Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to other peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Kura Sushi (NASDAQ:KRUS), and the best and worst performers in the sit-down dining group.

Sit-down restaurants offer a complete dining experience with table service. These establishments span various cuisines and are renowned for their warm hospitality and welcoming ambiance, making them perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or simply unwinding. Their extensive menus range from appetizers to indulgent desserts and wines and cocktails. This space is extremely fragmented and competition includes everything from publicly-traded companies owning multiple chains to single-location mom-and-pop restaurants.

The 14 sit-down dining stocks we track reported a mixed Q4; on average, revenues missed analyst consensus estimates by 0.8% Stocks have faced challenges as investors prioritize near-term cash flows, but sit-down dining stocks held their ground better than others, with the share prices up 14.4% on average since the previous earnings results.

Kura Sushi (NASDAQ:KRUS)

Known for its conveyor belt that transports dishes to diners, Kura Sushi (NASDAQ:KRUS) is a chain of sushi restaurants serving traditional Japanese fare with a touch of modernity and technology.

Kura Sushi reported revenues of $51.48 million, up 30.9% year on year, in line with analyst expectations. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' gross margin estimates but a miss of analysts' earnings estimates.

Hajime Uba, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Sushi, stated, “Fiscal 2024 is off to an exceptionally strong start, with meaningful improvements in restaurant-level operating profit margin and Adjusted EBITDA, as well as six new units opened to date with another seven under construction. Our goals for this fiscal year remain the same as last year: maintain excellent operations, continue to rapidly grow the number of our restaurants, and leverage our G&A against our increasingly large restaurant base. I’m pleased to say that we are already making excellent progress on all three fronts.”

Kura Sushi pulled off the fastest revenue growth and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. The stock is up 21.8% since the results and currently trades at $90.63.

Is now the time to buy Kura Sushi? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.

Best Q4: First Watch (NASDAQ:FWRG)

Based on a nautical reference to the first work shift aboard a ship, First Watch (NASDAQ:FWRG) is a chain of breakfast and brunch restaurants whose menu is heavily-focused on eggs and griddle items such as pancakes.

First Watch reported revenues of $219.2 million, up 17.3% year on year, outperforming analyst expectations by 1.2%. It was a stunning quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' earnings estimates.

The stock is up 27% since the results and currently trades at $21.24.

Is now the time to buy First Watch? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.

Weakest Q4: The ONE Group (NASDAQ:STKS)

Doubling as a hospitality services provider for hotels and resorts, The One Group Hospitality (NASDAQ:STKS) is an upscale restaurant company that operates STK Steakhouse and Kona Grill.

The ONE Group reported revenues of $76.88 million, up 5.3% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 7.7%. It was a weak quarter for the company, with full-year revenue guidance missing analysts' expectations and a miss of analysts' revenue estimates.

The ONE Group had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The stock is down 3.3% since the results and currently trades at $4.42.

Read our full analysis of The ONE Group's results here.

Denny's (NASDAQ:DENN)

Open around the clock, Denny’s (NASDAQ:DENN) is a chain of diner restaurants serving breakfast and traditional American fare.

Denny's reported revenues of $114.2 million, down 2.8% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 2.3%. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with an impressive beat of analysts' EPS estimates but a miss of analysts' revenue estimates.

The stock is up 18.6% since the results and currently trades at $10.26.

Read our full, actionable report on Denny's here, it's free.

Darden (NYSE:DRI)

Started in 1968 as the famous seafood joint, Red Lobster, Darden (NYSE:DRI) is a leading American restaurant company that owns and operates a portfolio of popular restaurant brands.

Darden reported revenues of $2.73 billion, up 9.7% year on year, falling short of analyst expectations by 0.5%. It was a mixed quarter for the company, with a solid beat of analysts' gross margin estimates but full-year revenue guidance missing analysts' expectations.

The stock is down 0.9% since the results and currently trades at $161.66.

Read our full, actionable report on Darden here, it's free.

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The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned