First Watch Restaurant Group (NASDAQ:FWRG) CFO Sells $92,637.22 in Stock

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FWRG) CFO H Melville Hope III sold 7,358 shares of the business’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 $92,637.22. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 115,665 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,456,222.35. This represents a 5.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

First Watch Restaurant Group Stock Down 1.5%

First Watch Restaurant Group stock opened at $11.53 on Friday. First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $11.44 and a 1-year high of $20.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.25. The stock has a market cap of $704.94 million, a PE ratio of 37.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.92. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $15.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.32.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group from $19.00 to $17.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group from $23.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $19.00 price objective on shares of First Watch Restaurant Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. DA Davidson began coverage on First Watch Restaurant Group in a report on Friday, March 6th. They set a “buy” rating and a $17.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price on First Watch Restaurant Group from $26.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Watch Restaurant Group

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC raised its holdings in First Watch Restaurant Group by 21.2% in the 3rd quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 932,064 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,577,000 after acquiring an additional 163,102 shares during the last quarter. Deepwater Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in First Watch Restaurant Group by 14.8% in the third quarter. Deepwater Asset Management LLC now owns 724,714 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,335,000 after acquiring an additional 93,662 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in First Watch Restaurant Group during the second quarter valued at about $306,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new stake in First Watch Restaurant Group during the second quarter worth about $18,350,000. Finally, Armistice Capital LLC acquired a new stake in First Watch Restaurant Group during the second quarter worth about $5,614,000. 96.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

First Watch Restaurant Group Company Profile

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.