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Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH): Business Model Canvas [Dec-2025 Updated] |
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Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) Bundle
You're trying to make sense of Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH), which isn't just one business but a collection of seemingly unrelated assets-from Steak n Shake's value dining proposition to its specialized insurance arm and oil/gas exploration. Honestly, the core is a centralized capital allocation strategy managing a portfolio that held $272.49 million in cash as of Q3 2025, even as the firm posted a $5.29 million net loss that quarter. If you want the full picture of how they generate revenue from restaurant sales (which saw 15.0% same-store sales growth) versus managing a $656.3 million investment portfolio, you need to see the complete nine-block breakdown below.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Key Partnerships
Biglari Holdings Inc. relies on several key external and internal partnerships to execute its decentralized business model.
Investment partnerships: The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P.
The Corporation holds the majority of its investments through limited partner interests in The Lion Fund, L.P., and The Lion Fund II, L.P., which are managed by Biglari Capital Corp., the general partner founded and owned by Mr. Biglari.
Here are some relevant figures related to the investment structure as of late 2025:
| Metric | Value | Date/Period |
| Book Value per Class A Equivalent Share | $2,244.26 | September 30, 2025 |
| Book Value per Class B Equivalent Share | $448.85 | September 30, 2025 |
| Lion Fund, L.P. Stock Purchase Value | Approximately $799,287 | November 24, 2025 |
| Pre-tax Operating Earnings (Non-GAAP) | $3,673 thousand | Q2 2025 |
The structure allows for centralized capital control while decentralizing managerial operations across subsidiaries.
Franchise partners for Steak n Shake restaurant expansion
Franchise partners are pivotal in driving the sales growth for the Steak n Shake subsidiary. The performance across both company-operated and franchise-partner locations is tracked closely.
- Same-store sales growth for franchise-partner locations in Q2 2025: 10.7%.
- Same-store sales growth for U.S. operations (including franchise partners) for Q4 2025 to date: In excess of 15%.
This franchise model contributes significantly to the operating segment results.
Independent operating managers for decentralized subsidiary control
Biglari Holdings Inc. is designed to centralize capital control and decentralize managerial operations. While the structure relies on this decentralized approach for scaling with a modicum of headquarters staff, specific financial data or the exact number of independent operating managers is not publicly quantified in recent filings.
Grant Thornton Advisors for internal audit remediation
The company has faced scrutiny regarding internal controls. A report dated March 1, 2025, expressed an adverse opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting because of material weaknesses. Grant Thornton Advisors LLC provides non-attest offerings like advisory services.
Reinsurers for Biglari Reinsurance Ltd.
Biglari Reinsurance Ltd., registered as a Class 3B reinsurer in Bermuda, is a key part of the insurance group, which also includes Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Company and First Guard Insurance Company, acquired by the reinsurer effective July 2, 2024. The financial scale of the reinsurance entity as of the end of 2024 provides context for its capitalization:
| Financial Metric (in thousands) | Amount | As of Date |
| Total Shareholder's Equity | $475,603 | December 31, 2024 |
| Total Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity | $535,262 | December 31, 2024 |
The company anticipates Biglari Reinsurance Ltd. will enhance the credit rating of the insurance group, with an expected upgrade for Southern Pioneer to A from B++ by A.M. Best.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Key Activities
Centralized capital allocation by CEO Sardar Biglari
- All major investment and capital allocation decisions are made for Biglari Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries by Mr. Biglari.
- The Chief Executive Officer is ultimately responsible for significant capital allocation decisions, evaluating operating performance and selecting the chief executive to head each of the operating segments.
- The company will only pour more cash into a business when there is potential for attractive returns.
Managing a diverse portfolio of operating subsidiaries
Biglari Holdings Inc. manages a portfolio that includes restaurants, insurance, oil and gas, and media. The company reports earnings from investment partnerships separately from its operating segments.
| Operating Segment | Key Subsidiaries | Q3 2025 Revenue (Partial Data) | Q3 2025 Segment EBT (Pre-tax) |
| Restaurant Operations | Steak n Shake Inc., Western Sizzlin Corporation | Implied from Total Revenue of $99.74M | $12.45M (Operating businesses pre-tax earnings before investment impact) |
| Insurance Operations | First Guard Insurance Company, Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Biglari Reinsurance Ltd. | Implied from Total Revenue of $99.74M | $5.25M |
| Oil & Gas Operations | Southern Oil Company, Abraxas Petroleum Corporation | $7.37M | $0.67M |
| Media/Licensing | Maxim Inc. | $1.45M | -$1.11M |
Book value per Class A equivalent share was $2,244.26 at September 30, 2025.
