Is First Watch Stock a Good Investment?

First Watch Investment Advice

  FWRG
To provide specific investment advice or recommendations on First Watch Restaurant stock, we recommend investors consider the following general factors when evaluating First Watch Restaurant. This will help you to make an informed decision on whether to include First Watch in one of your diversified portfolios:
  • Examine First Watch's financial health by looking at its balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Analyze key financial ratios, such as Price-to-Earnings (P/E), Price-to-Sales (P/S), and Price-to-Book (P/B), to determine whether the stock is fairly valued or over/undervalued.
  • Research First Watch's leadership team and their track record. Good management can help First Watch navigate difficult times and make strategic decisions that benefit shareholders and increases its net worth.
  • Consider the overall health of the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure space and any emerging trends that could impact First Watch's business and its evolving consumer preferences.
  • Compare First Watch's performance and market position to its competitors. Analyze how First Watch is positioned in terms of product offerings, innovation, and market share.
  • Check if First Watch pays a dividend and its dividend yield and payout ratio.
  • Review what financial analysts are saying about First Watch's stock and their price targets. However, remember that analysts' opinions can vary, and their predictions may not always be accurate.
It's important to note that investing in First Watch Restaurant stock, carries risks, and you should carefully consider your investment goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions. Also, remember that it's important for investors to have a long-term perspective and a well-diversified portfolio to manage the impact of stock market volatility on their investments. Below is a detailed guide on how to decide if First Watch Restaurant is a good investment.
 
Sell
 
Buy
Hold
Our trade advice tool can cross-verify current analyst consensus on First Watch Restaurant and to analyze the company potential to grow in the current economic cycle. To make sure First Watch is not overpriced, please confirm all First Watch Restaurant fundamentals, including its revenue, cash flow from operations, working capital, as well as the relationship between the cash per share and number of employees . Given that First Watch Restaurant has a number of shares shorted of 4.69 M, we urge you to verify First Watch Restaurant market performance and probability of bankruptcy to ensure the company can sustain itself in the current economic cycle given your prevailing risk tolerance and investing horizon.

Market Performance

Very WeakDetails

Volatility

Not too volatileDetails

Hype Condition

Low keyDetails

Current Valuation

UndervaluedDetails

Odds Of Distress

Above AverageDetails

Economic Sensitivity

Responds to the marketDetails

Investor Sentiment

AlarmedDetails

Analyst Consensus

Strong BuyDetails

Financial Strenth (F Score)

HealthyDetails

Financial Leverage

Not RatedDetails

Reporting Quality (M-Score)

Unlikely ManipulatorDetails

Examine First Watch Stock

Researching First Watch's stock involves analyzing various aspects of the company and its industry to make an informed investment decision. The key areas to focus on are fundamentals, business model and competitive advantage. It is also important to analyze trends in revenue, net income, and cash flow, as well as key financial ratios, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and debt-to-equity (D/E). About 98.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors. The company has price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.78. Some equities with similar Price to Book (P/B) outperform the market in the long run. First Watch Restaurant has Price/Earnings To Growth (PEG) ratio of 2.17. The entity had not issued any dividends in recent years.
To determine if First Watch is a good investment, evaluating the company's potential for future growth is also very important. This may include expanding into new markets, launching new products or services, or improving operational efficiency. Companies with strong growth prospects can be more attractive investments. This aspect of the research should be conducted in the context of the overall market and industry in which the company operates and should include an analysis of growth potential, competitive landscape, and any regulatory or economic factors that could impact the business. Some of the essential points regarding First Watch's research are outlined below:
First Watch generated a negative expected return over the last 90 days
First Watch has high historical volatility and very poor performance
First Watch has high likelihood to experience some financial distress in the next 2 years
First Watch Restaurant currently holds 620.51 M in liabilities with Debt to Equity (D/E) ratio of 0.95, which is about average as compared to similar companies. First Watch Restaurant has a current ratio of 0.74, indicating that it has a negative working capital and may not be able to pay financial obligations when due. Note, when we think about First Watch's use of debt, we should always consider it together with its cash and equity.
Over 98.0% of First Watch shares are owned by institutional investors
Latest headline from finance.yahoo.com: Restaurant chain First Watch targets growth in Orlando area with five new locations

