DNUT

Interested in Krispy Kreme, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Krispy Kreme says its turnaround is gaining traction via refranchising, cost controls and lower capex, with first-quarter results showing a 38% rise in Adjusted EBITDA to $33.1 million, the first positive Q1 free cash flow since its IPO, and net leverage down to 5.5x with liquidity over $300 million. The growth strategy emphasizes profitable U.S. expansion by better using under‑utilized production capacity (~25% network utilization) and capital‑light international franchise growth, targeting more than 100 shop openings this year and a goal of 50% franchisee‑generated system sales by 2027 while entering 3–4 new markets including the Netherlands. Management reiterated 2026 targets including net revenue $1.25–1.35 billion, Adjusted EBITDA $140–150 million, capex $50–60 million, >$15 million in positive free cash flow, and system‑wide sales growth of 2–4% (to over $2 billion) with net leverage expected below 5.5x. Krispy Kreme: A Meme Stock Sugar Rush or a Sustainable Treat? Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) executives said the company made “significant progress” during the first quarter of 2026 as it continued executing a turnaround plan focused on deleveraging its balance sheet and driving “sustainable, profitable growth.” Speaking on the company’s first-quarter earnings call, President and CEO Josh Charlesworth highlighted two primary growth priorities: “profitable U.S. expansion and capital-light international franchise growth.” Chief Financial Officer Raphael Duvivier said results were supported by “disciplined execution of the turnaround plan,” including cost controls, refranchising activity, and reduced capital expenditures. → Berkshire Hathaway’s Record Cash Hoard: Why and What's Next? 3 Fast Food Stocks That Won’t Give You Indigestion Right Now Charlesworth outlined four pillars of the turnaround plan: Refranchising Improving returns on capital Expanding margins Driving sustainable, profitable U.S. growth On refranchising, Charlesworth said the company completed two transactions in March that contributed to reducing net debt. In Japan, Krispy Kreme reached a refranchising agreement with Unison Capital, which Charlesworth described as “an experienced operator in the retail restaurant sector.” He noted Krispy Kreme has operated in Japan for 20 years, with “approximately 90 shops and 300 fresh...

Management is pivoting to a capital-light model, aiming for franchisees to generate 50% of system-wide sales by 2027, up from 25% last year. U.S. margin expansion is being driven by the full outsourcing of logistics to third-party partners, providing cost predictability and mitigating fuel price volatility. The company is leveraging significant excess capacity in its U.S. production hubs, which currently operate at only about 25% utilization, to support new fresh delivery doors without incremental capital spend. Performance attribution for the U.S. segment highlights a shift toward 'quality growth' by replacing low-volume doors with higher-margin strategic partners like Target, Publix, and Sam's Club. Strategic positioning focuses on 'buzzworthy' cultural moments and seasonal LTOs, which management believes positions the brand well regarding GLP-1 trends because research shows users of these medications are as likely as non-users to purchase treats for holidays and special occasions. International growth is anchored by a hub-and-spoke network strategy, exemplified by new market entries in the Netherlands and expansion in Brazil. Full-year 2026 guidance assumes system-wide sales growth of 2% to 4%, primarily driven by international franchise development and lapping the McDonald's partnership exit in the second half. Management expects to achieve positive free cash flow for the full year 2026, supported by a planned 50% reduction in capital expenditures compared to the prior year. The international pipeline includes more than 100 shop openings, nearly all of which will be franchised to maintain a low-capital intensity profile. Guidance for net revenue and adjusted EBITDA includes completed refranchising deals in Japan and the Western U.S. but excludes any impact from the 2 to 3 additional international deals targeted for 2026. The company aims to maintain a net leverage ratio below 5.5x, aided by refranchising proceeds and improved EBITDA margins from operational efficiencies. Completed the refranchising of Japan operations and reduced the Western U.S. joint venture to a 20% minority stake to accelerate debt reduction. The transition to third-party logistics in the U.S. was completed ahead of schedule, shifting the operational risk of delivery to external partners. Management identified January weather disruptions in the Southeast U.S. as a temporary headwind...