Underwriting and managing property and casualty insurance risk
The insurance operations include First Guard Insurance Company, Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and Biglari Reinsurance Ltd. Segment Earnings Before Taxes (EBT) for the insurance segment improved in the third quarter of 2025.
- Insurance segment EBT in Q3 2025 was $5.25M.
- This compares to $3.12M in Q3 2024.
- Both First Guard and Southern Pioneer contributed to underwriting gains.
Operating and franchising quick-service restaurants like Steak n Shake
Steak n Shake same-store sales (SSS) showed strong growth in the third quarter of 2025 for both company-operated and franchise locations.
- Steak n Shake SSS increased by 15.0% in Q3 2025.
- For the second quarter of 2025, Steak n Shake SSS growth was 10.7%.
- The company is executing a strategy to franchise company-owned Steak n Shake locations.
- Steak n Shake closed a $225M, 5-year, 8.8% fixed-rate mortgage loan on September 30, 2025.
Oil and gas exploration and production via Southern Oil and Abraxas Petroleum
Oil and gas operations are conducted through Southern Oil Company and Abraxas Petroleum Corporation. The segment faced commodity price pressure in Q3 2025.
- Oil & gas revenues in Q3 2025 were $7.37M.
- This was a decline from $9.57M year-over-year.
- Segment EBT for oil & gas fell to $0.67M in Q3 2025, down from $0.71M a year prior.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Key Resources
You're analyzing the core assets Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) relies on to execute its strategy as of late 2025. These resources are the foundation, spanning financial strength, intangible brand value, and tangible operational assets.
The financial liquidity position is a primary resource. As of the third quarter of 2025, Biglari Holdings Inc. reported $272.49 million in cash and cash equivalents, materially enhancing its liquidity following a $225 million mortgage loan closed on September 30, 2025, secured by restaurant real estate. This cash position supports operations and opportunistic capital deployment.
The investment portfolio represents a significant pool of capital, separate from operating cash. At year-end 2024, the fair value of the investment partnerships stood at $656.3 million. Separately, the company held marketable securities outside these partnerships valued at $103.0 million at fair value as of December 31, 2024. The overall book value per Class A Equivalent share was $2,244.26 at September 30, 2025, giving you a per-share anchor point.
Tangible assets include substantial real estate and energy reserves. The restaurant segment's physical footprint, primarily Steak n Shake, is a key resource, with specific unit counts as of December 31, 2024, being 146 company-operated, 173 franchise partner, and 107 traditional franchise units. The total Property and Equipment, net, for the entire company was reported at $376,155 thousand as of December 31, 2024.
The oil and gas segment holds proprietary reserves, a non-recurring revenue source tied to commodity prices. The value attributed to Oil and gas properties within the Property and Equipment was $156,849 thousand at December 31, 2024. This segment operates through Southern Oil Company and Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, which has properties in the Permian Basin.
Intangible resources center on brand equity. While direct financial valuation for brand equity is not always public, the operational performance of the primary brand, Steak n Shake, provides context. In Q3 2025, Steak n Shake delivered same-store sales growth of approximately 15.0% at company-operated units. Maxim Inc., another key brand, generated $1.45 million in revenue in Q3 2025, though it posted an EBT of negative $1.11 million in that quarter due to media costs.
