Every material Form 8-K Cracker Barrel filed with the SEC in 2026, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
Cracker Barrel reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $849.3 million, down 2.2% from a year earlier, while GAAP net income rose to $12.2 million from $6.8 million. For the full year, GAAP net income fell to $31.7 million from $46.4 million, and the company gave fiscal 2027 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlooks of $3.325 billion to $3.4 billion and $180 million to $200 million.
Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $0.54 versus $0.30; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.99 versus $0.74
Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $62.1 million versus $55.7 million, including about $9.1 million from tariff refunds, net of investments
Full-year total debt fell to $337.2 million from $484.6 million; a $150 million convertible note matured in June 2026
Quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share is payable November 12, 2026, to holders of record as of October 16, 2026
Cracker Barrel said David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin' Brands, will become President and Chief Executive Officer and join the Board effective August 10, 2026, succeeding Julie Masino, who will also leave the Board. Masino will remain an employee until October 9, 2026 to assist the transition. The filing contains no financial results, so the leadership change is the main development for shareholders.
David Deno, age 69, was CEO of Bloomin' Brands from April 2019 to September 2024 and will become Cracker Barrel's CEO on August 10, 2026.
Deno's employment agreement sets a base salary of $1,000,000, an initial annual bonus target of 125% of base salary, and an initial long-term incentive target of 360% of base salary.
Deno will receive a one-time sign-on award of $200,000 in restricted stock units and $200,000 in stock options, vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date.
Masino's Transition Agreement provides separation payments and equity treatment consistent with a termination without Cause under her July 17, 2023 employment agreement.
Cracker Barrel completed a sale-leaseback of 26 stores for approximately $77 million in net proceeds, which it plans to use to reduce debt. It also sold assets of its Maple Street Biscuit Company business to Biscuit Belly, LLC and will close the remaining 16 MSBC locations, with expected non-cash charges of $37 million to $39 million and cash charges of $6 million to $8 million. The company now expects to achieve or exceed the high end of its fiscal 2026 revenue range and exceed its adjusted EBITDA outlook, though the charges will weigh on reported results in the fourth quarter.
Sale-leaseback: 26 Cracker Barrel stores sold to an institutional real estate investor, effective July 17, 2026, with initial annual lease payments of about $5.7 million
MSBC: 35 locations and trademarks sold to Biscuit Belly, LLC on July 20, 2026; remaining 16 locations to close; MSBC contributed less than 2% of annual revenue
Charges: non-cash charges of $37 million to $39 million and cash charges of $6 million to $8 million, with estimates described as preliminary
Outlook: fiscal 2026 revenue range previously $3.27 billion to $3.30 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $120 million to $125 million; comparable store restaurant sales fell about 2.5% in the first eleven weeks of the fourth quarter
Cracker Barrel reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 revenue of $797.4 million, down 2.9% from a year earlier, and GAAP diluted earnings of $1.90 per share, which include a $47.4 million litigation settlement benefit. Excluding non-GAAP adjustments, adjusted diluted earnings were $0.29 per share versus $0.58 a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA was $40.3 million versus $48.1 million. The company raised its fiscal 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook, which is the main positive for shareholders.
Q3 total revenue $797.4 million, down 2.9%; comparable store restaurant sales down 2.6%
GAAP diluted EPS $1.90 vs $0.56; adjusted diluted EPS $0.29 vs $0.58
Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook raised to $120 million to $125 million from $85 million to $100 million
Fiscal 2026 revenue outlook raised to $3.27 billion to $3.30 billion from $3.24 billion to $3.27 billion
Cracker Barrel said General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Richard Wolfson retired early on May 1, 2026, instead of the previously planned May 5, 2026, and that Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Jennifer Lankford was promoted to succeed him effective upon his retirement. The change is administrative in nature, with the company citing a successful succession planning process, though it affects a senior legal officer.
Richard Wolfson, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, retired May 1, 2026, four days earlier than the planned May 5, 2026 date.
Jennifer Lankford, previously Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, was promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Wolfson's Consulting Agreement is terminated; he will receive previously disclosed benefits, and his incentive awards will settle under the equity plans, prorated to his retirement date.
Cracker Barrel reported fiscal 2026 second-quarter revenue of $874.8 million, down 7.9% from the prior year quarter, with GAAP diluted EPS of $0.06 versus $0.99 a year earlier. The company narrowed its fiscal 2026 outlook, with adjusted EBITDA now expected at $85 million to $100 million, compared with the previous $70 million to $110 million range.
Q2 total revenue $874.8 million, down 7.9%; comparable store restaurant sales down 7.1% and comparable store retail sales down 9.2%
GAAP diluted EPS $0.06 vs. $0.99; adjusted diluted EPS $0.25 vs. $1.38; GAAP net income $1.3 million vs. $22.2 million
Fiscal 2026 outlook: revenue $3.24 billion to $3.27 billion (previously $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion); adjusted EBITDA $85 million to $100 million (previously $70 million to $110 million)
Expects a net cash benefit of about $46 million in the third quarter from settlement of certain litigation; quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share payable May 13, 2026
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text (each brief's own page names the model) and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the model's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.
Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every Cracker Barrel filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →