vs

Side-by-side financial comparison of Karat Packaging Inc. (KRT) and NOODLES & Co (NDLS). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

NOODLES & Co is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($122.1M vs $115.6M, roughly 1.1× Karat Packaging Inc.). Karat Packaging Inc. runs the higher net margin — 5.9% vs -7.5%, a 13.4% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Karat Packaging Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (13.7% vs -4.1%). Karat Packaging Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($15.1M vs $-2.8M). Over the past eight quarters, Karat Packaging Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (10.0% CAGR vs -1.2%).

Karat Packaging Inc. is a specialty manufacturer and distributor of disposable foodservice packaging products. Its offerings include paper and plastic cups, food containers, cutlery, lids, and custom branded solutions, serving restaurant chains, cafes, catering operators, and retail foodservice clients primarily across North America.

Noodles & Company is an American fast-casual restaurant that offers international and American noodle dishes in addition to soups and salads. Noodles & Company was founded in 1995 by Aaron Kennedy and is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado. The company went public in 2013 and recorded a $457 million revenue in 2017. In mid-2022, there were 458 Noodles & Company locations across 31 states.

KRT vs NDLS — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
NDLS
NDLS
1.1× larger
NDLS
$122.1M
$115.6M
KRT
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
KRT
KRT
+17.9% gap
KRT
13.7%
-4.1%
NDLS
Higher net margin
KRT
KRT
13.4% more per $
KRT
5.9%
-7.5%
NDLS
More free cash flow
KRT
KRT
$17.9M more FCF
KRT
$15.1M
$-2.8M
NDLS
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
KRT
KRT
Annualised
KRT
10.0%
-1.2%
NDLS

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q3 FY2025

Metric
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Revenue
$115.6M
$122.1M
Net Profit
$6.8M
$-9.2M
Gross Margin
34.0%
Operating Margin
7.3%
-5.2%
Net Margin
5.9%
-7.5%
Revenue YoY
13.7%
-4.1%
Net Profit YoY
21.3%
32.8%
EPS (diluted)
$0.34
$-0.20

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$115.6M
Q3 25
$124.5M
$122.1M
Q2 25
$124.0M
$123.8M
Q1 25
$103.6M
Q4 24
$101.6M
$122.8M
Q3 24
$112.8M
$127.4M
Q2 24
$112.6M
$121.4M
Q1 24
$95.6M
$124.3M
Net Profit
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$6.8M
Q3 25
$7.3M
$-9.2M
Q2 25
$10.9M
$-9.1M
Q1 25
$6.4M
Q4 24
$5.6M
$-6.8M
Q3 24
$9.1M
$-13.6M
Q2 24
$9.1M
$-6.1M
Q1 24
$6.2M
$-6.1M
Gross Margin
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
34.0%
Q3 25
34.5%
Q2 25
39.6%
Q1 25
39.3%
Q4 24
39.2%
Q3 24
38.6%
Q2 24
38.5%
Q1 24
39.3%
Operating Margin
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
7.3%
Q3 25
6.9%
-5.2%
Q2 25
13.3%
-5.2%
Q1 25
7.5%
Q4 24
7.2%
-3.9%
Q3 24
10.0%
-9.0%
Q2 24
9.9%
-3.4%
Q1 24
8.4%
-3.7%
Net Margin
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
5.9%
Q3 25
5.9%
-7.5%
Q2 25
8.8%
-7.3%
Q1 25
6.2%
Q4 24
5.5%
-5.5%
Q3 24
8.1%
-10.7%
Q2 24
8.1%
-5.1%
Q1 24
6.4%
-4.9%
EPS (diluted)
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$0.34
Q3 25
$0.36
$-0.20
Q2 25
$0.54
$-0.20
Q1 25
$0.32
Q4 24
$0.28
$-0.15
Q3 24
$0.45
$-0.30
Q2 24
$0.45
$-0.14
Q1 24
$0.31
$-1.64

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$37.9M
$4.7M
Total DebtLower is stronger
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$149.4M
$-38.9M
Total Assets
$287.7M
$280.6M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$37.9M
Q3 25
$44.0M
$4.7M
Q2 25
$57.0M
$1.4M
Q1 25
$56.3M
Q4 24
$59.9M
$3.3M
Q3 24
$60.4M
$1.8M
Q2 24
$52.1M
$1.3M
Q1 24
$46.7M
$3.0M
Stockholders' Equity
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$149.4M
Q3 25
$154.5M
$-38.9M
Q2 25
$155.8M
$-13.9M
Q1 25
$153.3M
Q4 24
$155.6M
$3.7M
Q3 24
$157.3M
$9.6M
Q2 24
$157.7M
$21.9M
Q1 24
$154.4M
$27.2M
Total Assets
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$287.7M
Q3 25
$302.8M
$280.6M
Q2 25
$321.0M
$319.4M
Q1 25
$312.2M
Q4 24
$294.5M
$340.5M
Q3 24
$306.8M
$346.3M
Q2 24
$310.7M
$360.4M
Q1 24
$279.0M
$368.1M

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$15.4M
$4.3M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$15.1M
$-2.8M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
13.1%
-2.3%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
0.2%
5.8%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
2.26×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$33.1M
$-7.5M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$15.4M
Q3 25
$982.0K
$4.3M
Q2 25
$9.8M
$4.0M
Q1 25
$7.7M
Q4 24
$8.3M
$5.8M
Q3 24
$19.5M
$4.7M
Q2 24
$13.7M
$7.0M
Q1 24
$6.6M
$164.0K
Free Cash Flow
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
$15.1M
Q3 25
$736.0K
$-2.8M
Q2 25
$9.6M
$1.1M
Q1 25
$7.6M
Q4 24
$8.0M
$-1.3M
Q3 24
$19.2M
$-4.5M
Q2 24
$13.4M
$-1.6M
Q1 24
$6.4M
$-15.2M
FCF Margin
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
13.1%
Q3 25
0.6%
-2.3%
Q2 25
7.7%
0.9%
Q1 25
7.4%
Q4 24
7.9%
-1.1%
Q3 24
17.0%
-3.5%
Q2 24
11.9%
-1.4%
Q1 24
6.7%
-12.2%
Capex Intensity
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
0.2%
Q3 25
0.2%
5.8%
Q2 25
0.1%
2.4%
Q1 25
0.1%
Q4 24
0.2%
5.8%
Q3 24
0.3%
7.2%
Q2 24
0.2%
7.1%
Q1 24
0.2%
12.3%
Cash Conversion
KRT
KRT
NDLS
NDLS
Q4 25
2.26×
Q3 25
0.13×
Q2 25
0.89×
Q1 25
1.21×
Q4 24
1.47×
Q3 24
2.14×
Q2 24
1.50×
Q1 24
1.06×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

KRT
KRT

Segment breakdown not available.

NDLS
NDLS

Food And Beverage$119.6M98%
Franchise$2.5M2%

Related Comparisons