Here is a quick view of the quantifiable financial and operational resources:
| Key Resource Category | Specific Metric/Asset | Value/Amount | Date/Period End |
| Liquidity | Cash and Cash Equivalents | $272.49 million | Q3 2025 |
| Investments | Fair Value of Investment Partnerships | $656.3 million | Year-End 2024 |
| Real Estate/PP&E Proxy | Total Property and Equipment, Net | $376,155 thousand | December 31, 2024 |
| Oil & Gas Assets | Oil and Gas Properties Value (within PP&E) | $156,849 thousand | December 31, 2024 |
| Restaurant Asset Base (SNS) | Company-Operated Steak n Shake Units | 146 units | December 31, 2024 |
| Brand Performance (SNS) | Same-Store Sales Growth (Company-Operated) | 15.0% | Q3 2025 |
The company also maintains insurance operations through subsidiaries like First Guard and Southern Pioneer, which contributed to an improved segment EBT of $5.25 million in Q3 2025, up from $3.12 million in Q3 2024. These insurance entities represent another layer of financial and operational resource.
- Book Value per Class A Equivalent Share: $2,244.26 as of September 30, 2025.
- Steak n Shake Franchise Partner Units: 173 as of December 31, 2024.
- Maxim Segment Revenue: $1.45 million in Q3 2025.
- Pre-tax Operating Earnings (First Nine Months 2025): $20,521 thousand.
Finance: review the impact of the 8.8% fixed-rate mortgage on near-term cash flow by next Tuesday.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions
You're looking at the core promises Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) makes to its various stakeholders as of late 2025. It's a collection of seemingly unrelated businesses, but the value proposition for each group is quite specific.
For Shareholders: Diversified exposure to unrelated businesses to mitigate single-industry risk.
The value proposition here centers on capital allocation across diverse, controlled, and non-controlled businesses, aiming for growth measured in decades on a per-share basis. The structure is designed to channel resources into any industry, any company, anywhere, which is the core of the diversification play. As of September 30, 2025, the trailing twelve-month revenue for the entire enterprise stood at approximately $387M. You should note that as of that same date, the book value per Class A Equivalent share was a substantial $2,244.26, yet the stock was trading at a discount to this figure, a classic signal for value investors. Furthermore, the company has signaled confidence by noting that affiliates may purchase additional shares.
Here's a quick look at some key financial markers as of late 2025:
| Metric | Value (as of late 2025) | Source Context |
| Book Value per Class A Equivalent Share | $2,244.26 (as of 9/30/2025) | Shareholder Equity Value |
| Book Value per Class B Equivalent Share | $448.85 (as of 9/30/2025) | Shareholder Equity Value |
| Trailing Twelve Month Revenue | $387M (as of 9/30/2025) | Overall Company Performance |
| Q3 2025 Reported Revenue | $99.74 million | Segment Performance Driver |
For Restaurant Customers: Classic American food at a value price point.
For the core restaurant brand, Steak 'n Shake, the value proposition is built on simplicity and core offerings. Management has focused the menu, with Steakburgers, fries, shakes, and soda making up nearly 90% of sales, which helps manage inventory and labor. This focus appears to be resonating, as Steak 'n Shake achieved a domestic company-operated and franchise-partner-operated same-store sales increase of 15.0% in the third quarter of 2025. Some reports even suggest Q4 2025 US same-store sales growth is in excess of 15% so far. This suggests customers are responding positively to the value proposition, even if the overall profitability of the segment has faced challenges.
For Insurance Clients: Specialized commercial vehicle insurance (First Guard).
The insurance subsidiaries, including First Guard Insurance Company, offer specialized coverage, particularly in the commercial trucking space. First Guard is noted for providing physical damage commercial truck insurance and non-trucking liability for owner-operators. The financial strength underpinning this offering is robust; First Guard maintains a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) of "a+" (Excellent). Furthermore, the group, which includes Biglari Reinsurance Ltd., benefits from a very strong balance sheet assessment, supported by roughly $395 million in contributed capital from Biglari Holdings Inc. The company is cautiously expanding its product lines into trucking liability and cargo insurance, leveraging its expertise.
For Franchise Partners: A proven, simplified restaurant operating model.
The value for franchise partners is rooted in a refined, efficient operating structure. The transformation to a self-service format, which included new point-of-sale systems and reduced menu items, was a significant capital investment but yielded operational benefits. This overhaul led to the breakeven point declining by about 40%, reducing dependence on high unit sales to register a profit. This simplification helps franchise partners manage costs and maintain profitability in a competitive environment. The company also provides support, including site selection, prototype plans, and instruction for management and associates.
For Acquired Companies: Retention of management and decentralized operations.
