Ark Restaurants Corp., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates restaurants and bars in the United States. It operates restaurants in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Florida; and Alabama, as well as fast food concepts and catering operations. The company was incorporated in 1983 and is based in New York, New York.

Ark Restaurants Corp.

Ark Restaurants Corp.’s ARKR investors have been experiencing some short-term losses from the stock lately, despite its bumpy ride over recent months. Shares of the owners and operators of restaurants and bars, fast food concepts and catering operations have lost 31.8% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 5.1% decline. It has also underperformed the sector and the S&P 500’s gains of 6% and 16.3%, respectively, in the same time frame.
A key recent development for ARKR was the release of its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Monday. The company reported weaker top-line performance and continued losses for the quarter and full year, reflecting softer traffic at certain flagship locations and significant disruption tied to ongoing litigation at Bryant Park. While several properties delivered improved cash flow and operational gains — particularly in Las Vegas and select New York and Florida restaurants — these positives were outweighed by lower catering and a la carte sales, as well as the absence of revenue from closed or exited locations.
Ark Restaurants’ management attributed much of the earnings pressure to elevated legal costs and business uncertainty surrounding the Bryant Park Grill and The Porch at Bryant Park, which continued to dampen event bookings and overall revenue visibility. At the same time, executives highlighted improving efficiency across much of the portfolio and noted stronger cash flow trends at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Robert in New York City, and the Rustic Inn in Florida. Despite ongoing inflation in labor, insurance and operating expenses, ARKR emphasized its solid balance sheet and remains focused on stabilizing core operations while pursuing longer-term growth opportunities.
ARKR’s Six Months Price Comparison
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Over the past six months, the stock’s performance has remained weak, underperforming its peers like Flanigan's Enterprises, Inc. BDL and Nathan's Famous, Inc. NATH. Flanigan's and Nathan's Famous’ shares have lost 0.1% and 12.7%, respectively, in the same time frame.
Ark Restaurants did not issue formal guidance or provide a quantified outlook. However, management shared a cautious, qualitative view, noting improved operating trends entering the December quarter. They highlighted better efficiency and stronger cash flow at several locations, including properties in Las Vegas and select New York markets. However, uncertainty tied to the Bryant Park litigation continues to weigh on event bookings and visibility. Cost inflation remains a challenge, though pricing actions are expected to help partially offset higher expenses.
Ark Restaurants operates 17 restaurants and bars, 16 fast food concepts and catering operations exclusively in the United States, located in New York City, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, NV, Atlantic City, NJ, the east coast of Florida and the Gulf Coast of Alabama.
Challenges Ahead for Ark Restaurants
ARKR stock continues to face pressure from ongoing uncertainty tied to its Bryant Park operations, which management described as a significant drag on performance. Elevated legal expenses and disruption surrounding the Bryant Park Grill and The Porch have reduced event bookings and created uneven revenue visibility. While corporate events have started to return and are generating positive cash flow, management acknowledged that the situation remains a key source of uncertainty and cost pressure.
Another factor weighing on Ark Restaurants is mixed performance across the restaurant portfolio, particularly softness in certain markets. Management cited weaker trends in Washington, D.C., where reduced office traffic has hurt lunch and after-work dining, as well as pressure in parts of Florida following unusually strong prior-year demand. These declines have offset stronger results at select locations, including Las Vegas and Robert in New York, limiting overall momentum.
Persistent cost inflation remains a headwind. ARKR continues to contend with higher labor, insurance and operating expenses, which have constrained margins despite targeted pricing actions. Management noted that while pricing and efficiency initiatives have helped, inflationary pressures continue to weigh on profitability and investor sentiment.
ARKR’s Strong Fundamentals Weigh In
Two fundamental factors are driving Ark Restaurants’ stock. One is the potential long-term optionality tied to the Meadowlands Racetrack investment, where management reiterated that ARKR would gain exclusive food-and-beverage rights if casino gaming is approved, creating meaningful upside despite uncertainty around timing and regulatory outcomes. The second factor is improving operational efficiency at select core properties, particularly in Las Vegas and at Robert in New York, where stronger cash flow and cost controls have helped offset softer demand in Florida and ongoing legal-related pressures elsewhere.
