08:25:10 EDT Wed 23 Sep 2026
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CRACKER BARREL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR FISCAL 2026 RESULTS AND PROVIDES FISCAL 2027 OUTLOOK

2026-09-23 07:15 ET - News Release

CRACKER BARREL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR FISCAL 2026 RESULTS AND PROVIDES FISCAL 2027 OUTLOOK

PR Newswire

Performance Underscores Continued Improvement in Key Operating & Financial Metrics

LEBANON, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 ended July 31, 2026.

Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer David Deno said, "I'm honored to lead such a differentiated and iconic brand. The Company is focused on the right areas and has a strong plan, as demonstrated by the continued improvements in the underlying traffic trend, key guest metrics, and EBITDA results. I am excited about the opportunity ahead and confident that our strategic priorities around food, experience, and people will sustain this momentum and drive long-term value creation."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2026 Highlights
The financial results presented below reflect consolidated operations, including Maple Street Biscuit Company's ("MSBC") results up to the divestiture of MSBC that occurred on July 20, 2026.

  • Total revenue was $849.3 million. Compared to the prior year quarter, total revenue decreased 2.2%.
    • Compared to the prior year quarter, comparable store restaurant sales decreased 2.1%, and comparable store retail sales increased 0.7%.
  • As previously disclosed, during the fourth quarter, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction, divested MSBC, and announced that David Deno was appointed to serve as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 10, 2026.
  • GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.54, and adjusted1 earnings per diluted share were $0.99. (See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.)
  • GAAP net income was $12.2 million compared to prior year quarter GAAP net income of $6.8 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 was $62.1 million and includes a benefit of approximately $9.1 million related to tariff refunds, net of investments, compared to prior year quarter adjusted EBITDA1 of $55.7 million. (See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.)
                                                    Fourth Quarter
                                                         Ended              Twelve Months Ended



 (In thousands, except per share amounts)  7/31/26         8/1/25    7/31/26            8/1/25



 Revenue                                  $849,342        $868,009  $3,318,714         $3,483,684



 GAAP net income                           $12,204          $6,754  $31,675            $46,379



 Adjusted net income(1)                    $22,359         $16,702  $18,043            $70,912



 Adjusted EBITDA(1)                        $62,054         $55,713 $147,714           $224,264



 GAAP earnings per share - diluted           $0.54           $0.30    $1.40              $2.06



 Adjusted(1) earnings per share - diluted    $0.99           $0.74    $0.80              $3.16



Balance Sheet & Capital Allocation

  • The Company ended fiscal 2026 with total debt of $337.2 million, comprised of its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030, with no outstanding borrowings on its credit facility, compared to total debt of $484.6 million at the end of fiscal 2025.
  • The Company ended the fourth quarter with a consolidated total leverage ratio3 of 1.7x and a consolidated senior leverage ratio3 of 0.0x. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company had approximately $541.3 million in available capacity3 under its credit facility.
  • During the fourth quarter, the Company repaid $150 million of short-term debt related to its 0.625% Convertible Senior Notes when they matured in June 2026.
  • During the fourth quarter, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction for 26 Company-owned Cracker Barrel store locations, generating net proceeds of approximately $77 million that were deployed towards debt reduction. The tax-efficient transaction enabled the Company to utilize capital loss carryforwards that otherwise would have expired.
  • The Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company's common stock. The quarterly dividend is payable on November 12, 2026 to shareholders of record as of October 16, 2026.

Fiscal 2027 Outlook

The Company provided the following outlook for fiscal 2027:

  • Total revenue of $3.325 billion to $3.4 billion including comparable store restaurant sales growth of 3% to 5% and no new store openings
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 of $180 million to $200 million2
  • Commodity inflation of approximately 3.0%
  • Hourly wage inflation of 2.5% to 3.0%
  • Capital expenditures of $110 million to $125 million
 (1)
                
              
            
            
               EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP financial measures. For definitions of these non-GAAP measures and reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly
  comparable GAAP measures, please refer to the Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results to Non-GAAP Operating Results section of this release. For purposes of calculating debt covenant leverage ratios presented in this release, adjusted EBITDA is calculated as defined under our revolving credit facility.