Biglari Holdings Inc. explicitly states a design philosophy for its structure: centralize the control of capital while decentralizing managerial operations. This approach is intended to allow the corporation to scale with minimal headquarters staff. The key value here for acquired entities is the retention of the very people responsible for the success of the acquired companies. This decentralized structure allows local management to continue operating with autonomy, which is a significant draw for entrepreneurs selling their businesses who wish to maintain operational control.
Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships
You're looking at how Biglari Holdings Inc. manages its connections with the people who buy its products and services. It's not one-size-fits-all; the relationship type shifts depending on the business line.
Transactional for restaurant and media sales.
For the Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin restaurants, the relationship is primarily transactional, meaning a direct sale for each burger, shake, or steak dish. Media sales, primarily through Maxim Inc., also fall into this category, based on one-off purchases or short-term ad placements. The customer interaction is immediate and point-of-sale driven. Even with the push for franchise growth, the end customer experience remains transactional. For instance, Steak n Shake's same-store sales for domestic company-operated and franchise locations showed a 15.0% increase in the third quarter of 2025, showing direct consumer engagement is still driving top-line results in that segment. However, for company-operated units in the first quarter of 2025, while same-store sales increased 3.9%, customer traffic actually declined.
Contractual, long-term relationships with insurance policyholders.
The insurance subsidiaries, including First Guard and Southern Pioneer, operate on a fundamentally contractual basis. Policyholders enter into agreements for coverage, creating a longer-term, recurring revenue relationship based on the policy term. The stability of this relationship is key to the segment's earnings. Premiums written by the insurance operations in the first quarter of 2025 totaled $19,022 thousand, up from $16,527 thousand in the first quarter of 2024, showing growth in the base of these contractual relationships. The net underwriting gain for the insurance operations in the first quarter of 2025 was $563 thousand.
Close, performance-based relationship with franchise partners.
Franchise partners for Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin have a more complex, performance-based contractual relationship with Biglari Holdings Inc. The company provides the brand and system, and the partner provides the capital and local management. The relationship is governed by franchise agreements, but the financial tie is directly linked to the partner's performance. Biglari Holdings Inc. earns revenue from royalties, fees, and rent. This structure is designed to align incentives, as the parent company benefits directly from the franchisee's success. The focus is on reversing unit count decline, as the traditional franchise business uses third-party funding for brand expansion. As of December 31, 2024, Steak n Shake had 173 franchise partner units and 107 traditional franchise units.
Here's a look at the franchise fee dynamics, which directly reflect the financial relationship with these partners:
| Metric | Q2 2025 Amount (in thousands) | Q2 2024 Amount (in thousands) | Unit Count (as of period end) |
| Franchise Partner Fees | $20,150 | $18,149 | Q2 2025: 174 units; Q2 2024: 182 units |
| Franchise Partner Fees | $17,139 | $17,758 | Q1 2025: 172 units; Q1 2024: 178 units |
The increase in Q2 2025 fees to $20,150 thousand despite fewer units suggests either higher royalty rates or better performance per unit from the remaining partners.
Direct communication with shareholders via annual letters and SEC filings.
For shareholders, the relationship is managed through formal, mandated disclosures and direct, personalized communication from the Chairman and CEO. This is a high-touch, high-information relationship for the owners of Biglari Holdings Inc. The 2024 Annual Report to shareholders, which includes Sardar Biglari's annual letter, was posted on March 1, 2025. This letter serves as a direct narrative to owners, separate from the required GAAP figures. The Chairman's significant ownership stake reinforces this direct link; as of December 31, 2024, Mr. Biglari beneficially owned shares representing approximately 74.3% of the voting interest. His total compensation in 2024 was $1,354,596, a significant decrease from the $8,171,055 received in 2023, which is a key data point shareholders review.
Shareholders receive information through several channels:
- Annual Letters from the Chairman, posted on www.biglariholdings.com.
- Mandatory SEC filings, such as the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
- Proxy Statements, such as the one furnished for the meeting on April 16, 2025.
- Shareholder recommendations can be submitted to the Secretary at 19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 1200, San Antonio, Texas 78259.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Channels
You're looking at how Biglari Holdings Inc. physically and digitally connects its diverse offerings to the customer base. It's a mix of brick-and-mortar, direct-to-consumer insurance sales, media reach, and capital markets access.