First Watch Quarterly Cash And Short Term Investments

33.31 Million

First Watch uses earnings reports to provide investors with an update of all three financial statements, including the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. Therefore, it is also crucial when considering investing in First Watch Restaurant. Every quarterly earnings report provides investors with an overview of sales, expenses, and net income for the most recent period. It also may provide a comparison to First Watch's previous reporting period. The quarterly earnings reports are usually disseminated to the public via Form 10-Q, which is a legal document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission every quarter.
5th of March 2024
Upcoming Quarterly Report
View
7th of May 2024
Next Financial Report
View
31st of December 2023
Next Fiscal Quarter End
View
5th of March 2024
Next Fiscal Year End
View
30th of September 2023
Last Quarter Report
View
31st of December 2022
Last Financial Announcement
View
Earnings surprises can significantly impact First Watch's stock price both in the short term and over time. Negative earnings surprises usually result in a price decline. However, it has been seen that positive earnings surprises lead to an immediate rise in a stock's price and a gradual increase over time. This is why we often hear news about some companies beating earning projections. Financial analysts spend a large amount of time predicting earnings per share (EPS) along with other important future indicators. Many analysts use forecasting models, management guidance, and additional fundamental information to derive an EPS estimate. Below are the table of largest EPS Surprises First Watch's investors have experienced.
Reported
Fiscal Date
Estimated EPS
Reported EPS
Surprise
2022-08-09
2022-06-300.040.050.0125 
2024-08-06
2024-06-300.120.140.0216 
2024-05-07
2024-03-310.10.120.0220 
2025-03-11
2024-12-310.02610.04850.022485 
2022-11-07
2022-09-300.038.0E-4-0.029297 
2023-03-07
2022-12-310.02-0.01-0.03150 
2022-05-10
2022-03-310.050.080.0360 
2022-03-23
2021-12-31-0.07-0.040.0342 

First Watch Target Price Consensus

First target price is determined by taking all analyst projections and averaging them out. There is no one specific way to measure analysts' performance other than comparing it to past results via a very sophisticated attribution analysis. First Watch's target price projections below should be used in combination with other traditional price prediction techniques such as stock price forecasting, investor sentiment analysis, technical analysis, earnings estimate, and various momentum models.
   11  Strong Buy
Most First analysts issue ratings four times a year, at intervals of three months. Ratings are usually accompanied by a target price to help potential investors understand First stock's fair price compared to its market value. Analysts arrive at stock ratings after researching the public financial statements of First Watch Restaurant, talking to its executives and customers, or listening to those companies' conference calls.
Macroaxis Advice   Exposure   Valuation

First Watch Target Price Projection

First Watch's current and average target prices are 17.29 and 23.82, respectively. The current price of First Watch is the price at which First Watch Restaurant is currently trading. On the other hand, First Watch's target price is what analysts think the stock is worth or could sell for in the future. The more significant the discrepancy between the two prices, the more it stimulates investors to act.

Current Price

First Watch Market Quote on 26th of March 2025

Low Price17.09Odds
High Price17.67Odds

17.29

Target Price

Analyst Consensus On First Watch Target Price

Low Estimate21.67Odds
High Estimate26.44Odds

23.8182

Historical Lowest Forecast  21.67 Target Price  23.82 Highest Forecast  26.44
Note that most analysts generally publish their price targets in research reports on specific companies, along with recommendations for the company's stock.Although price targets are often quoted in the financial news media, there could be a delay between the publication of the latest analyst outlook on First Watch Restaurant and the information provided on this page.

