The Chefs' Warehouse Reports Strong Q1 Performance Amid Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 29 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CHEF?
Source: seekingalpha
- Significant Sales Growth: The Chefs' Warehouse reported Q1 net sales of $1.059 billion, an 11.4% year-over-year increase, with organic sales rising approximately 10.4% and acquisitions contributing about 1% to sales growth, indicating strong market performance.
- Improved Profitability: Q1 gross profit reached $257.4 million with a gross margin of 24.3%, and adjusted EBITDA stood at $60.1 million, reflecting ongoing operational leverage and profitability improvements in the North American market despite challenges posed by the Middle East conflict.
- Stable Outlook: Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, projecting net sales between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, gross profit between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $276 million and $286 million, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Enhanced Capital Flexibility: The company reported total liquidity of $278.3 million, including $122.7 million in cash, and made $5 million in term loan prepayments along with a $10 million stock repurchase, indicating a strategic approach to capital allocation amid market uncertainties.
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Analyst Views on CHEF
Wall Street analysts forecast CHEF stock price to fall
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 80.340
Low
66.00
Averages
76.71
High
85.00
Current: 80.340
Low
66.00
Averages
76.71
High
85.00
About CHEF
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. is a distributor of specialty food products in the United States, the Middle East, and Canada. The Company offers stock-keeping units (SKUs), ranging from specialty foods and ingredients to basic ingredients and staples, produce and center-of-the-plate proteins. Its product categories include center-of-the-plate, dry goods, pastry, cheeses and charcuterie, produce, dairy and eggs, oils and vinegars and kitchen supplies. It operates through the foodservice distribution segment, which is concentrated primarily in the United States. The Company’s customer base consists primarily of menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolateries, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores. Its center-of-the-plate products include custom cut beef, seafood and hormone-free poultry, as well as produce and food products, such as cooking oils, butter, eggs, milk, and flour.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Form 144: Officer of The Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF.US) Plans to Sell $9.85 Million in Common Stock
Stock Sale Announcement: The Chief Officer of The Chef's Warehouse (CHEF.US), Papas Christopher, plans to sell 125,000 shares of the company's common stock on May 5, with an estimated market value of around $9.85 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Papas Christopher has decreased his shareholding in The Chef's Warehouse by 95,908 shares since March 3, 2026, with a total value of approximately $6 million.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse Reports Strong Q1 Performance Amid Challenges
- Significant Sales Growth: The Chefs' Warehouse reported Q1 net sales of $1.059 billion, an 11.4% year-over-year increase, with organic sales rising approximately 10.4% and acquisitions contributing about 1% to sales growth, indicating strong market performance.
- Improved Profitability: Q1 gross profit reached $257.4 million with a gross margin of 24.3%, and adjusted EBITDA stood at $60.1 million, reflecting ongoing operational leverage and profitability improvements in the North American market despite challenges posed by the Middle East conflict.
- Stable Outlook: Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, projecting net sales between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, gross profit between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $276 million and $286 million, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Enhanced Capital Flexibility: The company reported total liquidity of $278.3 million, including $122.7 million in cash, and made $5 million in term loan prepayments along with a $10 million stock repurchase, indicating a strategic approach to capital allocation amid market uncertainties.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: The Chefs' Warehouse reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.40, surpassing expectations by $0.15, indicating strong market performance that is likely to positively impact stock prices.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Q1 revenue reached $1.06 billion, an 11.5% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $50 million, demonstrating sustained growth in customer demand and market share.
- Optimistic 2026 Guidance: The company projects net sales for 2026 to be between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, slightly below the consensus of $4.41 billion, reflecting management's confidence in future growth.
- Profitability Expectations: Expected gross profit for 2026 is between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $276 million and $286 million, showcasing ongoing efforts in cost control and profitability enhancement.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse to Announce Q1 Earnings
- Earnings Announcement: The Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings on April 29 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.25 (flat YoY) and revenue estimate at $1.01B (+6.2% YoY), indicating resilience in stable growth.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, CHEF has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, demonstrating consistency in financial performance and market confidence.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates saw one upward revision and four downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced no upward revisions and five downward revisions, reflecting cautious market sentiment regarding future performance.
- Long-term Growth Target: The Chefs' Warehouse has set a net sales target of $4.35B to $4.45B for 2026, showcasing strategic planning under sustained growth momentum despite facing short-term challenges.
See More
Chefs' Warehouse Executive Stock Transaction Overview
- Executive Stock Sale: Tim McCauley, Chief Accounting Officer of Chefs' Warehouse, sold 551 shares of common stock on March 4, 2026, for approximately $34,450, indicating proactive management amid market volatility.
- Tax Withholding Context: The transaction involved withholding shares to cover taxes on previously restricted common stock units that vested, reflecting the company's transparency in compliance and tax management.
- Market Performance Volatility: As of March 21, 2026, Chefs' Warehouse's stock price has fallen 16.50% in March alone, highlighting the high volatility of its shares, which necessitates cautious risk assessment by investors.
- Financial Health Status: Despite stock price fluctuations, the latest earnings report shows the company generated $4.15 billion in revenue and $72.36 million in net income, indicating robust performance in the premium food distribution market.