Physical restaurant locations for Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin
The restaurant channel relies on physical sites for the Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin' brands. Steak n Shake ended 2024 with 426 company-operated and franchise locations across 26 states plus the District of Columbia. The push to convert corporate-owned restaurants to franchisees continues; as of a recent report, franchisees operated 217 of the chain's 519 open restaurants. For international reach, Steak n Shake reported four locations in Italy and four locations in Portugal as of June 2025. Western Sizzlin' operates as a 54-unit chain, contributing to total restaurant revenues.
Direct sales force and agents for First Guard Insurance
First Guard Insurance Company, which Biglari Holdings Inc. acquired in 2014, uses a direct-to-trucker channel via its agency, 1st Guard Corporation. You get service directly from a person, not a computer system when you call. The channel emphasizes speed: your commercial truck insurance policy can be set up over the phone in just a few minutes. A key differentiator in this channel is the payment structure; 1st Guard charges premiums monthly, contrasting with many competitors who require 6 months of premium upfront to start a policy.
Digital and print distribution for Maxim magazine
The Maxim magazine channel targets a young men's lifestyle audience through both print and digital platforms. When Biglari Holdings Inc. acquired the brand in February 2014, it was reported to have the widest circulation of any men's magazine at almost two million readers. By 2014, MAXIM Digital reached more than 4 million unique viewers monthly. The print edition publishes 16 editions, sold in 75 countries worldwide.
Public equity markets (NYSE: BH.A; BH) for capital access
Biglari Holdings Inc. accesses capital and provides liquidity through its dual-class stock structure on the New York Stock Exchange. This channel is vital for funding acquisitions and managing the overall corporate structure. Here are the key figures as of December 5, 2025, for the Class A shares (BH.A) and Class B shares (BH).
| Metric | Value (BH.A - Class A) | Value (BH - Class B) |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange Symbol | BH.A | BH |
| Closing Price (Dec 05, 2025) | $1,522.26 | $304.33 |
| Market Capitalization (Dec 05, 2025) | $944.701M | |
| Shares Outstanding (Approximate) | 620,592.00 | N/A (Implied conversion factor) |
| Price/Sales (Trailing Twelve Months) | 1.08 | N/A |
The Class A shares traded with a daily high of $1,599.36 and a low of $1,522.26 on December 5, 2025. The trading volume for that day was 20 thousand shares, equating to approximately $30.15 million in value.
The company's overall valuation metrics as of late 2025 include a Price/Earnings (Normalized) ratio of 27.60.
- The company's total full-time employees were listed as 2.5K.
- Q3 2025 Revenue was $99.74M, showing a 10.3% year-over-year change.
- Q3 2025 Gross Profit was $29.52M, with a Gross Margin of 29.60%.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments
You're looking at the distinct groups Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) serves across its disparate operating businesses as of late 2025. The company's structure means these segments often have very different customer profiles, from individual investors to restaurant patrons.
Individual and institutional shareholders seeking a holding company structure.
This group is focused on the capital allocation strategy and the intrinsic value of Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH). As of September 30, 2025, the book value per Class A equivalent share stood at $2,244.26, with the Class B equivalent share book value at $448.85. The company noted its stock was trading at a discount to these per share book values. Ownership concentration remains high; for instance, data from March 2025 showed that Institutional Investors held 58.44% of the Ordinary Shares - Class B, an increase from 57.57% the prior month. Insiders maintained a holding of 56.44% as of March 2025. One analysis suggested ownership comprised 91.71% institutional shareholders and 382.56% insiders, reflecting the complex capital structure.
Mass-market consumers for quick-service dining.
These customers frequent the Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin restaurants. The Steak n Shake brand showed strong momentum in the third quarter of 2025, with same-store sales (SSS) increasing by approximately 15% across domestic company-operated (+15.6%) and franchise locations (+14.8%). As of June 30, 2025, Biglari Holdings Inc. operated or franchised a total of 449 restaurants across both chains. For the first quarter of 2025, the restaurant operations segment generated revenue of $64.35M, resulting in an EBT (Earnings Before Taxes) of $3.31M.