First Watch Analyst Ratings

First Watch's analyst stock recommendations are determined by taking an average estimate of all analysts we track and classifying them as Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Strong Sell, or Sell. Ratings generally communicate what analysts sense about First Watch stock, and they use a lot of effort and time to analyze it and arrive at a rating. That suggests that analyst recommendations are the outcome of an objective and thorough examination of First Watch's financials, market performance, and future outlook by experienced professionals. First Watch's historical ratings below, therefore, can serve as a valuable tool for investors.

Know First Watch's Top Institutional Investors

Have you ever been surprised when a price of an equity instrument such as First Watch is soaring high without any particular reason? This is usually happening because many institutional investors are aggressively trading First Watch Restaurant backward and forwards among themselves. First Watch's institutional investor refers to the entity that pools money to purchase First Watch's securities or originate loans. Institutional investors include commercial and private banks, credit unions, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, endowments, and mutual funds. Operating companies that invest excess capital in these types of assets may also be included in the term and may influence corporate governance by exercising voting rights in their investments.
Shares
Manufacturers Life Insurance Co2024-12-31
1.5 M
Granahan Investment Management Inc..2024-12-31
1.5 M
Brown Advisory Holdings Inc2024-12-31
1.4 M
Federated Hermes Inc2024-12-31
1.2 M
Franklin Resources Inc2024-12-31
M
Wcm Investment Management2024-12-31
947.2 K
Paralel Advisors Llc2024-12-31
900 K
Ubs Group Ag2024-12-31
885.2 K
Geode Capital Management, Llc2024-12-31
862.1 K
Advent International Lp2024-12-31
19.2 M
Blackrock Inc2024-12-31
2.6 M
Note, although First Watch's institutional investors appear to be way more sophisticated than retail investors, it remains unclear if professional active investment managers can reliably enhance risk-adjusted returns by an amount that exceeds fees and expenses.

First Watch's market capitalization trends

The company currently falls under 'Mid-Cap' category with a current market capitalization of 1.06 B.

Market Cap

1.22 Billion

First Watch's profitablity analysis

Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Return On Tangible Assets 0.03  0.03 
Return On Capital Employed 0.03  0.03 
Return On Assets 0.02  0.02 
Return On Equity 0.04  0.04 
The company has Profit Margin (PM) of 0.02 %, which maeans that even a very small decline in it revenue will erase profits resulting in a net loss. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows Operating Margin (OM) of 0.02 %, which suggests for every 100 dollars of sales, it generated a net operating income of $0.02.
Determining First Watch's profitability involves analyzing its financial statements and using various financial metrics to determine if First Watch is a good buy. For example, gross profit margin measures First Watch's profitability after accounting for the cost of goods sold, while net profit margin measures profitability after accounting for all expenses. Other important metrics include return on assets, return on equity, and free cash flow. By reviewing multiple sources and metrics, you can gain a complete picture of First Watch's profitability and make more informed investment decisions.

Evaluate First Watch's management efficiency

First Watch Restaurant has return on total asset (ROA) of 0.0199 % which means that it generated a profit of $0.0199 on every $100 spent on assets. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows a return on stockholder's equity (ROE) of 0.0327 %, meaning that it created $0.0327 on every $100 dollars invested by stockholders. First Watch's management efficiency ratios could be used to measure how well First Watch manages its routine affairs as well as how well it operates its assets and liabilities. The First Watch's current Return On Tangible Assets is estimated to increase to 0.03. The First Watch's current Return On Capital Employed is estimated to increase to 0.03. At this time, First Watch's Total Current Assets are most likely to increase significantly in the upcoming years. The First Watch's current Return On Tangible Assets is estimated to increase to 0.03, while Non Current Assets Total are projected to decrease to roughly 1.1 B.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Book Value Per Share 8.49  6.40 
Tangible Book Value Per Share 0.76  0.80 
Enterprise Value Over EBITDA 23.63  22.45 
Price Book Value Ratio 2.45  2.87 
Enterprise Value Multiple 23.63  22.45 
Price Fair Value 2.45  2.87 
Enterprise Value1.6 B1.3 B
The strategic initiatives led by First Watch's management are central to its market success. By analyzing these initiatives, we provide a clear picture of the stock's growth prospects.
Beta
0.908