Image source: The Motley Fool. Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET Chief Executive Officer — Joshua Charlesworth Chief Financial Officer — Raphael Duvivier Joshua Charlesworth: Thank you, Christine, and good morning, everyone. We are pleased with our significant progress in the first quarter as we continue to advance our turnaround to deleverage our balance sheet and drive sustainable, profitable growth. Krispy Kreme remains a compelling growth story, supported by strong consumer demand for our iconic fresh doughnuts. Unlocking that demand remains our priority, and we are doing so through our 2 largest opportunities, profitable U.S. expansion and capital-light international franchise growth. This year, we expect system-wide sales to grow 2% to 4% compared to last year to over $2 billion, driven primarily by international expansion. In the back half of the year, we anticipate growth in the U.S. as we lap the now ended partnership with McDonald's, which we exited last July. While we recognize that the broader macroeconomic environment remains dynamic, this outlook is driven by anticipated higher volumes, points of access expansion and franchise development. Last year, approximately 25% of system-wide sales were generated by franchisees. After the refranchising transactions in the first quarter, the expected percent of franchise sales going forward has increased to 42%, reflecting strong progress toward our goal of reaching 50% of system-wide sales generated by franchisees entering 2027. Now let's move to the 4 pillars of our turnaround plan and the progress we are making on each. Number one, refranchising; number two, improving returns on capital; number three, expanding margins; and number four, driving sustainable, profitable U.S. growth. Our first pillar, refranchising, enables us to drive more profitable system-wide sales growth while accelerating new shop development through a capital-light model. In March, we completed 2 transactions advancing this strategy, contributing to a reduction in net debt. In Japan, we entered a refranchising agreement with Unison Capital, an experienced operator in the retail restaurant sector. Krispy Kreme has a 20-year presence in Japan with approximately 90 shops and 300 fresh delivery points of access, and we are pleased to partner with Unison to support continued growth in this important market. Japan marks the first of...

Krispy Kreme (DNUT) reported $367.03 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year decline of 2.2%. EPS of -$0.05 for the same period compares to -$0.05 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $355.2 million, representing a surprise of +3.33%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -87.27%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.03. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately. Here is how Krispy Kreme performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Total Global Points of Access: 15,125 versus 14,912 estimated by two analysts on average. Hubs, by segment and type - U.S. - Doughnut Factories: 6 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 6. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - U.S. - Fresh Shops: 46 compared to the 69 average estimate based on two analysts. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - U.S. - DFD Doors: 5,949 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 6,823. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - U.S. - Total: 6,171 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 7,128. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - International - Hot Light Theater Shops: 47 versus 48 estimated by two analysts on average. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - International - Fresh Shops: 448 compared to the 529 average estimate based on two analysts. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - International - Carts, Food Trucks, and Other: 17 versus 18 estimated by two analysts on average. Global Points of Access, by segment and type - International - DFD Doors: 3,630 versus 4,193 estimated by two analysts on average. Geographic Revenue- U.S.: $221.55 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $211.93 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.3%. Geographic Revenue- Market Development: $20.23 million compared to the $20.9...

Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT) reported fiscal first-quarter 2026 results on Thursday that came in below analyst expectations on both earnings and revenue, although shares gained 5.4% as investors focused on operational improvements and progress in the company’s turnaround strategy. The doughnut chain posted an adjusted loss of -$0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 29, missing the analyst consensus estimate of -$0.03 by $0.02. Quarterly revenue totaled $367.0 million, down 2.2% from the prior-year period and below analyst expectations of $372.41 million. Revenue in the same quarter last year was $375.2 million. Krispy Kreme said the decline primarily reflected strategic closures of underperforming locations completed during the third quarter of 2025, including roughly 2,400 points of distribution tied to the ended McDonald’s USA partnership. Despite weaker revenue, the company reported notable improvements in profitability. Adjusted EBITDA increased 38.0% year-over-year to $33.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 260 basis points to 9.0%. Krispy Kreme also generated positive free cash flow of $11.4 million during the quarter, representing an improvement of $58.1 million compared with the prior year. The company reduced its net leverage ratio to 5.5x from 6.7x in the fourth quarter. “The first quarter highlighted significant progress across every pillar of our turnaround plan. We reduced net leverage, increased adjusted EBITDA margin by 260 basis points, and delivered positive free cash flow,” said CEO Josh Charlesworth. For fiscal 2026, Krispy Kreme projected revenue between $1.25 billion and $1.35 billion. The midpoint of $1.30 billion came in well below the analyst consensus estimate of $1.46 billion. The company also forecast adjusted EBITDA in a range of $140 million to $150 million. In addition, Krispy Kreme expects systemwide sales growth of 2% to 4% year-over-year on a constant-currency basis. Krispy Kreme is a global doughnut and coffee retailer known for its Original Glazed doughnuts and branded retail locations. The company distributes products through shops, retail partnerships, e-commerce, and delivery channels across multiple international markets. Krispy Kreme stock price

