Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in Q1 2025 grew 28.2% year over year to $328.5 million [21] - Same restaurant sales increased by 10.8%, driven by a traffic growth of 7.5% [21] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $44.9 million, a 34.6% increase compared to Q1 2024 [24] - Net income reached $25.7 million, an 83.7% increase over Q1 2024 [25] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $2.7 million [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cava restaurant level profit was $82.3 million, representing 25.1% of revenue, compared to 25.2% in Q1 2024 [22] - The company opened 15 net new restaurants, bringing the total to 382 [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expanded its footprint to 26 states and the District of Columbia, entering Indiana and deepening its presence in Florida [9][10] - The performance in new markets, such as Indianapolis and South Florida, has exceeded expectations [78] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach at least 1,000 restaurants by 2032, focusing on community connection and Mediterranean hospitality [10] - The "Project Soul" initiative aims to enhance the in-restaurant experience through design improvements [10] - The company is launching a "Spice World" campaign to celebrate bold flavors while maintaining health-conscious offerings [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the brand's resilience despite macroeconomic uncertainties [6] - The company anticipates same restaurant sales growth of 6% to 8% for the full year 2025 [27] - Management noted strong consumer demand across all geographies and income strata, with no significant weakness observed [72] Other Important Information - The company has zero debt and $369.4 million in cash and investments, with access to a $75 million undrawn revolver [26] - The loyalty program has seen strong engagement, with nearly 8 million members and a 340 basis point increase in revenue from the program [15][36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the loyalty program and its engagement drivers? - Management noted a shift from a transaction-based model to a points-based system, which has increased engagement and participation [35] Question: What is the impact of the KDS rollout on throughput? - Management indicated that the new kitchen display systems enhance order management capabilities and improve order accuracy [39] Question: How is the brand performing in new markets? - Management reported strong performance in new markets, with restaurants in Indiana and South Florida exceeding expectations [78] Question: What is the outlook for restaurant margins? - Management highlighted that improved average unit volumes (AUV) contribute to margin expansion, while also focusing on reinvestment in team members and guest experience [56] Question: What are the expectations for menu innovation? - Management confirmed plans for a new protein introduction later in the year, indicating ongoing innovation efforts [48]

Financial Performance - CAVA's revenue for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, was $328,482,000, representing a 28.2% increase from $256,290,000 in the same period of 2024[65] - Net income for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, was $25,707,000, an increase of 83.7% compared to $13,993,000 in the prior year[78] - Adjusted EBITDA for the period was $44,850,000, up from $33,317,000, reflecting an increase of 34.4%[65] - Revenue for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, was $331.8 million, an increase of 28.1% compared to $259.0 million for the same period in 2024[89] - Adjusted EBITDA for the same period was $44.9 million, up 34.5% from $33.3 million in the prior year[89] - Net income margin improved to 7.7% for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, compared to 5.4% in the same period of 2024[89] Restaurant Expansion - The number of CAVA restaurants increased to 382 from 323, with 15 new openings during the period[65] - The company opened 73 new CAVA restaurants during or subsequent to the sixteen weeks ended April 21, 2024, contributing to increased revenue and expenses[81] Cost and Expenses - CAVA's food, beverage, and packaging costs increased by 33.3% to $96,224,000, primarily due to new restaurant openings and input costs[71] - General and administrative expenses rose by 22.3% to $41,394,000, reflecting increased operational costs[78] - The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to investments for future growth and higher equity-based compensation[80] - Restaurant-level profit margin was 25.1%, slightly down from 25.2% in the prior year[65] Digital Revenue and Guest Traffic - CAVA same restaurant sales growth was 10.8%, driven by a 7.5% increase in guest traffic and a 3.3% increase from menu price and product mix[72] - CAVA's digital revenue mix accounted for 38.0% of total revenue, up from 37.0% in the previous year[65] Cash Flow and Investments - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $289.4 million as of April 20, 2025, down from $366.1 million as of December 29, 2024[92] - Net cash provided by operating activities was $38.6 million for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, a slight increase of 0.5% from $38.4 million in the prior year[93] - Net cash used in investing activities rose significantly to $115.8 million, an increase of 243.9% compared to $33.7 million in the same period of 2024[93] Tax and Future Outlook - The effective income tax rate for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2025, was a benefit of 26.3%, significantly higher than the prior year's rate of 1.8%[85] - The company believes that cash provided by operating activities and existing cash on hand will be sufficient to meet anticipated cash requirements for the next twelve months[91] - The company plans to continue expanding its restaurant footprint and enhancing its product offerings to drive future growth[61]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in Q1 2025 grew by 28.2% year over year to $328.5 million [19] - Same restaurant sales increased by 10.8%, driven by a traffic growth of 7.5% [19] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $44.9 million, a 34.6% increase compared to Q1 2024 [22] - Net income reached $25.7 million, an 83.7% increase from the previous year [23] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $2.7 million [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cava opened 15 net new restaurants, bringing the total to 382 [19] - Restaurant-level profit was $82.3 million, representing 25.1% of revenue, compared to 25.2% in Q1 2024 [20] - Food, beverage, and packaging costs were 29.3% of revenue, an increase of 110 basis points year over year [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expanded its footprint to 26 states and the District of Columbia, entering Indiana and deepening its presence in Florida [8][9] - New market entries are planned for Detroit and Pittsburgh [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach at least 1,000 restaurants by 2032, focusing on community connection and Mediterranean hospitality [9] - The "Project Soul" initiative aims to enhance the in-restaurant experience through design improvements [9] - The company is launching a "Spice World" campaign to celebrate bold, spicy offerings [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the brand's resilience despite macroeconomic uncertainties [5] - The company anticipates same restaurant sales growth of 6% to 8% for the full year [25] - Management noted strong performance across all geographies and income strata, with no significant weaknesses observed [44][70] Other Important Information - The company has zero debt and $369.4 million in cash and investments [24] - The loyalty program has seen strong engagement, with nearly 8 million members [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expansion on loyalty and tiered structure - Management highlighted the success of the loyalty program and plans to introduce a tiered structure to enhance engagement [31][33] Question: Impact of KDS on throughput - Management noted that the new kitchen display systems improve order management and accuracy, with plans to expand the rollout [36][38] Question: Performance in new markets - Management reported strong results in new markets like Indiana and Miami, indicating successful brand expansion [76] Question: Menu innovation and chicken shawarma test - Management confirmed positive consumer reception for the chicken shawarma test, with plans for broader rollout if successful [51][53] Question: Restaurant margin and reinvestment - Management emphasized the importance of reinvesting in team members and maintaining competitive pricing to support traffic momentum [55][57]