Ark Restaurants’ Stock’s Valuation
Ark Restaurants’ trailing 12-month EV/Sales of 0.08X is lower than the industry’s average of 4.17X and its five-year median of 0.28X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Flanigan's and Nathan’s Famous’ trailing 12-month EV/Sales currently stand at 0.28X and 2.63X, respectively, in the same time frame.
Our Final Take on ARKR
Ark Restaurants faces a more mixed operating backdrop, with ongoing legal uncertainty at Bryant Park and uneven demand across certain markets continuing to weigh on near-term visibility. However, improving efficiency and cash flow at select core properties, along with long-term optionality tied to the Meadowlands Racetrack investment, provide some fundamental support. Given these crosscurrents, the stock appears best suited for investors with a higher risk tolerance who are willing to wait for a clearer resolution of key issues. Existing shareholders may find it prudent to hold the stock while monitoring developments, whereas new investors may prefer to remain on the sidelines until greater operational and legal clarity emerges.
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ARKR Plunges 31.8% in Six Months: Time to Hold the Stock or Sell?

Monday, May 20, 2024
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), Danaher Corporation (DHR) and Abbott Laboratories (ABT), as well as a micro-cap stock Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
UnitedHealth shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry over the past year (+10.8% vs. +10.6%). The company’s top line remains poised for growth on the back of a strong market position, new deals, renewed agreements and expansion of service offerings. The company’s solid health services segment provides diversification benefits.
The Government business remains well-poised for growth in the future. Adjusted net earnings per share are anticipated to be in the $27.5-$28.00 band in 2024, higher than the 2023 reported figure of $25.12. A sturdy balance sheet enables business investments and prudent deployment of capital via share repurchases and dividend payments.
However, membership in its global business continues to be a concern. High operating costs due to rising medical expenses are hurting margins. As such, the stock warrants a cautious stance.
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Shares of Danaher have outperformed the Zacks Diversified Operations industry over the past year (+30.7% vs. +11.7%). The company’s Life Sciences unit is witnessing support from stable demand in the academic and applied markets. The segment has been witnessing positive responses toward its new products. The company’s commitment to return value to shareholders is encouraging.
Synergies from the Abcam acquisition bolster the company’s growth. Through its DBS initiatives, it has been able to reduce the impact of supply-chain constraints and inflationary pressures.
However, Danaher is plagued by weakness in the Biotechnology unit due to decreased demand in the bioprocessing business. Softness in the funding environment and lower underlying activity levels are affecting the high-growth markets’ performance. High debt levels may raise its financial obligations and drain its profitability. Given its international exposure, forex woes are weighing on its top line.
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Abbott shares have gained +3.2% over the past six months against the Zacks Medical - Products industry’s gain of +11.7%. The company’s pipeline is generating several new growth prospects, which will help sustain the positive momentum and contribute to the strong growth projection in 2024.
Alinity, the company’s next-generation suite of systems, is a key driver in the core lab diagnostics business. EPD's impressive stretch of strong performance stems from the company’s unique business model. Freestyle Libre CGM device is also on a great trajectory, continually outpacing market growth.
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Shares of Ark Restaurants have underperformed the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry over the past six months period (-3.8% vs. +1.6%). This microcap company of market capitalization of less than $100 million is facing rising operational costs in food and supplies, pressing margins. The company's sensitivity to economic shifts threatens dining spending, impacting revenues.
Lease obligations and the need to refresh premises could negatively impact cash flow. Shifts in consumer preferences and weather can disrupt operations. Reliance on key locations, rising labor and regulatory costs, competition, and cybersecurity risks pose threats.
Yet, Ark Restaurants' financial management, revenue resilience in the fiscal first quarter of 2024, diverse portfolio, and strategic expansion signal growth potential. Investments in infrastructure and operational efficiency aim at profitability. The company could potentially capitalize on the food service industry, which is projected to witness a robust expansion.
(You can read the full research report on Ark Restaurants here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Intuit Inc. (INTU), CME Group Inc. (CME) and Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC).
Director of Research
Sheraz Mian
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR)
Q4 2023 Results Conference Call
Company Participants
Christopher Love - Secretary
Michael Weinstein - Chairman and CEO
Anthony Sirica - President and CFO
Conference Call Participants
Jeff Kaminski - JJK Consultants
Presentation
Operator
Greetings, and welcome to Ark Restaurants Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended Results. At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions]. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.
It is now my pleasure to introduce Christopher Love, Secretary. Thank you. You may begin.