Commercial vehicle operators for specialized insurance.
This segment is served by First Guard Insurance Company and Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Company, focusing on commercial trucking insurance. The insurance business has a history of underwriting profitability, having generated $67.2 million pre-tax over its near eleven-year history up to year-end 2024. In the second quarter of 2025, the insurance segment reported a pre-tax underwriting gain of $1,234 (units not specified, but context suggests thousands). For the first quarter of 2025, First Guard's underwriting gain improved year-over-year to $1.215M.
Advertisers and subscribers for the Maxim media brand.
The Maxim segment targets young men with lifestyle media content. In the third quarter of 2025, this segment recorded revenue of $1.45M, but it operated at a loss, posting an EBT of -$1.11M, attributed partly to increased media costs for digital initiatives. The first quarter of 2025 showed a segment EBT of ($1,180). Historically, the brand reached nearly 9 million readers monthly and over 4 million unique digital viewers each month.
Oil and gas commodity buyers.
Customers in this segment purchase commodities from Southern Oil and Abraxas Petroleum. The oil and gas operations are sensitive to commodity prices. In the third quarter of 2025, this segment generated revenue of $7.37M and an EBT of $0.67M. The first quarter of 2025 saw a sharper performance, with EBT reaching $10.65M, which included a $9.32M gain from Abraxas selling undeveloped reserves.
Here's a quick look at the latest reported operational scale for the revenue-generating segments:
| Segment | Latest Reported Revenue (2025) | Latest Reported EBT (2025) | Key Metric/Unit Count |
| Restaurant Operations | $64.35M (Q1 2025) | $3.31M (Q1 2025) | 449 Total Units (Q2 2025) |
| Oil & Gas Operations | $7.37M (Q3 2025) | $0.67M (Q3 2025) | $9.32M Gain on Reserves (Q1 2025) |
| Maxim Media | $1.45M (Q3 2025) | -$1.11M (Q3 2025) | Historical reach: 9 million monthly readers |
The insurance segment focuses on underwriting profit rather than premium volume as a primary metric, having achieved pre-tax underwriting profits totaling $67.2 million over its history through 2024.
Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure
You're looking at the cost side of Biglari Holdings Inc.'s business, which is a mix of high-volume restaurant operations, specialized insurance underwriting, and corporate overhead. Honestly, understanding these costs is key to seeing where the cash is actually being spent before investment gains are factored in.
High Restaurant Cost of Sales (Food and Labor)
The restaurant segment, dominated by Steak n Shake, drives a significant portion of the operating costs. For the first quarter of 2025, the Restaurant cost of sales was reported at $34,421 thousand.
To give you a sense of the trend, that figure compares to $32,738 thousand in the first quarter of 2024.
We know that for company-operated units, the costs of food and labor are the main drivers. Furthermore, management noted that for franchise partners, their food and labor expenses were 1.8 percentage points higher during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, which pressures the fees Biglari Holdings recognizes.
Insurance Losses and Underwriting Expenses for First Guard and Southern Pioneer
The insurance subsidiaries, First Guard Insurance Company and Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Company, have costs tied directly to premiums written. For the first nine months of 2024, the Total losses and expenses for insurance operations amounted to $20,504 thousand.
Breaking that down, the Underwriting expenses component for the first nine months of 2024 was $8,114 thousand.
Southern Pioneer's cost structure shows sensitivity to claims; its ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses to premiums earned was 59.9% for the first nine months of 2024. By contrast, First Guard's underwriting expense ratio for the same period was 39.2%.
General and Administrative Expenses for the Corporate Headquarters
Corporate overhead is centralized, which is by design to keep the subsidiary management decentralized. For the full year 2024, General and administrative expenses totaled $47,130 thousand.
This represented 18.7% of total revenue for 2024, an increase from 17.6% of total revenue in 2023.
The increase in 2024 G&A was mainly due to higher legal fees, fees related to Steak n Shake's new prototype, and contractual services.
Capital Expenditures for Restaurant and Oil/Gas Operations
Capital spending reflects investment in the physical assets across the restaurant and oil/gas segments. For the trailing twelve months ending in 2024, capital expenditures totaled approximately $26.05 million.