The market expects Krispy Kreme (DNUT) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on May 7. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. This doughnut wholesaler and retailer is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.03 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +40%. Revenues are expected to be $355.2 million, down 5.3% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 30% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction). The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictiv...

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 23, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNUT) ("Krispy Kreme" or the "Company"), today announced that it will issue its first quarter 2026 earnings results on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The results and related slide presentation will be available on the Company’s website at investors.krispykreme.com beginning at 6:45 AM Eastern Time. Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results at 8:30 AM Eastern Time on the same day. To register for the conference call and webcast, please use this LINK. After registering, confirmation will be sent through email, including dial-in details and unique conference call codes for entry. To listen to the live audio webcast and Q&A, visit the Krispy Kreme investor relations website at investors.krispykreme.com. A replay of the webcast along with the earnings press release and related materials will be available on the website for 12 months after the call. About Krispy Kreme Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Krispy Kreme is one of the most beloved and well-known sweet treat brands in the world. Our iconic Original Glazed® doughnut is universally recognized for its hot-off-the-line, melt-in-your-mouth experience. Krispy Kreme operates in more than 40 countries through its unique network of fresh doughnut shops, partnerships with leading retailers, and a rapidly growing digital business. Our purpose of touching and enhancing lives through the joy that is Krispy Kreme guides how we operate every day and is reflected in the love we have for our people, our communities, and the planet. Connect with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at KrispyKreme.com and follow us on social: X, Instagram and Facebook. Category: Financial News View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423867671/en/ Contacts Investor Relations and Media ICR for Krispy Kreme, Inc. [email protected]

Looking back on traditional fast food stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) and its peers. Traditional fast-food restaurants are renowned for their speed and convenience, boasting menus filled with familiar and budget-friendly items. Their reputations for on-the-go consumption make them favored destinations for individuals and families needing a quick meal. This class of restaurants, however, is fighting the perception that their meals are unhealthy and made with inferior ingredients, a battle that's especially relevant today given the consumers increasing focus on health and wellness. The 12 traditional fast food stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1%. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.1% on average since the latest earnings results. Famous for its Original Glazed doughnuts and parent company of Insomnia Cookies, Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) is one of the most beloved and well-known fast-food chains in the world. Krispy Kreme reported revenues of $392.4 million, down 2.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates. “We are pleased to have ended 2025 with positive momentum, driven by quality growth in the U.S. with key strategic partners, higher digital sales, and international expansion. In 2026, we look forward to building on this momentum through systemwide sales growth, additional refranchising activity, disciplined capital expenditures, lower net leverage, and positive free cash flow generation,” said Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth. Interestingly, the stock is up 35.5% since reporting and currently trades at $4.05. Is now the time to buy Krispy Kreme? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. One of China’s largest restaurant companies, Yum China (NYSE:YUMC) is an independent entity spun off from Yum! Brands in 2016. Yum China reported revenues of $2.82 billion, up 8.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.9%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ same-store sales estimates...

