Automation Rollout And Cost Pressures Will Shape A Cautious Yet Durable Long-Term Outlook

Catalysts

About Kura Sushi USA

Kura Sushi USA operates technology enabled, conveyor belt sushi restaurants across the United States.

What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?

• Although the company is rolling out robotic dishwashers and other automation to offset labor inflation, delays in manufacturing and installation mean much of the expected 50 basis point labor savings may slip into fiscal 2027. This could limit nearer term upside to restaurant level margins and EBITDA.
• While unit growth above 20 percent and expansion into new smaller markets supports long run brand reach, tighter consumer spending and tougher near term comp comparisons raise the risk that new openings ramp more slowly. This may pressure revenue growth and restaurant level returns.
• Despite a strong pipeline of IP collaborations and Japan inspired menu innovation that should help keep traffic resilient over time, rising guest price sensitivity and check management behavior could mute average check gains. This may constrain same store sales growth and leveraging of fixed costs.
• Although Kura is enhancing its rewards program with status tiers and broadening marketing of its reservation system to non members, adoption may be slower or less incremental than hoped. This would temper expected benefits to guest frequency, revenue per store and G&A leverage.
• While management has proven adept at negotiating with landlords and suppliers to hold net build costs near 2.5 million dollars per unit, sustained tariff and utility cost pressures on both food and non food inputs could erode restaurant level operating margin toward the guided 18 percent. This may limit earnings growth even if sales targets are met.

Assumptions

This narrative explores a more pessimistic perspective on Kura Sushi USA compared to the consensus, based on a Fair Value that aligns with the bearish cohort of analysts. How have these above catalysts been quantified?

• The bearish analysts are assuming Kura Sushi USA's revenue will grow by 19.8% annually over the next 3 years.
• The bearish analysts are not forecasting that Kura Sushi USA will become profitable in next 3 years. To represent the Analyst Price Target as a Future PE Valuation we will estimate Kura Sushi USA's profit margin will increase from -0.7% to the average US Hospitality industry of 8.1% in 3 years.
• If Kura Sushi USA's profit margin were to converge on the industry average, you could expect earnings to reach $39.2 million (and earnings per share of $3.2) by about December 2028, up from $-1.9 million today.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the price target of the more bearish analyst cohort, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 23.9x on those 2028 earnings, up from -352.4x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Hospitality industry at 22.0x.
• The bearish analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 0.38% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 9.03%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?

• Sustained unit growth above 20 percent annually, combined with strong recent new store classes and expanding entry into new markets, could drive faster than expected revenue growth over several years, putting upward pressure on the share price through rising sales and earnings.
• Successful rollout of robotic dishwashers across roughly 50 existing restaurants and all new openings, with an anticipated 50 basis point labor savings per store, may structurally lower labor as a percentage of sales and expand net margins, supporting higher long-term earnings.
• Ongoing development of Japan sourced limited time offerings, IP collaborations and a stronger marketing engine around value could deepen brand engagement and keep traffic positive even in a weaker consumer environment, improving comparable sales and total revenue growth.
• Continued leverage of general and administrative expenses, which already improved by about 300 basis points year over year with a clear path toward a sub 10 percent long term target, may drive significant operating margin expansion and stronger net income growth than currently implied.
• A robust balance sheet with approximately 92 million dollars in cash and no debt, combined with disciplined net build costs around 2.5 million dollars per unit and better tenant improvement contributions, provides capacity to accelerate expansion or invest in technology, which could further enhance revenue scale and restaurant level profitability.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?

• The assumed bearish price target for Kura Sushi USA is $59.0, which represents up to two standard deviations below the consensus price target of $75.44. This valuation is based on what can be assumed as the expectations of Kura Sushi USA's future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors from analysts on the more bearish end of the spectrum.
  
• However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $95.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $59.0.
  
• In order for you to agree with the more bearish analyst cohort, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $486.4 million, earnings will come to $39.2 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 23.9x, assuming you use a discount rate of 9.0%.
  
• Given the current share price of $55.4, the analyst price target of $59.0 is 6.1% higher. The relatively low difference between the current share price and the analyst consensus price target indicates that they believe on average, the company is fairly priced.
  
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.