Nathan's Revenue Up 8%, But Net Income Dips 7.7%
Ticker: NATH · Form: 10-Q · Filed: Nov 6, 2025 · CIK: 69733
Sentiment: mixed
Topics: Food & Beverage, Restaurant Industry, Packaged Goods, Earnings Report, Revenue Growth, Profitability Decline, Cash Flow
Related Tickers: NATH
TL;DR
**Nathan's is selling more hot dogs, but making less money per dog – watch those margins!**
AI Summary
Nathan's Famous, Inc. reported a mixed financial performance for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025. Total revenues increased by 8% to $92.685 million from $85.876 million in the prior year, primarily driven by a 14.7% increase in Branded Products revenue to $58.122 million. However, net income decreased by 7.7% to $14.127 million from $15.307 million, and diluted EPS fell to $3.42 from $3.74. This decline in profitability occurred despite a significant reduction in interest expense, which dropped to $1.497 million from $2.501 million. The company's cash and cash equivalents increased to $32.175 million from $27.802 million at March 30, 2025, reflecting strong cash flow from operating activities of $9.938 million. Total liabilities decreased to $68.770 million from $69.989 million, and stockholders' deficit improved to $(5.903) million from $(16.513) million, indicating a strengthening balance sheet.
Why It Matters
Nathan's Famous's ability to grow revenue, particularly in its Branded Products segment, suggests continued brand strength and market penetration, which is positive for investors. However, the decline in net income and diluted EPS, despite lower interest expenses, indicates potential margin pressures or increased operating costs that warrant investor scrutiny. For employees and customers, stable revenue growth could imply business stability, but a dip in profitability might signal a need for cost efficiencies. In the competitive fast-food and packaged goods market, maintaining profitability while expanding revenue is crucial for long-term viability and market share against rivals like Oscar Mayer or Ball Park.
Risk Assessment
Risk Level: medium — While Nathan's saw an 8% increase in total revenues for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, net income decreased by 7.7% to $14.127 million from $15.307 million in the prior year. This decline in profitability, despite revenue growth and reduced interest expense, suggests potential operational inefficiencies or rising costs, which could impact future earnings stability.
Analyst Insight
Investors should closely monitor Nathan's Famous's upcoming earnings calls for detailed explanations on the net income decline and strategies to improve profitability. Consider holding existing positions but deferring new investments until there's clearer evidence of margin stabilization or improvement, especially given the strong revenue growth.
Financial Highlights
- debt To Equity
- -0.90
- revenue
- $92.685M
- operating Margin
- N/A
- total Assets
- $62.867M
- total Debt
- $49.309M
- net Income
- $14.127M
- eps
- $3.42
- gross Margin
- N/A
- cash Position
- $32.175M
- revenue Growth
- +8.0%
Revenue Breakdown
| Segment | Revenue | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Branded Products | $58.122M | +14.7% |
| Company-owned restaurants | $9.610M | +0.7% |
| License royalties | $21.608M | -3.6% |
| Franchise fees and royalties | $2.352M | +4.7% |
| Advertising fund revenue | $0.993M | +0.5% |
Key Numbers
- $92.685M — Total Revenues (Increased 8% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, from $85.876 million.)
- $14.127M — Net Income (Decreased 7.7% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, from $15.307 million.)
- $3.42 — Diluted EPS (Decreased from $3.74 for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025.)
- $58.122M — Branded Products Revenue (Increased 14.7% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, from $50.682 million.)
- $32.175M — Cash and Cash Equivalents (Increased from $27.802 million at March 30, 2025.)
- $9.938M — Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (For the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025.)
- $1.497M — Interest Expense (Decreased from $2.501 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025.)
- $(5.903)M — Total Stockholders' Deficit (Improved from $(16.513) million at March 30, 2025.)
