Release – The ONE Group Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Research News and Market Data on STKS

May 07, 2025

Revenues Increased 148.4% to $211.1 Million
Benihana Same Store Sales Increased 0.7% and STK Transactions Increased 4.1%

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (“The ONE Group” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: STKS) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2025.

Highlights for the first quarter 2025 compared to the same quarter in 2024 are as follows (the prior year quarter excludes any contribution from the acquisition of Benihana Inc. which closed in May 2024):

  • Total GAAP revenues increased 148.4% to $211.1 million from $85.0 million;
  • Consolidated comparable sales*decreased 3.2%;
  • Operating income increased$11.3 million to $10.7 million from an operating loss of $0.6 million;
  • Restaurant EBITDA**increased 162.7% to $34.0 million from $12.9 million;
  • GAAP net loss available to common stockholders was $6.6 million, or $0.21 net loss per share ($0.14 adjusted net income per share)***, compared to GAAP net loss available to common stockholders of $2.1 million, or $0.07 net loss per share ($0.02 adjusted net loss per share)***
  • Adjusted EBITDA**** attributable to The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. increased 233% to $25.2 million from $7.6 million.

“We were pleased that revenues, comparable sales and adjusted EBITDA reached or exceeded the higher end of our guided ranges. These accomplishments were driven by another quarter of sequential improvement in our comparable sales trend, positive comparable sales at our Benihana restaurants and strong positive transaction growth of 4.1% at our flagship STK brand. Notably, adjusted EBITDA grew 233% to $25.2 million, significantly exceeding our top-line growth and demonstrating our ability to increase profitability through the execution of our initiatives, tight cost management and our growing economies of scale. We are reiterating our full year guidance for 2025 and remain on track to deliver at least $20 million in acquisition synergies by 2026,” said Emanuel “Manny” Hilario, President and CEO of The ONE Group.

“In 2025, we plan to open five to seven new venues. Over the long term, we aim to balance our significant unit growth opportunities between company-owned and asset-light development, driving shareholder returns while maintaining flexibility in our balance sheet,” Hilario concluded.

Restaurant Development

The Company plans to open five to seven new venues in 2025.

DateBrandLocationTypeStatus
March 2025BenihanaSan Mateo, CaliforniaOwnedOpen
April 2025STKTopanga, CaliforniaOwnedOpen
May 2025STKLos Angeles, CaliforniaOwnedUnder Construction (re-location)
UpcomingKona GrillSeattle, WashingtonOwnedUnder Construction

Liquidity and Share Repurchase Program

As of March 30, 2025, we held $34.1 million in cash and short-term credit card receivables and had $33.6 million available under our revolving credit facility. Under the current conditions, our credit facility does not have any financial covenants.

In March 2024, our Board of Directors authorized a $5 million share repurchase program. During the first quarter ended March 30, 2025, the Company purchased 0.1 million shares for aggregate consideration of $0.3 million

2025 Targets

As of January 1, 2025, we will report financial information on a fiscal quarter basis using four 13-week quarters with the addition of a 53rd week when necessary. For 2025, our fiscal calendar begins on January 1, 2025 and ends on December 28, 2025 and our first quarter had 89 days.

Financial Results and Other Select Data
US$s in millions
 Q2 2025 Guidance
June 29, 2025
2025 Guidance
December 28, 2025
Total GAAP revenues$205 to $210$835 to $870
Consolidated comparable sales -5.5% to -4%-3% to 1%
Managed, license and franchise fee revenues $3 to $4$15 to $16
Total owned operating expenses as a percentage of owned restaurant net revenue Approx. 83%83.5% to 82.2%
Consolidated total G&A, excluding stock-based compensation Approx. $11Approx. $47
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA*$23 to $25$95 to $115
Consolidated restaurant pre-opening expenses $1.5 to $2$7 to $8
Consolidated effective income tax rate  Approx. 7.5%
Consolidated total capital expenditures, net of allowances received by landlords $45 to $50
Consolidated number of new system-wide venues 2 new venues5-7 new venues

*We have not reconciled guidance for Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the corresponding GAAP financial measure because we do not provide guidance for the various reconciling items. We are unable to provide guidance for these reconciling items because we cannot determine their probable significance, as certain items are outside of our control and cannot be reasonably predicted since these items could vary significantly from period to period. Accordingly, reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measure are not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call and Webcast

Emanuel “Manny” Hilario, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tyler Loy, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 412-542-4186. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing 412-317-6671; the passcode is 10198138. The replay will be available until Thursday, May 22, 2025.

The webcast can be accessed from the Investor Relations tab of The ONE Group’s website at www.togrp.com under “News / Events.”