Looking at more recent quarterly data, Biglari Holdings used $19,894 thousand in net cash for investing activities in the first quarter of 2025, up from $11,242 thousand in the first quarter of 2024.
Here's a quick look at the cash usage in investing activities:
- Net cash used in investing activities (9M 2024): ($34,916 thousand)
- Net cash used in investing activities (Q1 2025): ($19,894 thousand)
- Net cash used in investing activities (Q1 2024): ($11,242 thousand)
Interest Expense on Debt, Including the $225 Million Steak n Shake Loan
The interest expense profile changed significantly in late 2025. On September 30, 2025, Steak n Shake Inc. secured a five-year loan of $225,000,000, which carries a fixed interest rate of 8.80% per annum.
This new debt is an obligation of Steak n Shake, but the proceeds were distributed to Biglari Holdings, and it replaced a terminated $75,000,000 line of credit.
The expected annual interest cost on this new principal alone is substantial. Here is the estimated interest expense for the final quarter of 2025 based on this new debt:
| Debt Component | Principal Amount | Annual Interest Rate | Estimated Q4 2025 Interest Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steak n Shake New Loan | $225,000,000 | 8.80% | $4,950,000 |
| Interest on Obligations Under Leases (9M 2024) | N/A | N/A | Approx. $1,300,000 (based on Q1 2025 run-rate) |
For context, interest on obligations under leases for the first nine months of 2024 was $3,870 thousand.
Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams
You're looking at the revenue streams for Biglari Holdings Inc. (BH) as of late 2025, which clearly shows a mix of stable operating income and volatile investment results. Honestly, the company management defintely wants you to focus on the operating side, given how much investment fluctuations can mask performance.
The core restaurant segment, anchored by Steak n Shake, is showing tangible operational strength. You saw that same-store sales growth, which is key for mature concepts, hit a solid 15.0% increase for Q3 2025 across domestic company-operated and franchise-partner-operated locations. This operational momentum translated into segment pre-tax operating earnings of $6.854 million for the quarter, up from $3.272 million in Q3 2024.
Here's a quick breakdown of the revenue contributions by operating segment for the third quarter of 2025:
| Revenue Stream Segment | Q3 2025 Revenue (in thousands) | Q3 2025 Segment EBT (in thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (Steak n Shake & Western Sizzlin) | $71,741 | $5,800 |
| Insurance Operations | $19,179 | $5,247 |
| Oil and Gas Operations | $7,372 | $666 |
| Brand Licensing (Maxim) | $1,446 | -$1,110 (Loss) |
The insurance business, covering property and casualty through subsidiaries like First Guard and Southern Pioneer, provides a steady stream from premiums and float. For Q3 2025, this segment generated $19.179 million in revenue, with a pre-tax underwriting gain of $4.54 million, a nice improvement from $2.28 million in the prior year's third quarter. The first nine months of 2025 saw the insurance segment contribute $6.73 million in net earnings.
Licensing and advertising revenue from Maxim Inc. is also a component, though it's currently a drag on segment profitability. Q3 2025 saw revenue jump to $1.446 million from just $0.202 million in Q3 2024, but it still resulted in an Earnings Before Taxes loss of -$1.11 million.
The oil and gas sales stream, primarily from Abraxas Petroleum, is subject to commodity prices. Q3 2025 revenue for this segment was $7.37 million, as you noted, down from $9.574 million year-over-year, with segment EBT falling to $0.666 million. For the first nine months of 2025, oil and gas revenue was $24.8 million.
Finally, the reported GAAP results are heavily influenced by investment performance, which is explicitly separated by management as not meaningful to core operations. The Q3 2025 results included a significant swing to a GAAP net loss of $5.29 million, contrasting sharply with the $32.125 million net income in Q3 2024. This loss was driven by investment partnership losses, which totaled $(14.406) million pre-tax for the quarter, with partnership losses contributing -$12.48 million to net earnings. Still, for the first nine months of 2025, the company posted net earnings of $12.365 million.
You should keep an eye on the insurance segment's underwriting gains and the restaurant segment's SSS growth; those are the clearest indicators of operational health. Finance: draft a sensitivity analysis on the impact of a 5% drop in oil/gas revenue on the next quarterly EBT by Tuesday.
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