Krispy Kreme has been treading water for the past six months, recording a small return of 3.5% while holding steady at $3.37. Is now the time to buy Krispy Kreme, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Get the full breakdown from our expert analysts, it’s free. We don't have much confidence in Krispy Kreme. Here are three reasons there are better opportunities than DNUT and a stock we'd rather own. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) because it highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable. Krispy Kreme’s full-year EPS turned negative over the last four years. We tend to steer our readers away from companies with falling EPS, especially restaurants, which are arguably some of the hardest businesses to manage because of constantly changing consumer tastes, input costs, and labor dynamics. If the tide turns unexpectedly, Krispy Kreme’s low margin of safety could leave its stock price susceptible to large downswings. Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king. While Krispy Kreme posted positive free cash flow this quarter, the broader story hasn’t been so clean. Over the last two years, Krispy Kreme’s capital-intensive business model and large investments in new physical locations have drained its resources, putting it in a pinch and limiting its ability to return capital to investors. Its free cash flow margin averaged negative 4.4%, meaning it lit $4.36 of cash on fire for every $100 in revenue. As long-term investors, the risk we care about most is the permanent loss of capital, which can happen when a company goes bankrupt or raises money from a disadvantaged position. This is separate from short-term stock price volatility, something we are much less bothered by. Krispy Kreme burned through $64.01 million of cash over the last year, and its $1.42 billion of debt exceeds the $42.89 million of cash on its balance sheet. This is a deal breaker for us because indebted loss-making companies spell trouble. Unless the Krispy Kreme’s fundamentals change quickly, it might find itself in a position where it must raise capital from investors to continue operating. Whether that would be favorable is unclear because dilution is a headwind...

By Karen Roman Krispy Kreme, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNUT) shares surged 28% after it said fourth quarter net revenue was $392.4 million compared to $404 million the year prior, while adjusted EBITDA was $55.6 million, up by 21%. Adjusted earnings per share were $ 0.09, increasing from $ 0.01 the year prior, while adjusted EBITDA margin grew 280 basis points to 14.2%, the company stated. The fiscal outlook for 2026 estimates systemwide sales growth between 2% to 4% in constant currency from $1.96 billion in 2025, and a net leverage ratio at or below 5.5x, it said. “During the fourth quarter, we demonstrated meaningful progress on our turnaround, unlocking strong consumer demand for Krispy Kreme’s iconic, fresh doughnuts through our two biggest opportunities: profitable U.S. expansion and capital-light international franchise growth,” said Josh Charlesworth, Krispy Kreme CEO. The company is undergoing a turnaround plan to deleverage its balance sheet and is based on refranchising, improving return on invested capital, expanding margins, and driving sustainable and profitable growth, it stated. READ MORE Register for our weekly newsletter HERE Contact: IPO Edge www.IPO-Edge.com [email protected] Click HERE to follow us on LinkedIn

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. System-wide Sales: $2 billion in 2025, expected growth of 2-4% in 2026. Adjusted EBITDA: $96.2 million in the second half of 2025, more than double the first half. Net Revenue: $392.4 million in Q4 2025, a decrease of 2.9% year over year. Free Cash Flow: $27.9 million in Q4 2025, an increase of $34.8 million from the same quarter a year ago. Net Leverage Ratio: Improved to 6.7 times by the end of Q4 2025, expected to be at or below 6 times by the end of Q1 2026. US Organic Revenue Growth: Declined 5.8% year over year due to exiting underperforming doors. US Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 39.1% to $32.8 million in Q4 2025. International Shops: More than 1,700 across over 40 countries, with over 100 new shops expected to open globally in 2026. CapEx: Decreased 19% in 2025 from 2024, with 2026 CapEx expected to be nearly half of 2025. Digital Sales: Grew 15% year over year in 2025, representing 22.5% of US retail sales in Q4. Loyalty Platform: Surpassed 17 million members in the US. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with DNUT. Is DNUT fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: February 26, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Krispy Kreme Inc (NASDAQ:DNUT) reported significant progress on its turnaround plan, with a focus on deleveraging the balance sheet and delivering sustainable, profitable growth. The company generated $2 billion in system-wide sales in 2025 and expects to grow this by 2 to 4% in 2026 through higher sales volumes, points of access expansion, and franchise development. Krispy Kreme Inc (NASDAQ:DNUT) successfully increased adjusted EBITDA and expanded adjusted EBITDA margin, demonstrating effective cost management and operational efficiency. The strategic refranchising agreement with Unison Capital in Japan is expected to generate approximately $65 million in cash proceeds, supporting the company's capital-light growth strategy. The company plans to open more than 100 shops globally in 2026, with a focus on expanding fresh delivery doors across grocery, convenience, club wholesalers, and quick service restaurants. Krispy Kreme Inc (NASDAQ:DNUT) experienced a modest decline in net revenue in the fourth quarter due to the strategic closure of underperforming US locations. Organic revenue decre...