Key Players & Entities
- NATHANS FAMOUS, INC. (company) — registrant
- Bloomberg (company) — publisher
- SEC (regulator) — filing authority
- $92.685 million (dollar_amount) — total revenues for 26 weeks ended Sep 28, 2025
- $14.127 million (dollar_amount) — net income for 26 weeks ended Sep 28, 2025
- $3.42 (dollar_amount) — diluted EPS for 26 weeks ended Sep 28, 2025
- $32.175 million (dollar_amount) — cash and cash equivalents at Sep 28, 2025
- $58.122 million (dollar_amount) — Branded Products revenue for 26 weeks ended Sep 28, 2025
- Oscar Mayer (company) — competitor
- Ball Park (company) — competitor
FAQ
What were Nathan's Famous's total revenues for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025?
Nathan's Famous, Inc. reported total revenues of $92.685 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, an increase from $85.876 million in the prior year period.
How did Nathan's Famous's net income change for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025?
Net income for Nathan's Famous, Inc. decreased to $14.127 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, down from $15.307 million in the same period last year.
What was the diluted EPS for Nathan's Famous for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025?
Nathan's Famous, Inc.'s diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.42 for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, a decrease from $3.74 in the prior year period.
Which revenue segment showed the most growth for Nathan's Famous?
The Branded Products segment for Nathan's Famous, Inc. showed the most growth, increasing by 14.7% to $58.122 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, from $50.682 million.
What was Nathan's Famous's cash and cash equivalents balance at September 28, 2025?
As of September 28, 2025, Nathan's Famous, Inc. had cash and cash equivalents totaling $32.175 million, an increase from $27.802 million at March 30, 2025.
How did interest expense impact Nathan's Famous's financial results?
Nathan's Famous, Inc. saw a significant reduction in interest expense, which decreased to $1.497 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, from $2.501 million in the prior year, positively impacting pre-tax income.
What is the outlook for Nathan's Famous's fiscal year 2026 regarding deferred franchise fees?
Nathan's Famous, Inc. estimates $152 thousand in franchise fees to be recognized for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which includes international development fees expected to be recognized over one year or less.
Did Nathan's Famous's stockholders' deficit improve or worsen?
Nathan's Famous, Inc.'s total stockholders' deficit improved to $(5.903) million at September 28, 2025, from $(16.513) million at March 30, 2025, indicating a strengthening balance sheet.
What new accounting standards will Nathan's Famous adopt in the future?
Nathan's Famous, Inc. will adopt ASU 2023-09 (Income Taxes) for fiscal year 2026, ASU 2024-03 (Expense Disaggregation) for fiscal year 2028, and ASU 2025-05 (Credit Losses) for fiscal year 2027.
What was the net cash provided by operating activities for Nathan's Famous?
Nathan's Famous, Inc. generated $9.938 million in net cash from operating activities for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2025, compared to $14.826 million in the prior year period.
Industry Context
Nathan's Famous operates in the highly competitive quick-service restaurant (QSR) and branded food product markets. The industry is characterized by evolving consumer preferences for convenience, health, and value. Key trends include the growth of delivery services, plant-based options, and the ongoing need for strong brand differentiation.
Regulatory Implications
As a publicly traded company, Nathan's Famous is subject to SEC regulations and reporting requirements. Changes in food safety standards, labeling laws, and marketing regulations could impact operations and costs. Compliance with these regulations is crucial to maintain market access and consumer trust.
What Investors Should Do
- Monitor Branded Products segment growth
- Analyze profitability drivers
- Assess balance sheet improvement
Glossary
- Stockholders' Deficit
- A situation where a company's total liabilities exceed its total assets, resulting in a negative equity position. (Indicates the company's net worth is negative, though it has improved from $(16.513) million to $(5.903) million.)
- Branded Products
- Revenue generated from the sale of branded food products, such as packaged goods sold in retail stores. (This segment showed strong growth of 14.7%, contributing significantly to the overall revenue increase.)
- Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
- The value of assets recognized on the balance sheet representing a company's right to use an asset for a specified period under an operating lease. (Represents the company's long-term rental commitments, which decreased from $4.987 million to $4.242 million.)