About The ONE Group

The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (Nasdaq: STKS) is an international restaurant company that develops and operates upscale and polished casual, high-energy restaurants and lounges and provides hospitality management services for hotels, casinos and other high-end venues both in the U.S. and internationally. The ONE Group’s focus is to be the global leader in Vibe Dining, and its primary restaurant brands and operations are:

  • STK, a modern twist on the American steakhouse concept with restaurants in major metropolitan cities in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, featuring premium steaks, seafood and specialty cocktails in an energetic upscale atmosphere.
  • Benihana, an interactive dining destination with highly skilled chefs preparing food right in front of guests and served in an energetic atmosphere alongside fresh sushi and innovative cocktails. The Company franchises Benihanas in the U.S., Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
  • Kona Grill, a polished casual, bar-centric grill concept with restaurants in the U.S., featuring American favorites, award-winning sushi, and specialty cocktails in an upscale casual atmosphere.
  • RA Sushi, a Japanese cuisine concept that offers a fun-filled, bar-forward, upbeat, and vibrant dining atmosphere with restaurants in the U.S. anchored by creative sushi, inventive drinks, and outstanding service.
  • Salt Water Social is your gateway to the seven seas, featuring an array of signature and unique fresh seafood items, complemented by the highest quality beef dishes and elegant, delicious cocktails.
  • Samurai, an interactive dining experience located in sunny Miami, FL and soon to be in Westwood, CA, provides a distinctive dining experience where skilled personal chefs masterfully perform the ancient art of teppanyaki, anywhere from two to twenty tables, right before your eyes along with a robust selection of steak offerings.
  • ONE Hospitality, The ONE Group’s food and beverage hospitality services business develops, manages and operates premier restaurants and turnkey food and beverage services within high-end hotels and casinos currently operating venues in the U.S. and Europe.

Additional information about The ONE Group can be found at www.togrp.com.

Non-GAAP Definitions

We have evolved our definition of non-GAAP financial measures starting in Q3 2024 and Q1 2025. We use certain non-GAAP measures in analyzing operating performance and believe that the presentation of these measures provides investors and analysts with information that is beneficial to gaining an understanding of the Company’s financial results. Non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP.

We exclude items management does not consider in the evaluation of its ongoing core operating performance from adjusted net income, adjusted net income / (loss) per share, and Adjusted EBITDA. Starting in Q3 2024, we no longer deduct pre-opening expenses from Adjusted EBITDA. Starting in Q1 2025, we are deducting Series A Preferred Stock paid in kind dividend and accretion from adjusted net income / (loss). Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included under “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” in this press release.

*Comparable sales represent total U.S. food and beverage sales at owned and managed units, a non-GAAP financial measure, opened for at least a full 24-months. This measure includes total revenue from our owned and managed locations. The Company monitors sales growth at its established restaurant base in addition to growth that results from restaurant acquisitions and new restaurant openings. Refer to the reconciliation of GAAP revenue to total food and beverage sales at owned and managed units in this press release.

**We define Restaurant EBITDA as owned restaurant net revenue minus owned restaurant cost of sales and owned restaurant operating expenses before non-cash rent. Restaurant EBITDA has been presented in this press release and is a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Refer to the reconciliation of Operating income to Restaurant EBITDA in this press release.

***We define adjusted net income / (loss) as net income / (loss) available to common stockholders before Series A Preferred Stock paid-in-kind dividend and accretion, transaction and exit expenses, transition and integration expenses, non-cash rent during the pre-opening period, other non-recurring costs and the income tax effect of any adjustments. Adjusted net income / (loss) has been presented in this press release and is a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Refer to the reconciliation of net (loss) / income to adjusted net income / (loss) available to common stockholders in this press release.

****We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash impairment loss, non-cash rent expense, non-recurring gains and losses, stock-based compensation, transaction and exit costs and transition and integration expenses. Starting in Q3 2024, pre-opening expenses are no longer deducted from Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA has been presented in this press release and is a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. Refer to the reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA in this press release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including with respect to the impact of the Benihana Inc. acquisition, restaurant openings and 2025 financial targets. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “target,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” “outlook,” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: (1) our ability to integrate the new or acquired restaurants into our operations without disruptions to operations; (2) our ability to capture anticipated synergies; (3) our ability to open new restaurants and food and beverage locations in current and additional markets, grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with suppliers and obtain adequate supply of products and retain employees; (4 )factors beyond our control that affect the number and timing of new restaurant openings, including weather conditions and factors under the control of landlords, contractors and regulatory and/or licensing authorities; (5) our ability to successfully improve performance and cost, realize the benefits of our marketing efforts and achieve improved results as we focus on developing new management and license deals; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that The ONE Group may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors, including economic downturns; (8) the impact of actual and potential changes in immigration policies and the imposition of tariffs, including increases in food prices and inflation and potential labor shortages and any resulting negative impacts on the macro-economic environment; and (9) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Investors are referred to the most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View the full release here.

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