Sweetgreen's Q1 Sales Plummet Amid Market Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 06 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
Sweetgreen's stock surged by 15.75% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite the broader market decline with Nasdaq-100 down 0.94% and S&P 500 down 0.87%.
The company's Q1 comparable sales fell by 12.8%, with overall revenue dropping to $161.5 million, missing estimates. This performance indicates significant challenges in the fast-casual salad market, compounded by a cautious outlook for the year. Management anticipates a 2%-4% decline in comparable sales, although there is optimism surrounding new lower-priced wraps aimed at attracting customers.
The implications of this performance are concerning, as customer attrition and declining profit margins pose risks to Sweetgreen's future profitability. However, the stock's recent rise may reflect investor speculation on potential recovery if new strategies succeed.
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Analyst Views on SG
Wall Street analysts forecast SG stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
10 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 10.210
Low
5.00
Averages
7.57
High
10.00
Current: 10.210
Low
5.00
Averages
7.57
High
10.00
About SG
Sweetgreen, Inc. is a restaurant and lifestyle brand that serves healthy food at scale. The Company has designed its menu to be customizable and convenient to empower its customers to make healthier choices for both lunch and dinner. The Company's core menu features approximately 13 signature items which are offered year-round in all of its locations, including its new steak plate. In addition to its core menu items, its single most popular item is the custom salad or bowl, which can include combinations from 40-plus ingredients as well as its made-from-scratch dressings. On its Owned Digital Channels, it offers exclusive menu items, including seasonal digital exclusives and collections relevant to each customer. It has a five-channel model that is designed to help its customers to order. The Company's five-channel model includes Pick-Up, Native Delivery, Outpost and Catering, In-Store, and Marketplace. It has approximately 250 restaurants across the country.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Sweetgreen Stock Rises on Positive Wraps Buzz
- Stock Surge: Sweetgreen's shares rose 9.7% today to $9.98, reflecting market optimism about its newly launched low-priced wraps, despite the absence of major news.
- Product Popularity: Since May 13, Sweetgreen's stock has increased over 50%, primarily due to the national launch of wraps, which may enhance the company's image as consumers recognize their value.
- Management Change: Sweetgreen appointed Cindy Olsen as Chief Strategy Officer yesterday; while the market typically reacts little to such news, this new role could bolster strategic transformation and investor confidence.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: JPMorgan Chase upgraded Sweetgreen's stock to overweight after meeting with management, citing that the wraps are driving the company's transformation, indicating a positive outlook for future growth.
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Starbucks' New CEO Implements Turnaround Strategy
- Personalized Service Enhancement: New CEO Brian Niccol aims to enhance customer experience by writing notes on cups and serving drinks in mugs for in-store customers, thereby reinforcing Starbucks' identity as a 'third place' and boosting customer loyalty and brand image.
- Technology Investment Challenges: The automated inventory management technology that Starbucks invested in has been retired due to frequent miscounts and mislabeling, illustrating that while the intent was positive, the execution fell short, highlighting the need for balance between technology and human service in the restaurant industry.
- Sales Growth Recovery: Under Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' initiative, comparable sales jumped 6.2% in the most recent quarter, indicating growth across all regions and suggesting that the strategic adjustments are beginning to yield results.
- Human-Centric Business Philosophy: Starbucks' experience underscores that despite the increasing prevalence of technology in the restaurant sector, human-driven service remains crucial for success, with Niccol's strategy emphasizing the importance of enhancing customer service through technology support.
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Cava Outpaces Chipotle Growth as Sweetgreen Sales Decline
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Cava leads with a 9.7% same-store sales growth, defying the trend of declining traffic in the restaurant sector, which is expected to enhance its long-term profit potential significantly.
- Profitability Comparison: Cava's restaurant-level operating margin stands at 25.1%, closely trailing Chipotle's 23.7%, indicating that while Chipotle maintains a stronger consolidated margin, Cava's rapid growth positions it favorably for future expansion opportunities.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Cava's price-to-sales ratio of 7.4 significantly exceeds Chipotle's 3.6 and Sweetgreen's 1.6, reflecting investor confidence in Cava's growth potential, making it a more attractive investment despite its higher valuation.