Basic technical analysis of First Stock

As of the 26th of March, First Watch shows the Mean Deviation of 2.34, standard deviation of 3.1, and Variance of 9.62. First Watch Restaurant technical analysis allows you to utilize historical prices and volume patterns in order to determine a pattern that computes the direction of the firm's future prices. Please confirm First Watch Restaurant market risk adjusted performance, information ratio, as well as the relationship between the Information Ratio and skewness to decide if First Watch Restaurant is priced favorably, providing market reflects its regular price of 17.29 per share. Given that First Watch has information ratio of (0.05), we urge you to verify First Watch Restaurant's prevailing market performance to make sure the company can sustain itself at a future point.

First Watch's insider trading activities

Some recent studies suggest that insider trading raises the cost of capital for securities issuers and decreases overall economic growth. Trading by specific First Watch insiders, such as employees or executives, is commonly permitted as long as it does not rely on First Watch's material information that is not in the public domain. Local jurisdictions usually require such trading to be reported in order to monitor insider transactions. In many U.S. states, trading conducted by corporate officers, key employees, directors, or significant shareholders must be reported to the regulator or publicly disclosed, usually within a few business days of the trade. In these cases First Watch insiders are required to file a Form 4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when buying or selling shares of their own companies.
 
Advent International Gpe Viii-i Limited Partnership over three months ago
Disposition of 8000000 shares by Advent International Gpe Viii-i Limited Partnership of First Watch at 19.76 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Solheim Jostein over three months ago
Acquisition by Solheim Jostein of 5194 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Advent International, L.p. over three months ago
Disposition of 8000000 shares by Advent International, L.p. of First Watch at 19.76 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Fleisher Michael D over three months ago
Acquisition by Fleisher Michael D of 8153 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Laura Sorensen over three months ago
Acquisition by Laura Sorensen of 22551 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Jemley Charles over six months ago
Acquisition by Jemley Charles of 8134 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Jemley Charles over six months ago
Acquisition by Jemley Charles of 8134 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Kussell William A over six months ago
Acquisition by Kussell William A of 5194 shares of First Watch subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Kussell William A over six months ago
Disposition of 5590 shares by Kussell William A of First Watch at 22.1 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Matt Eisenacher over six months ago
Disposition of 3770 shares by Matt Eisenacher of First Watch at 24.28 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Jay Wolszczak over a year ago
Disposition of 15000 shares by Jay Wolszczak of First Watch at 24.29 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Matt Eisenacher over a year ago
Disposition of 6068 shares by Matt Eisenacher of First Watch at 13.52 subject to Rule 16b-3

First Watch's Outstanding Corporate Bonds

First Watch issues bonds to finance its operations. Corporate bonds make up one of the largest components of the U.S. bond market, which is considered the world's largest securities market. First Watch Restaurant uses the proceeds from bond sales for a wide variety of purposes, including financing ongoing mergers and acquisitions, buying new equipment, investing in research and development, buying back their own stock, paying dividends to shareholders, and even refinancing existing debt. Most First bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when First Watch Restaurant has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

Understand First Watch's technical and predictive indicators

Using predictive indicators to make investment decisions involves analyzing First Watch's various financial and market-based factors to help forecast future trends and identify investment opportunities. Select the indicators that are most relevant to your investment strategy. Each indicator has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to combine multiple indicators to get a more comprehensive view of the market and reduce the risk of making poor decisions based on limited data.

Consider First Watch's intraday indicators

First Watch intraday indicators are useful technical analysis tools used by many experienced traders. Just like the conventional technical analysis, daily indicators help intraday investors to analyze the price movement with the timing of First Watch stock daily movement. By combining multiple daily indicators into a single trading strategy, you can limit your risk while still earning strong returns on your managed positions.