- Treasury stock
- Shares of a company's own stock that it has repurchased from the open market. (The company holds a significant amount of treasury stock ($86.662 million), which reduces total stockholders' equity.)
Year-Over-Year Comparison
Compared to the prior year's comparable period, Nathan's Famous reported an 8% increase in total revenues, reaching $92.685 million, largely propelled by a 14.7% surge in Branded Products revenue. However, net income saw a 7.7% decrease to $14.127 million, and diluted EPS fell to $3.42 from $3.74. While interest expense was reduced, this was not enough to offset other factors impacting profitability. The company's balance sheet shows improvement, with cash increasing and total liabilities decreasing, leading to a better stockholders' deficit position.
Filing Stats: 4,494 words · 18 min read · ~15 pages · Grade level 16.7 · Accepted 2025-11-06 07:01:00
Filing Documents
- nath20250928_10q.htm (10-Q) — 1521KB
- ex_880585.htm (EX-31.1) — 12KB
- ex_880586.htm (EX-31.2) — 12KB
- ex_880587.htm (EX-32.1) — 5KB
- ex_880588.htm (EX-32.2) — 5KB
- 0001437749-25-033452.txt ( ) — 7997KB
- nath-20250928.xsd (EX-101.SCH) — 67KB
- nath-20250928_def.xml (EX-101.DEF) — 397KB
- nath-20250928_lab.xml (EX-101.LAB) — 349KB
- nath-20250928_pre.xml (EX-101.PRE) — 443KB
- nath-20250928_cal.xml (EX-101.CAL) — 55KB
- nath20250928_10q_htm.xml (XML) — 1696KB
Financial Statements
Financial Statements. 3 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 28, 2025 (Unaudited) and March 30, 2025 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) – Thirteen and Twenty-six Weeks Ended September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024 4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit (Unaudited) – Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024 5 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit (Unaudited) – Twenty-six Weeks Ended September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024 6 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Twenty-six Weeks Ended September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024 7 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 8 Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 22 Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. 33 Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Controls and Procedures. 34 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 35 Item 1. Legal Proceedings. 35 Item 1A. Risk Factors. 35 Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. 35 Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. 35 Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. 35 Item 5. Other Information. 35 Item 6. Exhibits. 36
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES 37 -2-
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Financial Statements
Item 1. Financial Statements. Nathan ' s Famous, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS September 28, 2025 and March 30, 2025 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) September 28, 2025 March 30, 2025 (Unaudited) ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents (Note E) $ 32,175 $ 27,802 Accounts and other receivables, net (Note G) 21,613 14,064 Inventories 945 1,221 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note H) 683 2,048 Total current assets 55,416 45,135 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $ 12,672 and $ 12,295 , respectively 2,013 2,114 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net (Note Q) 4,242 4,987 Goodwill 95 95 Intangible asset, net (Note I) 435 522 Deferred income taxes 570 510 Other assets 96 113 Total assets $ 62,867 $ 53,476 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT CURRENT LIABILITIES Current portion of long-term debt (Note P) $ 2,400 $ 2,400 Accounts payable 8,142 6,163 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Note K) 5,010 5,969 Current portion of operating lease liabilities (Note Q) 1,933 1,923 Deferred franchise fees 250 309 Total current liabilities 17,735 16,764 Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $ 291 and $ 327 , respectively (Note P) 46,909 48,073 Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities (Note Q) 2,631 3,528 Other liabilities 864 927 Deferred franchise fees 631 697 Total liabilities 68,770 69,989 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note R) STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT Common stock, $ .01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 9,379,025 shares issued; and 4,089,510 shares outstanding at September 28, 2025 and March 30, 2025 94 94 Additional paid-in capital 64,064 63,492 Retained earnings 16,601 6,563 Stockholders' equity before treasury stock 80,759 70,149 Treasury stock, at cost, 5,289,515 shares at September