Kura Sushi USA, Inc. operates technology-enabled Japanese restaurants in the United States. Its restaurants serve Japanese cuisine through a revolving sushi service model known as the Kura Experience. The company was formerly known as Kula Sushi USA, Inc. and changed its name to Kura Sushi USA, Inc. in October 2017. Founded in 2008, it is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc.
Five Weekend Campaigns Including Amazon Prime Day and Seven-Eleven Half-Price Coupons
From this weekend into next week, retail and restaurant chains are rolling out a series of money-saving campaigns. On July 11 only, Seven-Eleven will offer a half-price coupon for a future purchase with every Seven Café smoothie bought by showing the app. Kura Sushi is holding a Hokkaido fair, featuring a piece of Hokkaido salmon sushi at a special price of 110 yen, while a piece of Hokkaido scallop sushi and others are available for 270 yen each. Zoff is running an online-only campaign until September 3, waiving the usual 3,300 yen surcharge for blue-light-blocking lenses. Amazon will hold its annual Prime Day from July 10 to 13, with early deals running from July 7 to 9. Ramen Kaikaya is holding a half-price gyoza festival exclusively for official app members from July 11 to 21, where an order of five gyoza is half price at 159 yen with every bowl of ramen purchased.
Alibaba jumps 10%, FuelCell Energy plunges 18% among Wednesday's biggest stock movers
Stock futures edged lower Wednesday as renewed U.S.-Iran strikes threatened a fragile peace framework and disrupted oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Alibaba shares rallied 10% after a briefing indicated losses in its instant-commerce business narrowed significantly in the June quarter while overall profitability remained intact, easing concerns over its costly expansion into on-demand delivery ahead of its August 28 earnings report. FuelCell Energy plunged 18% after pricing an upsized public offering of 10.71 million shares at $21.00 per share, raising $225 million in gross proceeds, above the initially targeted $200 million. MasTec gained 2% after agreeing to acquire Superior Group for approximately $1.65 billion, including $475 million in stock and $1.175 billion in cash, expanding its data center and mission-critical infrastructure capabilities. Kura Sushi tumbled 5% after cutting its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $330.5 million to $331.5 million, below the $334.1 million consensus, overshadowing a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss.
9988.HK · Demand · Positive Briefing indicated losses in instant-commerce business narrowed significantly in June quarter while overall profitability remained intact, easing concerns over costly expansion.
FCEL · Capital · Negative Priced an upsized public offering of 10.71 million shares at $21.00 per share, raising $225 million, diluting existing shareholders.
KRUS · Demand · Negative Cut fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $330.5-$331.5 million, below consensus of $334.1 million, indicating weaker expected demand.
MTZ · Capital · Positive Agreed to acquire Superior Group for $1.65 billion, expanding data center and mission-critical infrastructure capabilities.
SGC · Capital · Positive Acquired by MasTec for $1.65 billion, including $475 million in stock and $1.175 billion in cash.
Kura Sushi forecasts $330.5M-$331.5M FY2026 sales as it targets ~18.5% restaurant-level margins amid opening delays
Kura Sushi USA now expects total sales for fiscal 2026 to be between $330.5 million and $331.5 million, a reduction driven by significant unexpected delays in new restaurant openings that cost approximately six revenue months. The company maintained its plan to open 16 new units this fiscal year and raised its full-year restaurant-level operating profit margin guidance to approximately 18.5%, citing operational efficiencies and pricing. Third-quarter total sales were $85.9 million with comparable sales of negative 0.4%, as a 5.1% traffic decline was partially offset by a 4.7% benefit from price and mix. Restaurant-level operating profit margin improved 90 basis points year-over-year to 19.1%, and the company ended the quarter with $66.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments and no debt.
KRUS · Supply · Negative Significant unexpected delays in new restaurant openings cost approximately six revenue months, reducing FY2026 sales forecast.
Kura Sushi USA Q3 Non-GAAP EPS beats by $0.05, revenue misses slightly
Kura Sushi USA reported fiscal third quarter Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.03, beating estimates by $0.05. Revenue rose 16.1% year-over-year to $85.9 million, but fell short of consensus by $0.56 million. For the full fiscal year 2026, the company expects total sales between $330.5 million and $331.5 million, below the consensus of $334.13 million, and plans to open 16 new restaurants while maintaining an annual unit growth rate above 20%. General and administrative expenses are projected at approximately 12.0% of sales, excluding litigation costs, and restaurant-level operating profit margins are forecast at about 18.5%.
Freedom Capital initiates coverage on five restaurant stocks, bullish on Dutch Bros and El Pollo Loco
Freedom Capital Markets initiated coverage of five restaurant companies on Wednesday, assigning Buy ratings to Dutch Bros, First Watch Restaurant Group, and El Pollo Loco, while launching coverage of CAVA Group and Kura Sushi USA at Hold. Analyst Lynne Collier set a $95 price target on Dutch Bros, implying roughly 33% upside, citing the company's unique culture, significant white space opportunity, industry-leading cash-on-cash returns, and upcoming top-line catalysts including the roll-out of food. First Watch received a Buy rating and $17 price target, representing 31% upside, with Collier describing it as the emerging leader in the better breakfast category with excellent returns and a long runway of growth. El Pollo Loco was initiated at Buy with a $22 price target, also implying 33% upside, as Collier called it an under-the-radar name with new leadership executing a turnaround strategy that is improving same-store sales and accelerating unit growth. CAVA Group was started at Hold with a $95 price target due to rich valuation at 44.2 times next-twelve-month EV/EBITDA, while Kura Sushi USA was initiated at Hold with a $68 price target, with limited comp predictability and balanced risk/reward at approximately 22 times NTM EV/EBITDA.
Three Restaurant Stocks to Avoid Amid Industry Headwinds
StockStory identifies three restaurant stocks that investors should think twice about. Starbucks, with a market cap of $116.6 billion, faces weak same-store sales trends, an estimated 2.6% sales decline over the next 12 months, and a 4.9 percentage point drop in operating margin. Yum China, valued at $15.06 billion, struggles with lagging same-store sales, projected sales growth of just 5.4%, and a gross margin of 20.3%. Kura Sushi, at a $563.9 million market cap, contends with declining same-store sales, cash burn, and limited cash reserves that could lead to shareholder dilution.
USA