CAVA Group, Inc. (CAVA)

In the past six months, CAVA's stock has experienced several notable events. On November 4, 2025, CAVA Group released its quarterly earnings results, reporting $0.12 EPS, which missed the consensus estimate of $0.13. However, the company's revenue for the quarter was up 19.9% year-over-year, reaching $292.24 million, though it slightly missed analyst estimates of $292.88 million. Following this earnings report, CAVA shares declined by 1.7% the next day. Despite this, the stock has since drifted 38.9% higher from its post-earnings low. Earlier, in August 2025, CAVA Group's stock tumbled significantly, losing nearly 40% of its value in 2025, after the company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter results. Same-restaurant sales increased by 2.1% year-over-year, falling short of analyst expectations of 6.25%. The company also missed revenue forecasts and reduced its full-year same-restaurant sales growth outlook from 6.0%-8.0% to 4.0%-6.0%, attributing the shortfall to a "fluid macroeconomic environment" impacting consumer spending. More recently, on February 7, 2026, Benchmark upgraded CAVA Group to a "strong-buy" rating, while the overall analyst consensus remains a "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $81.50.

The provided search results do not contain specific information regarding the demand seasonality for Cava Group, Inc. The restaurant industry, in general, can experience fluctuations in demand based on factors such as holidays, weather, and consumer spending habits throughout the year.

Cava Group, Inc. is a fast-casual restaurant company specializing in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, operating under the CAVA brand. It offers customizable bowls, pitas, and salads with a variety of proteins, grains, vegetables, and house-made spreads. CAVA also produces a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings sold in grocery stores. Founded in 2011, CAVA expanded through the 2018 acquisition of Zoe's Kitchen, becoming the largest Mediterranean restaurant operator in the U.S.

CAVA Group operates hundreds of locations across the United States. As of December 2023, CAVA was present in 24 states plus Washington D.C., with a strong presence in key markets on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the South. As of Q3 2025, the company had 415 restaurants.

CAVA's brand reputation in the past year appears to be generally positive, focusing on its identity as a "category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand" that offers "healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale." The company emphasizes high-quality ingredients and made-to-order preparation, aiming to provide a casual yet elevated dining experience. CAVA serves a broad demographic across age groups, genders, and income brackets, benefiting from consumer demand for healthy living and a shift towards greater ethnic diversity. However, there have been discussions about consumers potentially "abandoning Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava," suggesting some challenges in retaining customer loyalty within the fast-casual segment. In response to a slowing economy and consumer spending slowdown, CAVA's CFO Tricia Tolivar indicated plans to keep customers engaged through restaurant renovations and trendy new menu items. The company has also focused on operational initiatives, including a revamped rewards program and leadership training, to enhance guest experience and operational excellence.

Institutional investors hold a significant stake in CAVA Group, with approximately 76% to 82.87% institutional ownership. As of early February 2026, 797 institutional owners and shareholders have filed 13D/G or 13F forms. Major institutional owners include Artal Group S.A., BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc., Capital Research Global Investors, Capital International Investors, Price T Rowe Associates Inc /Md/, Fmr Llc, AllianceBernstein L.P., and State Street Corp. Individual ownership includes CEO Brett Schulman, who holds 1.1% of the company's shares.