See More
Chef's Warehouse CFO Executes Stock Sales Amid Volatility
- Executive Stock Sales: Tim McCauley, Chief Accounting Officer of Chef's Warehouse, sold 551 shares of common stock for approximately $34,450 on March 4, 2026, indicating active insider trading within the company.
- Large Share Sale: Prior to this, McCauley sold 7,500 shares at an average price of $70 each on February 18, 2026, totaling around $525,000, with this transaction being part of a 10b5-1 plan, reflecting expectations for future stock performance.
- Market Volatility: Despite Chef's Warehouse holding a niche in the luxury food market, its stock exhibits significant volatility, currently having a beta of 1.28, indicating higher risk compared to the S&P 500, which necessitates caution from investors.
- Financial Performance Outlook: The latest Q4 FY 2024 earnings report shows strong financials for Chef's Warehouse, particularly following the acquisition of Italco Food Products in October 2025, suggesting a promising operational outlook ahead.
See More
Form 144: Officer of The Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF.US) Plans to Sell $9.85 Million in Common Stock
Stock Sale Announcement: The Chief Officer of The Chef's Warehouse (CHEF.US), Papas Christopher, plans to sell 125,000 shares of the company's common stock on May 5, with an estimated market value of around $9.85 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Papas Christopher has decreased his shareholding in The Chef's Warehouse by 95,908 shares since March 3, 2026, with a total value of approximately $6 million.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse Reports Strong Q1 Performance Amid Challenges
- Significant Sales Growth: The Chefs' Warehouse reported Q1 net sales of $1.059 billion, an 11.4% year-over-year increase, with organic sales rising approximately 10.4% and acquisitions contributing about 1% to sales growth, indicating strong market performance.
- Improved Profitability: Q1 gross profit reached $257.4 million with a gross margin of 24.3%, and adjusted EBITDA stood at $60.1 million, reflecting ongoing operational leverage and profitability improvements in the North American market despite challenges posed by the Middle East conflict.
- Stable Outlook: Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, projecting net sales between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, gross profit between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion, and adjusted EBITDA between $276 million and $286 million, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Enhanced Capital Flexibility: The company reported total liquidity of $278.3 million, including $122.7 million in cash, and made $5 million in term loan prepayments along with a $10 million stock repurchase, indicating a strategic approach to capital allocation amid market uncertainties.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: The Chefs' Warehouse reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.40, surpassing expectations by $0.15, indicating strong market performance that is likely to positively impact stock prices.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Q1 revenue reached $1.06 billion, an 11.5% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $50 million, demonstrating sustained growth in customer demand and market share.
- Optimistic 2026 Guidance: The company projects net sales for 2026 to be between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, slightly below the consensus of $4.41 billion, reflecting management's confidence in future growth.
- Profitability Expectations: Expected gross profit for 2026 is between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $276 million and $286 million, showcasing ongoing efforts in cost control and profitability enhancement.
See More
The Chefs' Warehouse to Announce Q1 Earnings
- Earnings Announcement: The Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings on April 29 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.25 (flat YoY) and revenue estimate at $1.01B (+6.2% YoY), indicating resilience in stable growth.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, CHEF has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, demonstrating consistency in financial performance and market confidence.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates saw one upward revision and four downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced no upward revisions and five downward revisions, reflecting cautious market sentiment regarding future performance.
- Long-term Growth Target: The Chefs' Warehouse has set a net sales target of $4.35B to $4.45B for 2026, showcasing strategic planning under sustained growth momentum despite facing short-term challenges.
See More
Chefs' Warehouse Executive Stock Transaction Overview
- Executive Stock Sale: Tim McCauley, Chief Accounting Officer of Chefs' Warehouse, sold 551 shares of common stock on March 4, 2026, for approximately $34,450, indicating proactive management amid market volatility.
- Tax Withholding Context: The transaction involved withholding shares to cover taxes on previously restricted common stock units that vested, reflecting the company's transparency in compliance and tax management.
- Market Performance Volatility: As of March 21, 2026, Chefs' Warehouse's stock price has fallen 16.50% in March alone, highlighting the high volatility of its shares, which necessitates cautious risk assessment by investors.
- Financial Health Status: Despite stock price fluctuations, the latest earnings report shows the company generated $4.15 billion in revenue and $72.36 million in net income, indicating robust performance in the premium food distribution market.
See More
Chef's Warehouse CFO Executes Stock Sales Amid Volatility
- Executive Stock Sales: Tim McCauley, Chief Accounting Officer of Chef's Warehouse, sold 551 shares of common stock for approximately $34,450 on March 4, 2026, indicating active insider trading within the company.
- Large Share Sale: Prior to this, McCauley sold 7,500 shares at an average price of $70 each on February 18, 2026, totaling around $525,000, with this transaction being part of a 10b5-1 plan, reflecting expectations for future stock performance.
- Market Volatility: Despite Chef's Warehouse holding a niche in the luxury food market, its stock exhibits significant volatility, currently having a beta of 1.28, indicating higher risk compared to the S&P 500, which necessitates caution from investors.
- Financial Performance Outlook: The latest Q4 FY 2024 earnings report shows strong financials for Chef's Warehouse, particularly following the acquisition of Italco Food Products in October 2025, suggesting a promising operational outlook ahead.
See More
