GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. Class A (GENK)

The company reported a net loss of $3.9 million and a 9.9% decline in same-store sales in Q3 2025, which led to negative market sentiment. GENK launched ready-to-cook Korean branded meats in over 600 grocery stores in October 2025, a move projected to generate over $100 million in annual revenue within 4-5 years. GENK reported mixed financial results in Q2 2025, including a 2.2% year-over-year increase in total revenue to $55.0 million but an operating loss of $1.9 million. The company reported a net loss of $2.1 million in Q1 2025, a significant shift from a net income in the prior year, causing the stock to fall by 9.52% in aftermarket trading. The grand opening of its first international location in Ilsan, South Korea, marked a significant milestone for the company. The share price has experienced a significant decline, falling by 69.08% from November 26, 2024, to November 25, 2025.

For GEN Restaurant Group, Inc., demand seasonality is a factor in its financial performance. Specifically, the first quarter (Q1) is noted to have "low cash convertibility," indicating that the company typically experiences lower cash flow generation during this period.

GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. operates as an Asian casual dining restaurant chain known for its "GEN Korean BBQ" concept. The company offers traditional Korean and Korean-American food, featuring high-quality meats, poultry, seafood, and mixed vegetables, which guests prepare on embedded grills at their tables. GEN Restaurant Group has also launched a line of ready-to-cook Korean branded meats for sale in grocery stores. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cerritos, California.

GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. operates restaurants across the United States, with locations in states such as California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Florida. The company has been actively expanding its presence, opening 15 new restaurants in the first nine months of 2025, including six in South Korea, bringing its total to 57 locations. GENK's ready-to-cook Korean meats are available in over 600 grocery stores, including Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Sam's Club, primarily in California and Hawaii.

GEN Restaurant Group's brand reputation has been shaped by its expansion efforts and market challenges. The company's "grill at your table" Korean BBQ concept is designed to offer a unique experiential dining, appealing to a broad demographic. A sharp decline in same-store sales in Q2 2025 was attributed to "global tariffs and immigration enforcement impacting its predominantly Hispanic customer base." Management emphasizes that same-store sales are not the sole metric defining their success, highlighting the average unit volume (AUV) revenue of $5.2 million per restaurant.

Insiders own a substantial portion of the company, with David Wook Jin Kim being the largest individual shareholder, holding 63.36% of the company. Other major individual/insider owners include Jae Chang (29.41%) and Juhee Han (26.24%). Institutional ownership stands at approximately 3.45% to 47.48%, with 35 to 50 institutional owners. Major institutional shareholders include Sanders Morris Harris Llc, Skylands Capital, LLC, Vanguard Group Inc, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, and Geode Capital Management, Llc. Institutions have shown mixed activity, buying 660.3K shares but selling 10.4M shares over the last quarter.