First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.
- Open
- 12.80
- Day high
- 13.05
- Day low
- 12.73
- Prev close
- 12.97
- Volume
- 1.1M
- Mkt cap
- $837M
- P/E (TTM)
- 46.9
- EPS (TTM)
- $0.28
- P/B
- 1.3
- P/S
- 0.7
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG) is a Consumer Cyclical company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is down 25% over the past year.
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 4 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
FWRG earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | $-0.02 | $-0.04 | -100.0% | $331M | +0.5% |
| Feb 24, 2026 | $0.08 | $0.24 | +200.0% | $316M | -4.1% |
| Mar 11, 2025 | $0.02 | $0.01 | -50.0% | $263M | -7.3% |
| Nov 7, 2024 | $0.05 | $0.03 | -40.0% | $252M | -4.7% |
| Mar 5, 2024 | $0.04 | $0.04 | +11.1% | $245M | +3.0% |
| Nov 1, 2023 | $0.04 | $0.09 | +127.1% | $219M | -8.0% |
| Aug 1, 2023 | $0.08 | $0.13 | +62.5% | $216M | +0.4% |
| May 2, 2023 | $0.09 | $0.15 | +66.7% | $211M | +0.6% |
| Mar 7, 2023 | $-0.00 | $-0.01 | -140.4% | $186M | -10.8% |
| Mar 23, 2022 | $-0.09 | $-0.08 | +11.1% | $163M | +1.7% |
| Oct 4, 2021 | — | $0.07 | — | $154M | — |
| Jun 27, 2020 | — | $-0.35 | — | $67M | — |
FWRG insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2026 | Weisser Ashlee Suzanneofficer: Chief Financial Officer | Grant | 26,595 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Kussell William Adirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Lilak Stephaniedirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Britt Irene Changdirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | FLEISHER MICHAEL Ddirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Alvarez Ralphdirector | Grant | 17,636 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Solheim Josteindirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Tipograph Rachel Kdirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| May 22, 2026 | Jemley Charlesdirector | Grant | 12,345 | — |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Sorensen Laura Anneofficer: Chief People Officer | Sell | 1,697 | $12.52 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | HOPE H MELVILLE IIIofficer: CFO and Treasurer | Sell | 3,878 | $12.52 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Wolszczak Jay Anthonyofficer: Chief Legal Officer, GC & Secy | Sell | 3,161 | $12.52 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Eisenacher Matthewofficer: Chief Brand Officer | Sell | 2,760 | $12.52 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Jones John Danielofficer: Chief Operations Officer | Sell | 1,697 | $12.52 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Hartman Eric Richardofficer: Chief Development Officer | Sell | 1,819 | $12.52 |
Source: FWRG SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jun 10, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full FWRG insider & 13F page →First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. company profile
Overview
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FWRG) is a fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in breakfast, brunch, and lunch dining. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, the company went public in October 2021. First Watch operates a network of over 500 restaurants across 29 states, with both company-owned locations and franchised units. The company has positioned itself as a premium breakfast and brunch destination, focusing on fresh, made-to-order meals served in an upscale casual dining environment.
Business
First Watch operates in the fast-casual restaurant industry, specifically targeting the breakfast, brunch, and lunch daypart segments. The restaurant industry is highly competitive and fragmented, with establishments ranging from quick-service fast food to full-service fine dining. Fast-casual restaurants occupy a middle ground, offering higher-quality food than traditional fast food while maintaining faster service and lower prices than full-service restaurants. The company's core offering centers around daytime dining, with restaurants typically operating from early morning until mid-afternoon. First Watch's menu features breakfast and brunch items such as pancakes, omelets, avocado toast, and specialty coffee drinks, along with lunch options including salads, sandwiches, and bowls. The restaurants emphasize fresh, made-to-order preparation using quality ingredients, with seasonal menu rotations to maintain customer interest. First Watch operates through two primary business segments. The company-owned restaurants represent the majority of locations and generate approximately 85-90% of total revenues through direct food and beverage sales. The franchise operations contribute the remaining 10-15% of revenues through franchise fees, royalties, and other franchise-related income. The company has been actively acquiring franchise locations to convert them to company-owned operations, viewing this as an efficient capital allocation strategy for long-term growth.
