

Thomas Shannon, Founder and CEO

Capital, cash and debt

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Net cash provided by operating activities was $17.1 million, against net cash used of $6.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital expenditures lower: Capital expenditures were $21.5 million in the quarter, against $25.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt slightly higher: Net debt was $1,779.4 million at quarter end, against $1,769.2 million at June 28, 2026. Bank debt and loans were $1,817.3 million. Source
  • Liquidity lower, revolver drawn more: Cash and revolver capacity totaled $323.3 million, against $340.2 million. Revolver borrowings were $112.0 million, up from $100.0 million, and cash was $37.9 million. Source
  • Dividend suspended to fund debt reduction: The Board suspended the quarterly dividend and said the decision concerns where the next dollar goes, not the long-term earnings power of the business. Source

Strategy, brands and guidance

  • AMF brand refreshed, locations converted: Management unveiled a refreshed AMF brand and converted 42 additional locations to Lucky Strike during the quarter, bringing Lucky Strike locations to 182 as of November 5, 2026. Source
  • Guidance reaffirmed: The company reaffirmed fiscal 2027 guidance first given on August 27, 2026. Source
  • Strategy centers on cash flow: Management said its strategy centers on accelerating revenue growth, expanding operating cash flow, and driving higher free cash flow per share. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • CRM modernization completion: The system modernization initiative for the customer relationship management platform is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027. Source
  • Dividend under ongoing review: The Board will keep evaluating the dividend as part of its regular review of capital allocation priorities. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total locations in operation as of November 5, 2026 Source366
Lucky Strike locations as of November 5, 2026 Source182
Locations converted to Lucky Strike brand during the quarter Source42

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said smaller, price-sensitive party bookings remain under pressure, as the lower-end consumer has been for several quarters. Source
  • Operational: Management said the water park lesson is to sell next season's passes and set pricing earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the fiscal 2027 guidance first given on August 27, 2026, and did not state progress against it. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects full-year capital spending at roughly half the fiscal 2024 peak, and did not state whether this is on track. Source
  • Not stated: Management said retained capital will be directed toward accelerating the deleveraging plan. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.