PLAY (Dave & Buster's Entertainment) EBITDA Margin %: 20.80% (As of Apr. 2026) — Near Median

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PLAY Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc PLAY
65 GF Score
Price $10.27
GF Value $35.79
Valuation Possible Value Trap
! 8 Warning Signs
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What is Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin %?

Dave & Buster's Entertainment PLAY +1.78% 65 EBITDA Margin % is 20.80% as of Apr. 2026, which is 4% below its 10-year median of 21.75. GuruFocus rates PLAY with a GF Score™ of 65/100 and a GF Value™ of $35.79 (Possible Value Trap). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,010 Media - Diversified companies, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks better than 70.69% on this metric.

EBITDA Margin % is calculated as EBITDA divided by its Revenue. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA for the three months ended in Apr. 2026 was $116 Mil. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's Revenue for the three months ended in Apr. 2026 was $559 Mil. Therefore, Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA margin for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 20.80%.


Dave & Buster's Entertainment  (NAS:PLAY) EBITDA Margin % Explanation

EBITDA Margin % is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue. It is an performance metric measuring company's operating profitability. EBITDA Margin takes depreciation and amortization, interest expense and tax into account, which makes it easy to compare the relative profitability of companies of different sizes in the same industry.


Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin % Related Terms


Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin % Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin % Chart

Dave & Buster's Entertainment Annual Data
Trend Jan17 Jan18 Jan19 Jan20 Jan21 Jan22 Jan23 Jan24 Jan25 Jan26
EBITDA Margin %
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 24.21 21.50 22.31 20.31 16.99

Dave & Buster's Entertainment Quarterly Data
Jul21 Oct21 Jan22 Apr22 Jul22 Oct22 Jan23 Apr23 Jul23 Oct23 Jan24 Apr24 Jul24 Oct24 Jan25 Apr25 Jul25 Oct25 Jan26 Apr26
EBITDA Margin % Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 21.91 20.86 9.93 13.60 20.80

PLAY vs AENT, STRZ, AMCX: EBITDA Margin % Comparison

For the Entertainment subindustry, Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and EBITDA Margin % data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin % vs Media - Diversified Industry

For the Media - Diversified industry and Communication Services sector, Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % falls into.


PLAY
65GF Score
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc PLAY
EBITDA Margin % is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Dave & Buster's Entertainment EBITDA Margin % Calculation

EBITDA margin is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jan. 2026 is calculated as

EBITDA Margin %=EBITDA (A: Jan. 2026 )/Revenue (A: Jan. 2026 )
=357.2/2102.8
=16.99 %

Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 is calculated as

EBITDA Margin %=EBITDA (Q: Apr. 2026 )/Revenue (Q: Apr. 2026 )
=116.3/559.2
=20.80 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about EBITDA Margin % →
What does a EBITDA Margin % of 20.80% mean?
Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) has a EBITDA Margin % of 20.80% as of Apr. 2026. EBITDA Margin is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent. View historical data on Dave & Buster's Entertainment and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 21.75. According to the industry distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #296 out of 1010 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, placing it in the top 29.3%.
Is Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % too high?
Dave & Buster's Entertainment's current EBITDA Margin % of 20.80% is near median its 10-year median of 21.75. The Media - Diversified industry median EBITDA Margin % is 8.20. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's value of 20.80% is 153.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #296 out of 1010 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Dave & Buster's Entertainment has a GF Score™ of 65/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Dave & Buster's Entertainment's EBITDA Margin % compare to AENT and STRZ?
According to the Media - Diversified industry distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #296 out of 1010 companies for EBITDA Margin %. This puts Dave & Buster's Entertainment in the upper half of its industry. The industry median EBITDA Margin % is 8.20. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's value of 20.80% is 153.8% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 21.75 vs. the industry median of 8.20, Dave & Buster's Entertainment has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good EBITDA Margin % for a Media - Diversified company?
The median EBITDA Margin % among Media - Diversified companies is 8.20, based on 1,010 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a EBITDA Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, EBITDA Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's current EBITDA Margin % of 20.80% is 153.8% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high EBITDA Margin % mean?
A high EBITDA Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. EBITDA Margin is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent. View historical data on Dave & Buster's Entertainment and its competitors. For the Media - Diversified industry, the median EBITDA Margin % is 8.20 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's current EBITDA Margin % is 20.80%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 21.75. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Dave & Buster's Entertainment stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $35.79, compared to a current price of $10.27 — trading 71.3% below its estimated fair value. The current EBITDA Margin % is 20.80%, which is near median its 10-year median of 21.75 and 153.8% above the Media - Diversified industry median of 8.20. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's overall GF Score™ is 65/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is EBITDA Margin % calculated?
EBITDA Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY), the current EBITDA Margin % is 20.80% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Dave & Buster's Entertainment stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $10.27 is trading 71.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $35.79. GuruFocus considers Dave & Buster's Entertainment to be Possible Value Trap.

Key valuation signals for PLAY:

  • EBITDA Margin %: 20.80% (near median its 10-year median of 21.75)
  • GF Value™: $35.79 vs. price of $10.27 (71.3% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 65/100 with 8 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 153.8% above the Media - Diversified median (#296 of 1010)

No single metric tells the full story. See the PLAY stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Dave & Buster's Entertainment Business Description

Other Exchanges 9DB:Germany
Address 1221 Beltline Road, Suite 500, Coppell, TX, USA, 75019
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc is an owner and operator of entertainment and dining venues in North America that offer experiences for both adults and families under the Dave & Buster's and Main Event brands. The company combines various forms of entertainment, including games, bowling, and watching live sports and other televised events, with a full menu of entrees and appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, all in one location. Its concept focuses on providing customers the opportunity to Eat, Drink, Play, and Watch, appealing to a balanced mix of adults, families, and teenagers. The company also operates internationally in the early stage as a franchisor of the Dave & Buster's brand.
65GF Score

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EBITDA Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$10.27
Price
$35.79
GF Value