Sales Growth Concerns: Cava has experienced a significant slowdown in same-restaurant sales growth, dropping from 11% in Q1 to just 1.9% in Q3, raising concerns among investors as consumers are dining out less.
Revenue and Expansion: Despite the sales slowdown, Cava's revenue rose 23% year-over-year to $905 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, and the company continues to expand rapidly, operating 415 restaurants with a goal of reaching 1,000 by 2032.
Investor Sentiment: The stock has fallen over 50% this year, partly due to rising costs affecting consumer behavior and an elevated P/E ratio, which may deter potential investors.
Future Outlook: Investors should monitor same-restaurant sales and restaurant openings to gauge Cava's ability to maintain its expansion and recover sales, which could position the company favorably as economic conditions improve.
Wall Street analysts forecast CAVA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CAVA is 71.69 USD with a low forecast of 52.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
17 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast CAVA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CAVA is 71.69 USD with a low forecast of 52.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 69.600
Low
52.00
Averages
71.69
High
100.00
Current: 69.600
Low
52.00
Averages
71.69
High
100.00
Telsey Advisory
Sarang Vora
initiated
$85
2026-01-09
New
Reason
Telsey Advisory
Sarang Vora
Price Target
$85
2026-01-09
New
initiated
Reason
Telsey Advisory analyst Sarang Vora initiated coverage of Cava Group with an Outperform rating and $85 price target. the restaurant industry experienced slower consumer spending in 2025, but in 2026 the firm expects moderate improvement in restaurant trends as consumer spending benefits from higher tax refunds and lower interest rates. Company-specific initiatives also should fuel growth, the analyst tells investors.
Mizuho
Nick Setyan
Neutral
maintain
$52 -> $64
2026-01-09
New
Reason
Mizuho
Nick Setyan
Price Target
$52 -> $64
2026-01-09
New
maintain
Neutral
Reason
Mizuho analyst Nick Setyan raised the firm's price target on Cava Group to $64 from $52 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the restaurant group as part of its 2026 outlook. Mizuho's base case remains a restaurant price war continues this year to combat traffic share loss to grocery as a result of higher post-COVID relative price increases. Casual diners are best positioned to outperform, followed by coffee and fast casual, with quick service positioned least favorably, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Mizuho's top pick remains Dutch Bros. It added Brinker and Cheesecake Factory to its top three, while removing Domino's Pizza and Wingstop.
Truist
Jake Bartlett
Buy
maintain
$66 -> $78
2026-01-08
New
Reason
Truist
Jake Bartlett
Price Target
$66 -> $78
2026-01-08
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
Truist analyst Jake Bartlett raised the firm's price target on Cava Group to $78 from $66 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. After a challenging year for restaurants, the outlook for 2026 is mixed, with temporary tailwinds from tax refunds and favorable weather but ongoing headwinds from slowing job growth, consumer confidence, and commodity inflation, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Baird
Baird
Outperform
maintain
$72
2026-01-07
New
Reason
Baird
Baird
Price Target
$72
2026-01-07
New
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Baird said the firm's channel checks indicate Cava Group increased menu prices in early January. The firm has an Outperform rating on the shares with a $72 price target.
About CAVA
CAVA Group, Inc. is a category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand. The Company’s Mediterranean cuisine unites taste and health, with a menu that features chef-curated and customizable bowls and pitas. Its dips, spreads, and dressings are centrally produced and sold in grocery stores. Its menu offers a range of dietary preferences, from hearty and indulgent to vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, keto, and nut-free diets. Its guests can choose a chef-curated meal or a build-your-own-bowl or pita using its 38 ingredients with over 17.4 billion combinations. It has developed a multi-channel experience that consists of in-restaurant dining, digital pick-up, drive-thru pick-up in select restaurants, delivery, catering, and consumer packaged goods offerings, fully supported by its digital infrastructure. It operates two production facilities: one in Maryland and one in Virginia. It operates in approximately 26 states and the District of Columbia.
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.