- Market Outlook: With current revenues of $1.3 billion, if Cava can expand to match Chipotle's scale over the next decade, its revenue could soar to $15 billion or more, highlighting its substantial market potential and growth trajectory.
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Restaurant Stock Analysis: Cava Outshines Chipotle
- Sales Growth Comparison: Cava leads with a 9.7% same-store sales growth, significantly outperforming Chipotle's 0.5%, which is below the current inflation rate in the U.S., indicating pressure on profitability; Sweetgreen faces a troubling -12.8% decline, putting its financial health at risk.
- Profitability Analysis: Cava boasts a restaurant-level operating margin of 25.1%, while Chipotle's is at 23.7%; despite Chipotle's consolidated operating margin of 16%, Cava is better positioned for expansion opportunities, with Sweetgreen lagging at just 10%, highlighting severe profitability issues.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Cava's price-to-sales ratio stands at 7.4, compared to Chipotle's 3.6 and Sweetgreen's 1.6, reflecting the market's emphasis on Cava's growth potential, making it a more attractive investment despite its higher current valuation.
- Investment Decision Recommendation: Given Sweetgreen's financial struggles, investors should avoid its stock, while between Chipotle and Cava, the latter's robust growth potential makes it more appealing, even as Chipotle retains room for global expansion.
See More
JPMorgan Upgrades SG Stock to Overweight Amid Positive Management Changes
- Rating Upgrade: JPMorgan upgraded SG's stock from Neutral to Overweight, highlighting the company's aggressive approach under new management in launching popular new products, particularly wraps that have gained traction.
- Stock Surge: Following the upgrade, SG shares rose over 11% and are on track to open near a one-year high, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's transformation and reflecting optimistic market expectations for future growth.
- Management Changes: SG has undergone significant C-suite changes in recent months, appointing Ryan Slemons as Chief Development Officer to oversee real estate and facilities management, demonstrating the company's commitment to strategic execution.
- Market Sentiment: While Wall Street maintains a largely neutral stance on SG, retail sentiment on Stocktwits has been extremely bullish, with many users believing that the new product launches could save the company, indicating positive market outlook for its future.
See More
Sweetgreen's Brand Transformation Accelerates, Price Target Raised by 62%
- Brand Transformation Upgrade: J.P. Morgan analyst Rahul Krotthapalli highlights that Sweetgreen's embrace of menu innovation and elevated operating standards has led to an upgrade from Neutral to Overweight, with a 62% price target increase to $13, representing a 44% upside from Thursday's close.
- Operational Strategy Shift: The management has pivoted from relying on the heavy technology of the Spyce robot to a comprehensive retraining of operational staff and a more aggressive adoption of new products that consumers genuinely desire, aiming to enhance ingredient and process integrity while optimizing supply chain and in-store operations.
- Brand Image Revitalization: Under the new Chief Commercial Officer, Sweetgreen is focused on re-establishing the brand's
See More
Sweetgreen Stock Rises on Positive Wraps Buzz
- Stock Surge: Sweetgreen's shares rose 9.7% today to $9.98, reflecting market optimism about its newly launched low-priced wraps, despite the absence of major news.
- Product Popularity: Since May 13, Sweetgreen's stock has increased over 50%, primarily due to the national launch of wraps, which may enhance the company's image as consumers recognize their value.
- Management Change: Sweetgreen appointed Cindy Olsen as Chief Strategy Officer yesterday; while the market typically reacts little to such news, this new role could bolster strategic transformation and investor confidence.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: JPMorgan Chase upgraded Sweetgreen's stock to overweight after meeting with management, citing that the wraps are driving the company's transformation, indicating a positive outlook for future growth.
See More
Starbucks' New CEO Implements Turnaround Strategy
- Personalized Service Enhancement: New CEO Brian Niccol aims to enhance customer experience by writing notes on cups and serving drinks in mugs for in-store customers, thereby reinforcing Starbucks' identity as a 'third place' and boosting customer loyalty and brand image.
- Technology Investment Challenges: The automated inventory management technology that Starbucks invested in has been retired due to frequent miscounts and mislabeling, illustrating that while the intent was positive, the execution fell short, highlighting the need for balance between technology and human service in the restaurant industry.