Christopher Love
Thank you, operator. Good morning, and thank you for joining us on our conference call for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. My name is Christopher Love, and I am the Secretary of Ark Restaurants. With me on the call today is Michael Weinstein, our Chairman and CEO; and Anthony Sirica, our President and Chief Financial Officer.
For those of you who have not yet obtained a copy of our press release, it was issued over the Newswires yesterday and is available on our website. To review the full text of that press release, along with the associated financial tables, please go to our homepage at www.arkrestaurants.com.
Before we begin, however, I'd like to read the safe harbor statement. I will need to remind everyone that part of our discussion this morning will include forward-looking statements and that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on them. We refer everyone to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more detailed discussion of the risks that may have a direct bearing on our operating results, performance and financial condition.
I'll now turn the call over to Michael.
Michael Weinstein
Before I start, I want to bring in Anthony, our CFO and President, to talk about our balance sheet and the write-off of the goodwill to try to give you better explanation.
Anthony Sirica
Good morning, everyone. Our balance sheet at year-end continues to be strong. Our cash position was about $13.5 million. Currently, it's probably tracking a little higher than that. Our debt is $7.2 million compared to $20-some-odd million last year, $24 million last year. As you might be aware, we paid off about $16 million of our notes late March, early April with our new credit agreement.
The only other significant change, as you read in the release, was a goodwill impairment of $10 million. As we got into the quarter close, we realized that there was a triggering event related to our goodwill assessment due to the decline in the stock price and the upcoming expiration of the Bryant Park leases and the related RFPs that were issued for the spaces.
So as a result, we performed a quantitative assessment based on the income approach utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis. The analysis took into account the estimating future after-tax cash flows, discounting them back to present value and the possibility that the leases may not be renewed.
So given all that, we also consulted with third-party experts. The impairment came up to about $10 million. And that's really the highlight of the balance sheet. On the P&L, Michael is going to talk about.
Michael Weinstein
Yes. So, the EBITDA for the year, and I'm going to get to the larger elephants in the room in a few seconds. But the P&L for the year or the EBITDA for the year was about $9.6 million. I would say pretty much on the conservative side, the redo of Gallagher's in addition to the capital improvement cost of some $2 million, probably cost us some $1.6 million, $1.7 million in cash flow.
The reason for that is that our deal going in when we redid the leases at New York-New York, is we agreed that even during the refurbishing periods, we would continue to pay rent. And in addition to paying rent, we were paying full payrolls, insurance premiums, everything related to the cost of operating a restaurant with the exception of the purchase of food and beverages. So food and beverage costs at Gallagher's were about 32% between the closing and the slow uptake on revenue when we reopened, there was about $2.2 million, $2.3 million in missing sales.
Gallagher's is actually now presently, at least this month, performing better than it ever performed. So we think the refurbishing is working in our favor, in terms of revenue. But during that period of time, I would put a number of 15, 16, 17, something in that area of lost cash flow. So the $9.6 million EBITDA, if we had not closed Gallagher's conceivably could have been $11 million plus.
We suffered dramatically the last four months and continue to suffer with sales at our full-service restaurants in Southern Florida. That means JBs, Blue Moon, Shuckers and up until recently, Rustic, which is now -- revenues are on pace with the prior year. But in the other three, we're down 10%, 15% on a weekly basis and it continues.
Our Hollywood property, which is a fast food facility within the Hard Rock Casino has been doing well and comping well. It just got a bump up because we now have table games, which were approved by the state for that casino, and we're seeing a pretty -- early on, we don't know how whether it's just a honeymoon period. But we're seeing a bump in sales in Hollywood and a slight bump in Tampa, where gaming has been expanded to table games.
Our properties in Alabama continue to perform well. Our Las Vegas sales are very strong. The efficiency in Vegas is up dramatically. We were forced when we replace management after Paul Gordon retired. We found that we were not strong enough in certain positions. We also had some poaching going on by other casinos, Fontainebleau this year came after some of our people.
In this particular Vegas market, payrolls are way up because competition for too few good workers is very keen. So, we're having payroll problems there. New York, our business was very good, continues to be driven in large part by events where there doesn't seem to be price sensitivity. Washington, D.C., we're doing good, but not great. That facility continues to underperform our expectations. We keep working on it....
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Ark Restaurants Corp.

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