Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. Do?
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in distribution of specialty food products in the United States and Canada. The company's product portfolio includes approximately 50,000 stock-keeping units, such as specialty food products, such as artisan charcuterie, specialty cheeses, unique oils and vinegars, truffles, caviar, chocolate, and pastry products. It also offers a line of center-of-the-plate products, including custom cut beef, seafood, and hormone-free poultry, as well as food products, such as cooking oils, butter, eggs, milk, and flour. The company serves menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolatiers, cruise lines, casinos, and specialty food stores. It markets its center-of-the-plate products directly to consumers through a mail and e-commerce platform. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) is classified as a mid-cap stock in the Consumer Staples sector, specifically within the Wholesale industry. The company is led by CEO Christopher Pappas and employs approximately 4,120 people, headquartered in Ridgefield, Connecticut. With a market capitalization of $2.4B, CHEF is one of the notable companies in the Consumer Staples sector.
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)
As of April 2026, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.9/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CHEF ranks #2,679 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Staples sector, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. ranks #109 of 180 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Consumer Staples peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
CHEF Stock Price and 52-Week Range
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) currently trades at $64.53. The stock lost $0.06 (0.1%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CHEF is $73.94, which means the stock is currently trading -12.7% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $45.00, putting the stock 43.4% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 248K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is CHEF Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) carries a value factor score of 50/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 37.29x, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 33.11x — a premium of 13%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 4.19x, versus the sector average of 1.74x. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.61x, compared to 0.35x for the average Consumer Staples stock. On an enterprise value basis, CHEF trades at 20.08x EV/EBITDA, versus 6.93x for the sector.
Overall, CHEF's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) earns a quality factor score of 10/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. The return on equity (ROE) is 11.2%, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 7.7%, which is within a healthy range. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 3.4% versus the sector average of 3.1%.
On a margin basis, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reports gross margins of 24.2%, compared to 26.2% for the sector. The operating margin is 3.4% (sector: 2.9%). Net profit margin stands at 1.6%, versus 1.6% for the average Consumer Staples stock. Revenue growth is running at 7.0% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.1% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.
CHEF Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.0%, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 72.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. Total debt on the balance sheet is $733M. Cash and equivalents stand at $65M.
CHEF has a beta of 0.67, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. is 75/100, indicating low-volatility characteristics and consistent price behavior that appeals to risk-averse investors.
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reported revenue of $3.94B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.50. Net income for the quarter was $65M. Gross margin was 24.2%. Operating income came in at $134M.
In Q3 2025, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reported revenue of $1.02B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.50. Net income for the quarter was $19M. Gross margin was 24.2%. Revenue grew 9.6% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $39M.
In Q2 2025, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reported revenue of $1.03B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.55. Net income for the quarter was $21M. Gross margin was 24.6%. Revenue grew 8.4% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $40M.
In Q1 2025, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reported revenue of $951M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27. Net income for the quarter was $10M. Gross margin was 23.8%. Revenue grew 8.7% year-over-year compared to Q1 2024. Operating income came in at $23M.
Over the past 8 quarters, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $874M to $3.94B. Investors analyzing CHEF stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
CHEF Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Wholesale industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Staples dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Staples stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
CHEF Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) has a momentum factor score of 48/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 43/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 65/100 reflects moderate short selling activity.
CHEF vs Competitors — Consumer Staples Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Consumer Staples sector, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) ranks #109 out of 180 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CHEF in the lower half of all Consumer Staples stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (ITRN) with a score of 60.3/100, DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. (DAR) with a score of 52.9/100, Bunge Global SA (BG) with a score of 53.0/100, SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC (JBSS) with a score of 54.1/100, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) with a score of 52.2/100.
Comparing CHEF against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CHEF vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
CHEF Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy CHEF? — Investment Thesis Summary
The quantitative profile for Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. suggests caution. The quality score of 10/100 flags below-average profitability. Low volatility (stability score 75/100) reduces downside risk.
In summary, Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.9/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CHEF stock.
Related Resources for CHEF Investors
Explore more research and tools: CHEF vs S&P 500 comparison, top Consumer Staples stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CHEF head-to-head with peers: CHEF vs ITRN, CHEF vs DAR, CHEF vs BG.