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CAVA Group, Inc.(CAVA)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 3 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+3.9% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$62.35
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1M
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  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CAVA

11/09/2026: CAVA (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

CAVA Group, Inc. is a high-growth fast-casual restaurant company centered on Mediterranean cuisine. The company has a strong reputation for healthy, customizable meals and has demonstrated high unit-level economics, which drives its aggressive store expansion strategy. Its primary investment story rests on scaling its footprint nationwide while leveraging digital platforms and kitchen automation to optimize margins. However, CAVA faces significant risks from intense competition, rising labor costs, and a high valuation that prices in substantial future growth. This stock is best suited for growth-oriented investors who are comfortable with the inherent volatility of a scaling, high-multiple retail business and should monitor quarterly store opening progress.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitCAVA is in an aggressive expansion phase with high revenue growth and a clear roadmap for scaling its store footprint.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock has demonstrated strong market performance, making it attractive for momentum-based strategies during periods of positive price action.
Value investorWeak fitThe company's current valuation typically trades at a high multiple reflecting growth expectations rather than current earnings value.
Dividend investorWeak fitCAVA does not pay a dividend and prioritizes capital reinvestment into restaurant expansion.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh growth, high valuation, and industry volatility make this a higher-risk equity unsuitable for conservative portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighAs a growth-oriented, recently public restaurant stock, CAVA often experiences wider price swings in response to market sentiment.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe stock trades at premium multiples, meaning future performance expectations are already high and failure to meet them could hurt the share price.
Competition risk (Fast-Casual)HighIntense competition from established players like CMG and SG forces CAVA to defend market share through consistent quality and innovation.
Business qualityMediumThe company has strong unit-level economics, though it is still scaling its national infrastructure and brand presence.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not expect income generation from this stock as all cash is used for operational growth.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccess depends heavily on the company's ability to maintain quality and profit margins while rapidly opening dozens of new locations annually.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 62.37%
Avg. Invested days 38
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CAVA receives a 3-star rating, supported by strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CAVA has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, soft growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid revenue growth (+22.4%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-51.1%), soft cash generation (FCF margin 2.2%), soft profitability (net margin 5.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CAVA's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (2.2% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is CAVA's strongest growth driver at +22.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-51.1%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-50.6%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 90.2% and approximately 92.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 5.74% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.26%
AllianceBernstein L.P. 5.69%
Artal Group S A 5.57%
FMR Inc 4.73%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.84%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CAVA generates approximately $184 of gross profit, $67 of operating income, and $22 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and soft capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 9.97%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CAVA has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 6.91B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 107.55
1Y Target Price 79.46
Price to earnings Ratio 107.55
1Y Target Price 79.46
Volume (30-day avg) 3.4M shares
Beta 1.76
52 Weeks Range 43.41 - 98.79
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 43.41 - 98.79
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.55

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Restaurant SalesRevenue generated from company-owned Mediterranean fast-casual dining locations.The vast majority of CAVA's money comes from customers buying food in their restaurants.
CPG SegmentSales of packaged dips and spreads in grocery stores.A small secondary stream of revenue that increases brand visibility.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-04
When After Market
Estimate 0.12
Actual 0.11

Profitability

Profit Margin 4.5%
Operating Margin (TTM) 4.65%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 3.33%
Return on Equity (TTM) 7.95%

Valuation

Trailing PE 107.55
Forward PE 78.12
Enterprise Value 7.02B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.81
Enterprise Value 7.02B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.81
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.88
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 37.25
Shares Outstanding 116.84M
Shares Floating 107.95M
Shares Outstanding 116.84M
Shares Floating 107.95M
Percent Insiders 5.74
Percent Institutions 90.24

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.