greeksoup/ stock research

Cava Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 narrowed. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • CAVA Revenue grew 22.1%: CAVA Revenue rose 22.1% to $353.7 million from $289.8 million a year earlier, with 3.1% Same Restaurant Sales growth alongside the new restaurant base. Source
  • Newer restaurants exceed expectations: Management said the 102 net new openings during or after the third quarter of fiscal 2025 are exceeding its performance expectations and drove the revenue increase. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $42.3 million, or 11.9% of revenue, against $40.0 million a year earlier, a non-GAAP measure reconciled in the release. Source
  • Restaurant margin down 120 basis points: CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 23.4% against 24.6%, while restaurant-level profit rose 16.2% to $82.7 million. Source
  • Same Restaurant Sales up 3.1%: Same Restaurant Sales rose 3.1%, with 3.0% from menu price and product mix and slightly positive Guest Traffic. Source
  • Cyclospora and produce concerns cut sales: Management said the Cyclospora incident and broader concerns about fresh produce consumption reduced Same Restaurant Sales by about 150 basis points. Source

“Same Restaurant Sales grew 3.1%, CAVA Revenue increased 22.1%, and we opened our 500th restaurant ahead of schedule.”

Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings Sourcefiscal full-year 202676 to 78Raised from 75 to 77
Same Restaurant Sales Sourcefiscal full-year 20266.0% to 7.0%Raised from 4.5% to 6.5%
CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin Sourcefiscal full-year 202623.7% to 24.0%Narrowed, top end cut from 23.7% to 24.3%
Pre-opening costs Sourcefiscal full-year 2026$28.5 to $29.5 millionRaised from $22.0 to $22.5 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal full-year 2026$184.0 to $189.0 millionNarrowed from $181.0 to $191.0 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net new CAVA restaurant openings range raised by one at each end, to 76 to 78. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Same Restaurant Sales range raised to 6.0% to 7.0% from 4.5% to 6.5%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin top end lowered to 24.0% from 24.3%; bottom end kept at 23.7%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year pre-opening costs guidance raised to $28.5 to $29.5 million from $22.0 to $22.5 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range narrowed to $184.0 to $189.0 million from $181.0 to $191.0 million, with a higher midpoint. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • CAVA Revenue grew 22.1%: CAVA Revenue rose 22.1% to $353.7 million from $289.8 million a year earlier, with 3.1% Same Restaurant Sales growth alongside the new restaurant base. Source
  • Newer restaurants exceed expectations: Management said the 102 net new openings during or after the third quarter of fiscal 2025 are exceeding its performance expectations and drove the revenue increase. Source
  • Restaurant count reached 500: The company ended the quarter with 500 CAVA Restaurants, up from 415 a year earlier, and the CEO said the 500th opened ahead of schedule. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined: Net income was $13.2 million against $14.7 million a year earlier, and diluted EPS was $0.11 against $0.12. Management tied the decline mainly to higher depreciation, amortization and equity-based compensation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $42.3 million, or 11.9% of revenue, against $40.0 million a year earlier, a non-GAAP measure reconciled in the release. Source

Segments and footprint

  • Results reported as one segment: The release reports one segment, CAVA, with restaurant-level tables for the twelve-week quarter and the forty-week year to date. No regional breakdown is given. Source
  • Footprint extended to 31 states: The company describes more than 500 restaurants in 31 states and Washington, D.C., up from more than 450 restaurants in 29 states in the second quarter release. Source
  • Openings and one closure year to date: The company opened 24 restaurants in the quarter against 17 a year earlier, with 62 openings and one permanent closure in the forty weeks to date. Source

“In the third quarter, despite broader industry pressures, we continued to gain market share, expand our footprint”

Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO

Products and customers

  • Digital share of sales at 38.5%: Digital Revenue Mix, the share of CAVA Revenue from Digital Orders, was 38.5% in the quarter. Digital Orders include third-party marketplace and native delivery. Source
  • Average unit volume rose to $3.1 million: AUV was $3.1 million against $2.9 million a year earlier, measured on restaurants open for the full trailing thirteen periods. Source
  • Operating weeks up on base growth: Restaurant operating weeks were 5,798 in the quarter against 4,881 a year earlier, reflecting the larger restaurant base. Source

