PLAY (Dave & Buster's Entertainment) Moat Score: 5/10 (As of Aug. 08, 2026)

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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 Moat Score?

Dave & Buster's Entertainment PLAY +1.78% 65 Moat Score is 5 as of Aug. 08, 2026. 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 1,034 Media - Diversified companies, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks better than 96.42% on this metric.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment has the Moat Score of 5, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment has Narrow Moat: Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc has a solid narrow moat due to its unique entertainment and dining experience, which creates some customer loyalty and brand strength. However, it faces competition from other entertainment venues, limiting its moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Dave & Buster's Entertainment might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

Dave & Buster's Entertainment  (NAS:PLAY) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Dave & Buster's Entertainment Moat Score Related Terms

PLAY vs AENT, STRZ, AMCX: Moat Score Comparison

For the Entertainment subindustry, Dave & Buster's Entertainment's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score 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 Moat Score vs Media - Diversified Industry

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

* The bar in red indicates where Dave & Buster's Entertainment's Moat Score falls into.


PLAY
65GF Score
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc PLAY
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 5 mean?
Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) has a Moat Score of 5 as of Aug. 08, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #37 out of 1034 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, placing it in the top 3.6%.
Is Dave & Buster's Entertainment's Moat Score too high?
Dave & Buster's Entertainment's current Moat Score is 5. Based on the distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #37 out of 1034 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. 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 Moat Score compare to AENT and STRZ?
According to the Media - Diversified industry distribution chart, Dave & Buster's Entertainment ranks #37 out of 1034 companies for Moat Score. This places Dave & Buster's Entertainment in the top 4% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Media - Diversified company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Media - Diversified industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Dave & Buster's Entertainment's current Moat Score is 5. 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 Moat Score is 5. 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 Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY), the current Moat Score is 5 as of Aug. 08, 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:

  • Moat Score: 5
  • GF Value™: $35.79 vs. price of $10.27 (71.3% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 65/100 with 8 warning signs

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

$10.27
Price
$35.79
GF Value