First Watch Restaurant Group (NASDAQ:FWRG) Hits New 12-Month Low on Insider Selling

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FWRG) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $11.56 and last traded at $11.6450, with a volume of 676845 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $12.44.

Specifically, insider Laura Anne Sorensen sold 4,732 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.59, for a total value of $59,575.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 239,050 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,009,639.50. This trade represents a 1.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Matthew Eisenacher sold 6,070 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.59, for a total value of $76,421.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 69,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $881,085.97. This represents a 7.98% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In other news, insider John Daniel Jones sold 4,600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.59, for a total value of $57,914.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 86,422 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,088,052.98. This trade represents a 5.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on FWRG shares. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group from $19.00 to $17.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group from $23.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Stephens cut their price target on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group from $24.00 to $21.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on First Watch Restaurant Group from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded First Watch Restaurant Group from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, First Watch Restaurant Group currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $19.75.

First Watch Restaurant Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting First Watch Restaurant Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Recent quarterly results showed an EPS beat (reported $0.24 vs. $0.08 consensus) and ~20% year-over-year revenue growth, which supports the company’s near-term fundamentals. Earnings & company page
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains largely constructive — multiple Buy/Overweight ratings and an average target (~$19.75) sit well above the current price, indicating upside if execution continues. Analyst note
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional ownership is very high (~96%), which can reduce retail-driven volatility but means flows from large holders will disproportionately move the stock. Institutional holdings
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and liquidity: FWRG sits below its 50- and 200-day moving averages and near its 52-week low; balance-sheet ratios (low current/quick ratios) and modest near-term margins mean upside may require sustained margin improvement. Financial snapshot
• Negative Sentiment: CFO insider sale: CFO H. Melville Hope III sold 7,358 shares at $12.59 on March 10 (≈6% reduction in his stake). High‑profile officer selling often raises short-term investor concern. CFO Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple other insider trims: Several executives (Jay Wolszczak, Matthew Eisenacher, John D. Jones, Laura Sorensen) sold between ~4,600–7,000 shares each at $12.59 on March 10, collectively reducing positions and pressuring market sentiment. Sample Form 4

First Watch Restaurant Group Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $704.94 million, a P/E ratio of 37.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.92. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $15.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 0.29.

First Watch Restaurant Group (NASDAQ:FWRG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.16. First Watch Restaurant Group had a return on equity of 3.20% and a net margin of 1.59%.The business had revenue of $316.35 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $317.49 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.01 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. will post 0.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Watch Restaurant Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new stake in First Watch Restaurant Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in shares of First Watch Restaurant Group in the 4th quarter worth about $64,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of First Watch Restaurant Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $66,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of First Watch Restaurant Group by 61.9% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,375 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 1,673 shares during the period. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in shares of First Watch Restaurant Group by 17,042.4% during the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 5,657 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,000 after buying an additional 5,624 shares during the period. 96.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About First Watch Restaurant Group

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc (NASDAQ: FWRG) operates a specialty daytime dining concept focused on breakfast, brunch and lunch. The company’s casual, full-service cafés emphasize fresh ingredients, made-to-order entrées and a seasonally driven menu that ranges from omelets and Benedicts to salads, skillets and afternoon sandwiches. First Watch positions itself as a daytime-only destination, with most locations opening early morning and closing by mid-afternoon.

Founded in 1983 by Ken Pendery and John Sullivan in Pacific Grove, California, First Watch began as a single café and gradually expanded through company-owned and select franchised locations.