 2 
                
              
            
            
              The Company has determined to provide guidance focused on adjusted EBITDA
            
            
              
                
                  1 
                
              
            
            
              because the
  Company believes it will be more useful to investors to evaluate the Company's performance prior to the impact of depreciation, taxes, impairment charges, and other items that management believes are not reflective of the Company's current operations. The Company is not able to reconcile the forward-looking
  estimate of adjusted EBITDA
            
            
              
                
                  (1)
                
              
            
            
               set forth above to a forward-looking estimate of net income, the most directly comparable estimated measure calculated in accordance
  with GAAP, without unreasonable efforts because the Company is unable to predict, forecast or determine the probable significance of certain items impacting these estimates, including interest expense, taxes, impairment charges and share-based compensation, with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, the
  most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP estimate is not provided.




 (3)
                
              
            
            
               Consolidated total leverage is defined as total debt divided by adjusted EBITDA
            
            
              
                
                  1 
                
              
            
            
              (as
  defined under our revolving credit facility), and consolidated senior leverage is defined as total debt (other than subordinated debt and unsecured debt) divided by adjusted EBITDA
            
            
              
                
                  (1)
    
               (as defined under our revolving credit facility). Available capacity is defined as cash and cash equivalents on hand plus revolving credit facility capacity less amount drawn on revolving credit facility and standby letters of credit.

Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter Conference Call
As previously announced, the live broadcast of Cracker Barrel's quarterly conference call will be available to the public online at investor.crackerbarrel.com later today beginning at 8:15 a.m. (ET). The online replay will be available later today.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. - rooted in a rich legacy of warmth, generosity, and tradition - is on a mission to bring the goodness of country hospitality to life. Since 1969, when the first store opened in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel has been serving up abundant portions of craveable homestyle food and offering one-of-a-kind retail finds. With over 650 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 43 states, the brand continues to honor its heritage while welcoming everyone with more than a meal. For more information, visit CrackerBarrel.com.

CBRL-F

Except for specific historical information, certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of items such as revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These and similar statements regarding events or results that the Company expects will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking information is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals," "objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may," "will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue" (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology.The Company believes that the assumptions underlying any forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, actual results may differ materially from those projected in or implied by the forward-looking statements.In addition to the risks of ordinary business operations, factors and risks that may result in actual results differing from this forward-looking information include, but are not limited to risks and uncertainties associated with inflationary conditions with respect to the price of commodities, ingredients, transportation, distribution and labor; disruptions to the Company's restaurant or retail supply chain; effects of changes in international, national, regional and local economic, political and market conditions (such as the imposition of trade barriers or other changes in trade policy) on our business; the Company's ability to manage retail inventory and merchandise mix; the Company's ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance or liquidity; the impact of adverse or extreme weather events on sales and customer travel; the effects of increased competition at the Company's locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; consumer behavior based on negative publicity or changes in consumer health or dietary trends or safety aspects of the Company's food or products or those of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about outbreaks of infectious disease; the effects of the Company's indebtedness and associated restrictions on the Company's financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue its operating plans and objectives; changes in interest rates, increases in borrowed capital or capital market conditions affecting the Company's financing costs and ability to refinance its indebtedness, in whole or in part; the Company's reliance on a single distribution facility and certain significant vendors, particularly for foreign-sourced retail products; information technology disruptions and data privacy and information security breaches, whether as a result of infrastructure failures, employee or vendor errors or actions of third parties; the Company's compliance with privacy and data protection laws; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations and interpretations affecting tax, health and safety, animal welfare, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; the actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations; or the Company's ability to manage the impact of negative social media attention and the costs and effects of negative publicity; the impact of activist shareholders;the Company's ability to achieve aspirations, goals and projections related to its sustainability initiatives; the effects of local market and economic conditions on individual store locations, and uncertain profitability at any newly opened store locations; the Company's ability to retain key personnel; the ability of and cost to the Company to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees; uncertain performance of acquired businesses, strategic investments and other initiatives that the Company may pursue from time to time; the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations; general or regional economic weakness, business and societal conditions; discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of the Company's customers; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"); and other factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. The Company expressly disclaims any intent, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.


   
            CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.


   
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT


   
            (Unaudited)


   
            (In thousands, except share and per share amounts, percentages and ratios)




                                                                                                       Fourth Quarter Ended                                 Twelve Months Ended


                                                                                               7/31/26        8/1/25               Percentage    7/31/26               8/1/25            Percentage
                                                                                                                            Change                                                Change



   Total revenue                                                                             $849,342       $868,009                     (2 %) $3,318,714            $3,483,684                  (5 %)



   Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)                                      244,212        265,016                       (8)  1,026,250             1,081,029                    (5)



   Labor and other related expenses                                                           318,204        316,326                         1   1,237,314             1,254,668                    (1)



   Other store operating expenses                                                             201,643        216,330                       (7)    846,189               855,389                    (1)



   General and administrative expenses                                                         65,178         50,169                        30     210,579               217,510                    (3)



   Gain on sale and leaseback transaction, net                                               (47,421)             0                             (47,421)                    0



   Impairment and store closing costs                                                          27,343         16,190                        69      31,234                20,059                     56



   Loss on sale of business assets                                                             27,039              0                               27,039                     0



   Operating income (loss)                                                                     13,144          3,978                       230    (12,470)               55,029                  (123)



   Gain on extinguishment of debt                                                                   0        (3,186)                      100           0               (3,186)                   100



   Litigation settlement income                                                                     0              0                             (47,422)                    0



   Interest expense                                                                             2,954          4,705                      (37)     14,379                20,489                   (30)



   Income before income taxes                                                                  10,190          2,459                       314      20,573                37,726                   (45)



   Income tax benefit                                                                         (2,014)       (4,295)                       53    (11,102)              (8,653)                  (28)



   Net income                                                                                 $12,204         $6,754                        81     $31,675               $46,379                   (32)





   Earnings per share - Basic:                                                                  $0.55          $0.30                        83       $1.42                 $2.08                   (32)



   Earnings per share - Diluted:                                                                $0.54          $0.30                        80       $1.40                 $2.06                   (32)





   Weighted average shares:



       Basic                                                                               22,351,460     22,267,328                         0  22,334,203            22,252,034                      0



       Diluted                                                                             22,640,171     22,549,821                         0  22,545,123            22,463,943                      0





   
            Ratio Analysis

---


   Total revenue:



       Restaurant                                                                              82.2 %        82.7 %                              81.4 %               81.3 %



       Retail                                                                                    17.8           17.3                                 18.6                  18.7



   Total revenue                                                                                100.0          100.0                                100.0                 100.0



   Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation & rent)                                         28.8           30.5                                 30.9                  31.0



   Labor and other related expenses                                                              37.5           36.5                                 37.3                  36.0



   Other store operating expenses                                                                23.7           24.9                                 25.5                  24.6



   General and administrative expenses                                                            7.7            5.8                                  6.4                   6.2



   Gain on sale and leaseback transaction, net                                                  (5.6)           0.0                                (1.4)                  0.0



   Impairment and store closing costs                                                             3.2            1.8                                  0.9                   0.6



   Loss on sale of business assets                                                                3.2            0.0                                  0.8                   0.0



   Operating income (loss)                                                                        1.5            0.5                                (0.4)                  1.6



   Gain on extinguishment of debt                                                                 0.0          (0.4)                                 0.0                 (0.1)



   Litigation settlement income                                                                   0.0            0.0                                (1.4)                  0.0



   Interest expense                                                                               0.3            0.6                                  0.4                   0.6



   Income before income taxes                                                                     1.2            0.3                                  0.6                   1.1



   Income tax benefit                                                                           (0.2)         (0.5)                               (0.4)                (0.2)



   Net income                                                                                   1.4 %         0.8 %                               1.0 %                1.3 %

                                       
          
          CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

                                       
          
          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                 
          
          (Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)




                                                                                                             7/31/26    8/1/25



 Assets



    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                               $36,535    $39,643



    Accounts receivable                                                                                      36,942     35,070



    Inventories                                                                                             163,874    180,585



    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                38,531     57,814



    Property and equipment, net                                                                             885,795    966,976



    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net                                                                799,797    806,084



    Intangible assets                                                                                         3,365     24,350



    Other assets                                                                                             57,568     51,362



            Total assets                                                                                 $2,022,407 $2,161,884





 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity



    Accounts payable                                                                                       $152,737   $169,848



    Current portion of long-term debt                                                                             0    149,178



    Other current liabilities                                                                               323,499    306,577



    Long-term debt                                                                                          337,231    335,457



    Long-term operating lease liabilities                                                                   650,201    644,026



    Other long-term obligations                                                                              80,533     95,109



