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Sweetgreen, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 narrowed, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Same-store sales fell 11.5%: Same-Store Sales Change was (11.5)% against 4.4% a year earlier, reflecting a 13.3% decrease in traffic and mix. Source
  • Net loss rose to $49.7 million: Net loss was $(49.7) million, against $(29.0) million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Loyalty transition affected traffic: Management said the loyalty transition created near-term headwinds, with the aim of more sustainable engagement over time. Source
  • Restaurant margin fell nearly 700 basis points: Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 10.4%, against 17.4%; Restaurant-Level Profit was $16.2 million, against $28.0 million. Source
  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was negative: Adjusted EBITDA was $(13.3) million, a margin of (8.6)%, against $(0.6) million and (0.4)% a year earlier. Source
  • Five priorities set the plan: The plan sets five priorities, including operational excellence and food quality with menu innovation. Source

“Our 2025 results fell short of our expectations.”

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sweetgreen

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net new restaurant openings Sourcefiscal year 2026Approximately 15Narrowed, top end cut from 15-20
Same-store sales change Sourcefiscal year 2026(4.0)% to (2.0)%New
Restaurant-Level Profit Margin Sourcefiscal year 202614.2% to 14.7%New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026$1.0 million to $6.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 net new restaurant openings guided at about 15, against the 15-20 range given in the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 Same-Store Sales Change range of (4.0)% to (2.0)% given; the prior release had no such figure. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 Restaurant-Level Profit Margin and Adjusted EBITDA ranges given; the prior release had no such figures. Source
  • New: Sweet Growth Transformation Plan introduced, with five strategic priorities for the business. Source
  • Ended: Spyce sale to Wonder completed for total consideration of $186.4 million, ending Sweetgreen's ownership of Spyce. Source
  • New: Wraps are being tested in select New York, Midwest and California restaurants. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Same-store sales fell 11.5%: Same-Store Sales Change was (11.5)% against 4.4% a year earlier, reflecting a 13.3% decrease in traffic and mix. Source
  • Revenue fell 3.5% from prior year: Total revenue was $155.2 million in the quarter, down 3.5% from the prior year period. Source
  • Newer restaurants added revenue: Restaurants opened during or after the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 added $14.1 million of incremental revenue. Source
  • Net loss rose to $49.7 million: Net loss was $(49.7) million, against $(29.0) million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Restaurant profit decline and Spyce costs: Management said the net loss rose mainly from an $11.7 million drop in Restaurant-Level Profit and transaction costs tied to the Spyce sale. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose 0.4%: Full-year revenue increased 0.4% to $679.5 million for fiscal 2025. Source

Traffic, digital and loyalty

  • Digital share of sales rose: Total Digital Revenue Percentage was 65.1%, up from 56.0%, and Owned Digital Revenue Percentage was 38.0%, up from 29.2%. Source
  • In-store loyalty scans count as digital: Purchases made in-store using scan-to-pay, scan-to-redeem or scan-to-earn under SG Rewards are counted within Owned Digital Channels sales. Source
  • Loyalty transition affected traffic: Management said the loyalty transition created near-term headwinds, with the aim of more sustainable engagement over time. Source

“We are tightening our operations, raising our culinary standards, and setting the business up to grow in the right way.”

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sweetgreen

Wraps and menu pricing

  • Wraps tested in three regions: Wraps are being tested across select New York, Midwest and California restaurants. Source
  • Wraps priced below $15: Wrap prices start at $10.95 at certain New York City locations, with the full lineup below $15 in all markets for in-store and pickup orders. Source
  • Menu prices added 1.8% to comparable sales: Menu price increases made after the prior-year fourth quarter contributed a 1.8% benefit to Same-Store Sales Change. Source

Margins, costs and adjusted EBITDA

  • Restaurant margin fell nearly 700 basis points: Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 10.4%, against 17.4%; Restaurant-Level Profit was $16.2 million, against $28.0 million. Source
  • Ingredient, advertising and tariff costs rose: Management listed higher ingredient usage and waste, higher restaurant advertising, and higher packaging costs from recently imposed tariffs and duties. Source
  • General and administrative cost rose: General and administrative expense was $39.7 million, or 25.6% of revenue, against $37.1 million, or 23.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was negative: Adjusted EBITDA was $(13.3) million, a margin of (8.6)%, against $(0.6) million and (0.4)% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA was negative: Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $(11.0) million, a margin of (1.6)%, against $18.7 million and 2.8% in fiscal 2024. Source

Cash, capex and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $(12,696) thousand for fiscal 2025, against $43,390 thousand provided in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Restaurant capital spending rose: Purchases of property and equipment were $106,492 thousand in fiscal 2025, against $84,457 thousand, and intangible asset purchases were $7,813 thousand. Source
  • Year-end cash declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $89,177 thousand at year end, against $214,789 thousand at the prior year end. Source

Strategy, restructuring and people

  • Five priorities set the plan: The plan sets five priorities, including operational excellence and food quality with menu innovation. Source
  • Personalized guest experience priority: One priority aims to raise customer frequency and average check through targeted digital engagement, personalized messaging and relevant offers. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell: Restructuring charges were $471 thousand in the quarter, against $779 thousand a year earlier, tied to the vacated support center and a reduction in force. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Wrap expansion decision in mid-2026: Management expects to expand the wrap platform in mid-2026 if performance meets stage-gate criteria. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Same-Store Sales Change Source(11.5)%
Traffic and mix change Source(13.3)%
Inventory Source$2,384 thousand
Net new restaurant openings Source15
Permanent restaurant closures Source3
Total digital revenue percentage Source65.1%
Owned digital revenue percentage Source38.0%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a more selective consumer environment as a cause of traffic softness. Source
  • Regulatory: Packaging costs rose with recently imposed tariffs and duties. Source
  • Operational: Ingredient usage and waste rose, including higher protein portions. Source
  • Financial: Guidance for Restaurant-Level Profit Margin and Adjusted EBITDA is not reconciled to GAAP measures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said 2025 results fell short of its expectations and is responding through the Sweet Growth Transformation Plan. 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.