- Sales Growth Recovery: Under Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' initiative, comparable sales jumped 6.2% in the most recent quarter, indicating growth across all regions and suggesting that the strategic adjustments are beginning to yield results.
- Human-Centric Business Philosophy: Starbucks' experience underscores that despite the increasing prevalence of technology in the restaurant sector, human-driven service remains crucial for success, with Niccol's strategy emphasizing the importance of enhancing customer service through technology support.
See More
Cava Outpaces Chipotle Growth as Sweetgreen Sales Decline
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Cava leads with a 9.7% same-store sales growth, defying the trend of declining traffic in the restaurant sector, which is expected to enhance its long-term profit potential significantly.
- Profitability Comparison: Cava's restaurant-level operating margin stands at 25.1%, closely trailing Chipotle's 23.7%, indicating that while Chipotle maintains a stronger consolidated margin, Cava's rapid growth positions it favorably for future expansion opportunities.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Cava's price-to-sales ratio of 7.4 significantly exceeds Chipotle's 3.6 and Sweetgreen's 1.6, reflecting investor confidence in Cava's growth potential, making it a more attractive investment despite its higher valuation.
- Market Outlook: With current revenues of $1.3 billion, if Cava can expand to match Chipotle's scale over the next decade, its revenue could soar to $15 billion or more, highlighting its substantial market potential and growth trajectory.
See More
Restaurant Stock Analysis: Cava Outshines Chipotle
- Sales Growth Comparison: Cava leads with a 9.7% same-store sales growth, significantly outperforming Chipotle's 0.5%, which is below the current inflation rate in the U.S., indicating pressure on profitability; Sweetgreen faces a troubling -12.8% decline, putting its financial health at risk.
- Profitability Analysis: Cava boasts a restaurant-level operating margin of 25.1%, while Chipotle's is at 23.7%; despite Chipotle's consolidated operating margin of 16%, Cava is better positioned for expansion opportunities, with Sweetgreen lagging at just 10%, highlighting severe profitability issues.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Cava's price-to-sales ratio stands at 7.4, compared to Chipotle's 3.6 and Sweetgreen's 1.6, reflecting the market's emphasis on Cava's growth potential, making it a more attractive investment despite its higher current valuation.
- Investment Decision Recommendation: Given Sweetgreen's financial struggles, investors should avoid its stock, while between Chipotle and Cava, the latter's robust growth potential makes it more appealing, even as Chipotle retains room for global expansion.
See More
JPMorgan Upgrades SG Stock to Overweight Amid Positive Management Changes
- Rating Upgrade: JPMorgan upgraded SG's stock from Neutral to Overweight, highlighting the company's aggressive approach under new management in launching popular new products, particularly wraps that have gained traction.
- Stock Surge: Following the upgrade, SG shares rose over 11% and are on track to open near a one-year high, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's transformation and reflecting optimistic market expectations for future growth.
- Management Changes: SG has undergone significant C-suite changes in recent months, appointing Ryan Slemons as Chief Development Officer to oversee real estate and facilities management, demonstrating the company's commitment to strategic execution.
- Market Sentiment: While Wall Street maintains a largely neutral stance on SG, retail sentiment on Stocktwits has been extremely bullish, with many users believing that the new product launches could save the company, indicating positive market outlook for its future.
See More
Sweetgreen's Brand Transformation Accelerates, Price Target Raised by 62%
- Brand Transformation Upgrade: J.P. Morgan analyst Rahul Krotthapalli highlights that Sweetgreen's embrace of menu innovation and elevated operating standards has led to an upgrade from Neutral to Overweight, with a 62% price target increase to $13, representing a 44% upside from Thursday's close.
- Operational Strategy Shift: The management has pivoted from relying on the heavy technology of the Spyce robot to a comprehensive retraining of operational staff and a more aggressive adoption of new products that consumers genuinely desire, aiming to enhance ingredient and process integrity while optimizing supply chain and in-store operations.
- Brand Image Revitalization: Under the new Chief Commercial Officer, Sweetgreen is focused on re-establishing the brand's
See More