    Shareholders' equity, net                                                                               478,206    461,689



           Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                    $2,022,407 $2,161,884





 Common shares issued and outstanding                                                                    22,351,460 22,267,724

                                                               
          
            CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

                                                             
          
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

                                                                    
          
            (Unaudited and in thousands)


                                                                                                                                          Twelve Months Ended


                                                                                                                                  7/31/26                        8/1/25



 Cash flows from operating activities:



              Net income                                                                                                         $31,675                        $46,379



              Depreciation and amortization                                                                                      123,105                        122,238



              Amortization of debt issuance costs                                                                                  2,596                          1,877



              Gain on extinguishment of debt                                                                                           0                        (3,186)



              Loss on disposition of property and equipment                                                                       12,198                          8,591



              Gain on sale and leaseback transaction, net                                                                       (47,421)                             0



              Impairment                                                                                                          21,968                         19,772



              Loss on sale of business assets                                                                                     27,039                              0



              Share-based compensation                                                                                             9,450                         11,742



              Noncash lease expense                                                                                               58,293                         60,712



              Amortization of asset recognized from gain on sale and leaseback transaction                                        12,735                         12,735



              Decrease in inventories                                                                                             15,993                            373



              Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                                                                           (17,111)                         7,560



              Net changes in other assets and liabilities                                                                       (44,316)                      (69,894)



                            Net cash provided by operating activities                                                            206,204                        218,899



 Cash flows from investing activities:



              Purchase of property and equipment, net of insurance recoveries                                                  (115,321)                     (158,647)



              Proceeds from sale of property and equipment, net                                                                   81,101                          1,945



                            Net cash used in investing activities                                                               (34,220)                     (156,702)



 Cash flows from financing activities:



               Net payments on long-term debt                                                                                          0                      (180,075)



               Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes                                                                      0                        335,238



               Net proceeds from settlement of bond hedge and warrants                                                                 0                             52



               Repayment of convertible senior notes                                                                           (150,000)                     (145,875)



               Payment for capped call option related to convertible senior notes                                                      0                       (16,491)



               Taxes withheld from issuance of share-based compensation awards                                                   (1,943)                       (1,448)



               Deferred financing costs                                                                                                0                        (2,892)



               Dividends on common stock                                                                                        (23,149)                      (23,098)



                            Net cash used in financing activities                                                              (175,092)                      (34,589)





 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                                                            (3,108)                        27,608



 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                                                                   39,643                         12,035



 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                                                                        $36,535                        $39,643

                                                                                                                                                                Fourth Quarter Ended


                                                                                                                                                        7/31/26                      8/1/25



          Company-owned units opened during quarter:



               Cracker Barrel                                                                                                                                1                            0



               Maple Street Biscuit Company                                                                                                                  0                            0





          Company-owned units closed or divested during quarter*:



               Cracker Barrel                                                                                                                              (3)                         (1)



               Maple Street Biscuit Company                                                                                                               (52)                         (2)





          Company-owned units in operation at end of quarter:



               Cracker Barrel                                                                                                                              655                          657



               Maple Street Biscuit Company                                                                                                                  0                           68





          Total stores at end of period                                                                                                                    655                          725



          Note*: During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company divested MSBC. This resulted in the sale of 35 locations and the closure of the
remaining 16 locations. Prior to the divestiture, the Company closed one MSBC unit.

                                                                                    Fourth Quarter
                                                                                         Ended                      Twelve Months Ended


                                                                            7/31/26                 8/1/25   7/31/26                     8/1/25



 Total revenue*: (In thousands)



       Restaurant                                                         $686,196                $699,990 $2,645,700                  $2,761,671



       Retail                                                              150,795                 149,739    616,631                     651,791



       Total revenue                                                      $836,991                $849,729 $3,262,331                  $3,413,462





 Cost of goods sold* (exclusive of depreciation and rent): (In thousands)



       Restaurant                                                         $178,211                $184,067   $701,732                    $730,824



       Retail                                                               62,772                  76,379    309,596                     332,394



       Total cost of goods sold                                           $240,983                $260,446 $1,011,328                  $1,063,218





   Average unit volume*: (In thousands)



       Restaurant                                                         $1,045.2                $1,064.3   $4,029.4                    $4,199.1



       Retail                                                                229.7                   227.7      939.2                       991.1



       Total                                                              $1,274.9                $1,292.0   $4,968.6                    $5,190.2



 Operating weeks*:                                                           8,535                   8,550     34,143                      34,199





 Note*: This information is for Cracker Barrel stores only.

