Nathan's Famous (NATH) vs Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Nathan's Famous (NATH) has outperformed Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) over the past year, losing 5.8% versus a loss of 62.9%. Over five years, NATH leads with a +63.8% price change compared with -82.3% for PLAY. Nathan's Famous is the larger company by market cap ($416.9 million vs $242.8 million), about 1.7 times the size.
Nathan's Famous pays a dividend yielding 1.97%, while Dave & Buster's Entertainment does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | NATH | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $101.75 | $6.97 |
| Market cap | $416.94M | $242.77M |
| 1-day change | +0.03% | +6.25% |
| YTD return | +8.71% | -59.53% |
| 1-year return | -5.81% | -62.92% |
| 5-year return | +63.77% | -82.28% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.07 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.83 | $-2.56 |
| Dividend yield | 1.97% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $111.39 | $22.10 |
| 52-week low | $88.67 | $6.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.65% | -68.46% |
| Analyst consensus | — | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +86.51% |
| Average volume | 27.52K | 2.09M |
| Shares outstanding | 4.10M | 34.83M |
| Employees | 129 | 23,610 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- NATH has outperformed PLAY by 57.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Nathan's Famous offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.97% vs 0.00%).
About Nathan's Famous
NATH stock →Nathan's Famous, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, operates in the foodservice industry both in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Branded Product Program; Product licensing; and Restaurant operations.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 129 employees
About Dave & Buster's Entertainment
PLAY stock →Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates entertainment and dining venues for adults and families in North America.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 23,610 employees
NATH vs PLAY FAQ
Which is bigger, Nathan's Famous or Dave & Buster's Entertainment?
Nathan's Famous (NATH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $416.94M compared with $242.77M for Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NATH or PLAY?
NATH returned -5.81% over the past 12 months, compared with -62.92% for PLAY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Nathan's Famous or Dave & Buster's Entertainment?
Nathan's Famous pays a dividend yielding 1.97%, while Dave & Buster's Entertainment does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Nathan's Famous and Dave & Buster's Entertainment in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.