First Watch Corporate Filings

F4
14th of March 2025
The report filed by a party regarding the acquisition or disposition of a company's common stock, as well as derivative securities such as options, warrants, and convertible securities
ViewVerify
8K
11th of March 2025
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
21st of February 2025
Other Reports
ViewVerify
F3
5th of November 2024
The report used by insiders such as officers, directors, and major shareholders (beneficial owners holding more than 10% of any class of the company's equity securities) to declare their ownership of a company's stock
ViewVerify
First Watch time-series forecasting models is one of many First Watch's stock analysis techniques aimed to predict future share value based on previously observed values. Time-series forecasting models ae widely used for non-stationary data. Non-stationary data are called the data whose statistical properties e.g. the mean and standard deviation are not constant over time but instead, these metrics vary over time. These non-stationary First Watch's historical data is usually called time-series. Some empirical experimentation suggests that the statistical forecasting models outperform the models based exclusively on fundamental analysis to predict the direction of the market movement and maximize returns from investment trading.

First Stock media impact

Far too much social signal, news, headlines, and media speculation about First Watch that are available to investors today. That information is available publicly through First media outlets and privately through word of mouth or via First internal channels. However, regardless of the origin, that massive amount of First data is challenging to quantify into actionable patterns, especially for investors that are not very sophisticated with ever-evolving tools and techniques used in the investment management field.
A primary focus of First Watch news analysis is to determine if its current price reflects all relevant headlines and social signals impacting the current market conditions. A news analyst typically looks at the history of First Watch relative headlines and hype rather than examining external drivers such as technical or fundamental data. It is believed that price action tends to repeat itself due to investors' collective, patterned thinking related to First Watch's headlines and news coverage data. This data is often completely overlooked or insufficiently analyzed for actionable insights to drive First Watch alpha.

First Watch Sentiment by Major News Outlets

Investor sentiment, mood or attitude towards First Watch can have a significant impact on its stock price or the market as a whole. This sentiment can be positive or negative, and various factors, such as economic indicators, news events, or market trends, can influence it. When investor sentiment is positive, investors are more likely to buy stocks, increasing demand and increasing the stock price. Positive investor sentiment can be driven by good news about the company or the broader market, such as solid earnings reports or positive economic data.
Note that negative investor sentiment can cause investors to sell stocks, leading to a decrease in demand and a drop in the stock price. Negative sentiment can be driven by factors such as poor earnings reports, negative news about the company or industry, or broader economic concerns. It's important to note that investor sentiment is just one of many factors that can affect stock prices. Other factors, such as company performance, industry trends, and global economic conditions, can also play a significant role in determining the value of a stock.

First Watch Corporate Management

Jay WolszczakGeneral OfficerProfile
Jody GaleSenior LegalProfile
Henry IIICFO TreasurerProfile
Shane SchaiblySenior IncProfile
Calum MiddletonInc RestaurantsProfile
Steven CFAVice RelationsProfile
When determining whether First Watch Restaurant is a strong investment it is important to analyze First Watch's competitive position within its industry, examining market share, product or service uniqueness, and competitive advantages. Beyond financials and market position, potential investors should also consider broader economic conditions, industry trends, and any regulatory or geopolitical factors that may impact First Watch's future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding First Stock, refer to the following important reports:
Check out Investing Opportunities to better understand how to build diversified portfolios, which includes a position in First Watch Restaurant. Also, note that the market value of any company could be closely tied with the direction of predictive economic indicators such as signals in metropolitan statistical area.
You can also try the Investing Opportunities module to build portfolios using our predefined set of ideas and optimize them against your investing preferences.
Is Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of First Watch. If investors know First will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about First Watch listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
(0.75)
Earnings Share
0.3
Revenue Per Share
16.829
Quarterly Revenue Growth
0.076
Return On Assets
0.0199
The market value of First Watch Restaurant is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of First that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of First Watch's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is First Watch's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because First Watch's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect First Watch's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
In summary, please note that there is a difference between First Watch's value and its price, as these two are different measures arrived at by various means. Investors typically determine if First Watch is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, First Watch's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.