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results to Non-GAAP Operating Results
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

Adjusted Net Income and Earnings Per Share
In the accompanying press release, the Company makes reference to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share. The Company defines adjusted net income as net income, calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding, to the extent the following items occurred during the periods presented: (i) impairment charges related to Cracker Barrel stores, and, for periods prior to the second quarter of fiscal 2025, store closing costs (ii) expenses related to the proxy contest in connection with the Company's 2024 and 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, (iii) expenses associated with the Company's strategic transformation initiative, (iv) a corporate restructuring charge that includes consulting fees related to business model improvement and severance related to a reduction in headcount, (v) a gain on extinguishment of debt related to the Company's repurchase of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 0.625% convertible senior notes due and repaid in June 2026, (vi) store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, (vii) a benefit of approximately $47 million related to a litigation settlement that occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, (viii) a net gain on the sale-leaseback transaction that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, (ix) a non-cash loss on sale charge related to the divestiture of MSBC that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, (x) store closing costs related to the divestiture of MSBC, (xi) other non-cash impairment charges related to MSBC, (xii) severance in connection with our CEO transition and expenses related to acceleration of share-based compensation, and (xiii) the related tax impacts of the foregoing.

                                                                  Fourth Quarter Ended                                     Twelve Months Ended


                                                  7/31/26 Margin                          8/1/25   Margin     7/31/26     Margin                8/1/25       Margin



 
            Revenue                           $849,342   100 %                        $868,009     100 %  $3,318,714       100 %            $3,483,684         100 %





 
            GAAP Net Income                     12,204     1.4                            6,754       0.8       31,675         1.0                 46,379           1.3



 Proxy contest expenses                                0     0.0                                0       0.0        4,072         0.1                  8,220           0.2



 Corporate restructuring charge                        0     0.0                                0       0.0        8,743         0.3                      0           0.0



 Cracker Barrel impairment                        13,028     1.5                            4,705       0.5       13,028         0.4                  5,947           0.2



 MSBC impairment                                   8,523     1.0                           11,485       1.3        8,941         0.3                 13,825           0.4



 MSBC store closing costs                          5,430     0.6                                0       0.0        8,525         0.3                      0           0.0



 Loss on sale of MSBC                             27,039     3.2                                0       0.0       27,039         0.8                      0           0.0



 CEO transition expenses                           6,675     0.8                                0       0.0        6,675         0.2                      0           0.0



 Strategic transformation initiative expenses          0     0.0                                0       0.0            0         0.0                  7,263           0.2



 Gain on extinguishment of debt                        0     0.0                          (3,186)    (0.4)           0         0.0                (3,186)        (0.1)



 Litigation settlement income                          0     0.0                                0       0.0     (47,422)      (1.4)                     0           0.0



 Gain on sale-leaseback transaction, net        (47,421)  (5.6)                               0       0.0     (47,421)      (1.4)                     0           0.0



 Tax impact of adjustments                       (3,119)  (0.4)                         (3,056)    (0.4)       4,188         0.1                (7,536)        (0.2)



 
            Adjusted Net Income                $22,359   2.6 %                         $16,702     1.9 %     $18,043       0.5 %               $70,912         2.0 %





 GAAP Earnings per share - basic                   $0.55                                   $0.30                 $1.42                             $2.08



 GAAP Earnings per share - diluted                 $0.54                                   $0.30                 $1.40                             $2.06





 Adjusted Earnings per share - basic               $1.00                                   $0.75                 $0.81                             $3.19



 Adjusted Earnings per share - diluted             $0.99                                   $0.74                 $0.80                             $3.16





 Weighted average shares - basic              22,351,460                              22,267,328            22,334,203                        22,252,034



 Weighted average shares - diluted            22,640,171                              22,549,821            22,545,123                        22,463,943

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP-Basis Operating Results to Non-GAAP Operating Results
(Unaudited and in thousands)

EBITDA/Adjusted EBITDA
In the accompanying press release and the below reconciliation tables, the Company makes reference to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net income, calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense and tax expense. The Company further adjusts EBITDA to exclude, to the extent the following items occurred during the periods presented: (i) expenses related to share-based compensation, (ii) impairment charges related to Cracker Barrel stores, and, for periods prior to the second quarter of fiscal 2025, store closing costs, (iii) expenses related to the proxy contest in connection with the Company's 2024 and 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, (iv) expenses associated with the Company's strategic transformation initiative, (v) a corporate restructuring charge that includes consulting fees related to business model improvement and severance related to a reduction in headcount, (vi) a gain on extinguishment of debt related to the Company's repurchase of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 0.625% convertible senior notes due and repaid in June 2026, (vii) store closing costs associated with MSBC reorganization that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, (viii) a benefit of approximately $47 million related to a litigation settlement that occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, (ix) a net gain on the sale-leaseback transaction that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, (x) a non-cash loss on sale charge related to the divestiture of MSBC that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, (xi) store closing costs related to the divestiture of MSBC, (xii) other non-cash impairment charges related to MSBC, and (xiii) severance in connection with our CEO transition and expenses related to acceleration of share-based compensation. The Company calculates EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin by dividing EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by consolidated GAAP revenue. The Company believes that presentation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (together with related margin figures) provides investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's operating performance and debt leverage metrics and enhances comparability with the Company's historical results, and that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure, when combined with the primary presentation of net income, is beneficial to an investor's complete understanding of the Company's operating performance. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or net income margin prepared in accordance with GAAP.

                                                        Fourth Quarter
                                                             Ended                       Twelve Months Ended


                                                7/31/26                Margin    7/31/26                     Margin



 
            Revenue                         $849,342                  100 % $3,318,714                       100 %





 
            GAAP Net Income                   12,204                    1.4      31,675                         1.0



  (+) Depreciation & amortization               31,345                    3.7     123,105                         3.7



  (+) Interest expense                           2,954                    0.3      14,379                         0.4



  (+) Tax expense (tax benefit)                (2,014)                 (0.2)   (11,102)                      (0.3)



 
            EBITDA                           $44,489                  5.2 %   $158,057                       4.8 %



 
            Adjustments



  (+) Share-based compensation, net              4,291                    0.5       7,477                         0.2



  (+) Proxy contest expenses                         0                    0.0       4,072                         0.1



  (+) Corporate restructuring charge                 0                    0.0       8,743                         0.3



  (+) Cracker Barrel impairment                 13,028                    1.5      13,028                         0.4



  (+) MSBC impairment                            8,523                    1.0       8,941                         0.3



  (+) MSBC store closing costs                   5,430                    0.6       8,525                         0.3



  (+) Loss on sale of MSBC                      27,039                    3.2      27,039                         0.8



  (+) CEO transition expenses                    6,675                    0.8       6,675                         0.2



  (-) Litigation settlement income                   0                    0.0    (47,422)                      (1.4)



  (-) Gain on sale-leaseback transaction, net (47,421)                 (5.6)   (47,421)                      (1.4)



 
            Adjusted EBITDA                  $62,054                  7.3 %   $147,714                       4.5 %



                                                             Fourth Quarter
                                                                  Ended              Twelve Months Ended


                                                      8/1/25                Margin     8/1/25              Margin



 
            Revenue                              $868,009                  100 % $3,483,684       100 %





 
            GAAP Net Income                         6,754                    0.8      46,379        1.3



  (+) Depreciation & amortization                    31,859                    3.7     122,238        3.5



  (+) Interest expense                                4,705                    0.5      20,489        0.6



  (+) Tax expense (tax benefit)                     (4,295)                 (0.5)    (8,653)      (0.2)



 
            EBITDA                                $39,023                  4.5 %   $180,453       5.2 %



 
            Adjustments



  (+) Share-based compensation                        3,686                    0.4      11,742        0.3



  (+) Strategic transformation initiative expenses        0                    0.0       7,263        0.2



  (+) Proxy contest expenses                              0                    0.0       8,220        0.2



  (+) Cracker Barrel impairment                       4,705                    0.5       5,947        0.2



  (+) MSBC impairment                                11,485                    1.3      13,825        0.4



  (-) Gain on extinguishment of debt                (3,186)                 (0.4)    (3,186)      (0.1)



 
            Adjusted EBITDA                       $55,713                  6.4 %   $224,264       6.4 %



Investor Contact: Adam Hanan
(615) 443-9887

Media Contact: Heidi Pearce
(615) 235-4135

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SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

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