Revenue model
First Watch generates revenue primarily through restaurant sales from its company-owned locations, where customers pay directly for food and beverages. The typical customer transaction involves ordering from a menu of breakfast, brunch, and lunch items ranging from approximately $8-18 per entrée. The company also earns revenue from its franchise operations through initial franchise fees, ongoing royalty payments (typically 4-6% of gross sales), and other franchise-related services. The company's target customers are primarily higher-income consumers who value quality ingredients and dining experiences over pure convenience or low prices. Management has noted that their customer base tends to be more resilient during economic downturns due to this demographic profile. Revenue is generated through multiple channels including dine-in service (the primary channel), takeout orders, and third-party delivery partnerships. Several factors significantly impact First Watch's profitability margins. Commodity cost inflation, particularly for eggs, dairy, and proteins, can substantially affect food costs, which typically represent 22-24% of sales. Labor costs, targeted at around 33% of sales, are influenced by minimum wage increases and labor market tightness. Real estate costs vary by market, with the company preferring high-visibility locations that command premium rents but drive higher sales volumes. Same-restaurant sales performance is critical since fixed costs like rent and labor create significant operating leverage - positive sales growth dramatically improves margins while negative growth quickly erodes profitability. The company's ability to take strategic price increases helps offset inflationary pressures, though management tends to be conservative with pricing to maintain value perception.
Competitive moat
First Watch's competitive moat is relatively modest but centers around its brand positioning and operational execution in the breakfast/brunch daypart. The company has built recognition as a premium breakfast destination, which provides some customer loyalty and pricing power compared to traditional fast-food breakfast options. Their focus on fresh, made-to-order food and consistent restaurant experience creates differentiation in a crowded market. However, the restaurant industry generally offers limited sustainable competitive advantages. Food service is highly competitive with low barriers to entry, and consumer preferences can shift quickly. First Watch faces competition from both established chains like Panera Bread, IHOP, and Cracker Barrel, as well as local independent restaurants and emerging breakfast concepts. The company's operational expertise in the breakfast daypart and its growing scale provide some advantages in procurement and real estate negotiations, but these are not insurmountable by competitors. The most significant competitive threat comes from changing consumer behavior, particularly the trend toward making breakfast at home rather than dining out, which has pressured traffic in recent quarters. Additionally, third-party delivery platforms have commoditized restaurant access, making it easier for customers to switch between brands. The company's expansion strategy into new markets also faces the challenge of building brand awareness against established local competitors. While First Watch has demonstrated solid execution and growth, its moat is primarily operational rather than structural, making consistent execution and innovation critical for maintaining competitive position.
Risks & safety
First Watch presents moderate financial risk with some concerning liquidity metrics but reasonable debt levels and positive cash generation. • **Liquidity concerns**: Current ratio of 0.31 indicates potential short-term liquidity pressure, with current liabilities significantly exceeding current assets • **Cash position**: $18.6 million in cash and short-term investments provides limited cushion for operations • **Debt levels**: Debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08 is manageable for a restaurant company, though elevated • **Cash flow**: Operating cash flow of $20.1 million is positive, but free cash flow of -$16.4 million reflects heavy capital investment in new restaurant development • **Valuation metrics**: EV/EBITDA of 35x appears expensive, though P/E ratios are distorted by minimal net income • **Profitability**: Thin margins with net income near breakeven create vulnerability to operational disruptions or economic downturns • **Growth investment**: Negative free cash flow reflects aggressive expansion strategy, which creates execution risk but also growth potential
Recent development
Over the past few years, First Watch has pursued an aggressive expansion strategy while navigating post-pandemic operational challenges. The company opened 50 new restaurants in 2024 and targets reaching 2,200 domestic locations long-term, representing significant growth from the current 500+ unit base. Management has evolved their real estate strategy toward larger standalone units rather than strip center locations, believing this format drives higher sales volumes. The company has made substantial technology investments to improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Key initiatives include rolling out Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) across all company-owned restaurants, implementing pay-at-table technology, upgrading point-of-sale systems, and developing data-driven marketing capabilities. These investments have helped reduce ticket times by over 15% and improve labor scheduling efficiency. First Watch has also focused on franchise acquisition as a growth strategy, completing the acquisition of 21 restaurants in the Raleigh-Durham market during 2024. Management views converting franchise locations to company-owned operations as an efficient use of capital that provides better control over brand standards and captures the full economic value of restaurant operations. Recent quarters have seen the company grappling with traffic challenges, particularly in weekday breakfast occasions, as consumers have reduced dining-out frequency. Management has responded by scaling marketing investments, leveraging their customer database of approximately 7 million opt-ins for targeted campaigns, and making operational improvements to enhance the dining experience. The company has maintained a disciplined approach to pricing, avoiding aggressive promotions while taking modest price increases to offset commodity inflation.
FWRG company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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