Costs and G&A

  • Labor rose to 26.0% of revenue: Labor was 26.0% of CAVA Revenue against 25.5% a year earlier, and occupancy was flat at 6.7%. Source
  • Other operating expenses rose to 13.8%: Other operating expenses were 13.8% of CAVA Revenue against 13.1% a year earlier, and rose 28.7% in dollar terms. Source
  • G&A flat at 9.4% of revenue: G&A excluding equity-based compensation and executive transition costs was 9.4% of revenue, the same as a year earlier, with sales leverage offsetting growth investments. Source
  • Pre-opening costs nearly doubled: Pre-opening costs were $8.4 million against $4.9 million a year earlier, and depreciation and amortization was $21.3 million against $17.6 million. Source
  • Equity-based compensation increased: Equity-based compensation was $4.5 million in the quarter against $3.3 million, and $17.9 million for the forty weeks against $14.5 million. Source

Margins and pricing

  • Restaurant margin down 120 basis points: CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 23.4% against 24.6%, while restaurant-level profit rose 16.2% to $82.7 million. Source
  • Labor, delivery and upkeep drove margin: Management named incremental labor investments, a higher mix of third-party delivery and repairs and maintenance investments as the drivers, partly offset by sales leverage. Source
  • Delivery dilutes rate but lifts dollars: Management said third-party delivery lowers margin rate but raises margin dollars, because the guest price is higher. Source
  • Year-to-date margin at 24.7%: For the forty weeks, CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 24.7% against 25.3%, and restaurant-level profit was $285.4 million. Source

Demand and sales trend

  • Same Restaurant Sales up 3.1%: Same Restaurant Sales rose 3.1%, with 3.0% from menu price and product mix and slightly positive Guest Traffic. Source
  • Cyclospora and produce concerns cut sales: Management said the Cyclospora incident and broader concerns about fresh produce consumption reduced Same Restaurant Sales by about 150 basis points. Source
  • Sales growth slowed from second quarter: Same Restaurant Sales were 3.1% in the third quarter, against 9.0% in the second and 9.7% in the first; the table shows 0.5% for the fourth quarter of 2025 and 1.9% for the third quarter of 2025. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Free cash flow of $37.1 million year to date: Net cash from operations was $181.6 million for the forty weeks, less $144.5 million of property and equipment purchases, giving free cash flow of $37.1 million against $23.3 million. Source
  • Cash and investments increased: Cash and cash equivalents were $297.9 million at October 4, 2026, up from $282.9 million at December 28, 2025, and investments at fair value were $130.0 million. Source
  • Equity and liabilities both rose: Total liabilities were $674.0 million and total stockholders’ equity was $858.9 million, against $580.4 million and $779.7 million at fiscal year-end 2025. Source

Strategy, investment and people

  • Executive transition costs ended: Executive transition costs were nil in the quarter against $0.8 million a year earlier, and $0.5 million for the forty weeks. Source
  • Investment in growth offsets earnings gain: Management said the Adjusted EBITDA increase was partly offset by investments to support future growth, including pre-opening costs. Source
  • Founder-led brand with wide menu: The release describes CAVA as founder-led, with more than 17 billion possible ingredient combinations across proteins, vegetables, dips and beverages. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Continued investment in teams and guests: Management said it will keep investing in teams and guests and strengthening lasting relationships, which it linked to durable growth. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (Same Restaurant Sales) Source3.1%
Guest traffic Sourceslightly positive
Store openings and closings Source24 net new in quarter; 62 openings and 1 permanent closure year to date
Digital share of sales (e-commerce) Source38.5%
Food, beverage and packaging, % of CAVA Revenue Source30.0%
Average unit volume (AUV) Source$3.1 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited Cyclospora and broader concerns about fresh produce consumption as reducing Same Restaurant Sales by about 150 basis points. Source
  • External: The CEO referred to broader industry pressures during the quarter, alongside continued share gains and footprint expansion. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the openings since the third quarter of fiscal 2025 are exceeding its performance expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the 500th restaurant opened ahead of the schedule it had set. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.