Core Insights - Cava's fiscal 2025 Q1 financial report shows strong revenue and earnings growth, exceeding expectations [2][3] - The company faces margin pressures due to rising food costs, impacting restaurant-level profit margins [4] - Future same-restaurant sales growth is projected to decelerate, with guidance set between 6% to 8% [5] Financial Performance - Revenue increased from $256.3 million in Q1 2024 to $328.5 million in Q1 2025, a 28% year-over-year growth [2][3] - Earnings per share rose from $0.12 to $0.22, marking an 83% increase [2] - Adjusted EBITDA improved from $33.3 million to $44.9 million, a 35% increase [2] Operational Metrics - The number of restaurants grew from 323 to 382, an 18% increase [2] - Same-restaurant sales increased by nearly 11%, indicating strong operational momentum despite new store openings [3] Margin Analysis - Restaurant-level profit margin decreased by 10 basis points to 25.1% due to higher food costs, particularly from the introduction of grilled steak [4] Future Outlook - Cava maintains its full-year guidance for same-restaurant sales growth of 6% to 8%, which is below the analyst consensus estimate of 8.4% [5] - The company plans to open two additional new restaurants, slightly raising its adjusted EBITDA forecast [5] Market Reaction - The initial market reaction to the earnings report was slightly negative, with shares dropping over 3% in after-hours trading [6] - The stock movement may be influenced by management's comments during the conference call [7] Key Metrics to Watch - Same-restaurant sales growth will be a critical metric, as new restaurant openings may distort actual growth momentum [8] - Economic conditions in the U.S. could impact customer traffic and sales growth moving forward [8]

Financial Performance - CAVA's revenue reached $328.5 million in Q1 2025, a 28.2% increase compared to Q1 2024[9, 12] - Same Restaurant Sales (SRS) grew by 10.8% in Q1 2025[9, 15] - CAVA experienced a 7.5% increase in traffic[9, 22] - Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 25.1% in Q1 2025[9, 17, 21] - Total Company Adjusted EBITDA was $44.9 million, a 34.6% increase compared to Q1 2024[9] - Total Company Net Income was $25.7 million, a 115.3% increase compared to Q1 2024[9] - Free Cash Flow was $2.7 million in Q1 2025, with Cash from Operations at $38.6 million[9] Expansion and Outlook - CAVA opened 15 net new restaurants in Q1 2025, representing an 18.3% year-over-year increase in total CAVA restaurants[14, 22] - The company anticipates opening 64-68 net new restaurants in 2025[33] - CAVA projects Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 6.0%-8.0% for the fiscal year 2025[33] - CAVA expects a Restaurant Level Profit Margin of 24.8%-25.2% for fiscal year 2025[33]

Exhibit 99.1 CAVA GROUP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2025 RESULTS YEAR OVER YEAR CAVA REVENUE GROWTH OF 28.2% INCLUDING CAVA SAME RESTAURANT SALES GROWTH OF 10.8% 15 NET NEW CAVA RESTAURANT OPENINGS DURING QUARTER FIRST QUARTER 2025 CAVA RESTAURANT-LEVEL PROFIT MARGIN OF 25.1% WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 15, 2025) - CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA) ("CAVA Group" or the "Company"), the category- defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand that brings heart, health, and humanity to food, today announced financial res ...

Core Insights - Cava reported better-than-expected sales in its latest fiscal quarter, with same-store sales growing 10.8%, surpassing analysts' expectations of 10.3% [1][6] - The company experienced positive traffic growth of 7.5% across all geographies and income cohorts, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards its offerings [2][3] Financial Performance - Cava's fiscal first-quarter net income reached $25.71 million, or 22 cents per share, up from $13.99 million, or 12 cents per share, a year earlier [6] - Net sales increased by 28% to $332 million, with revenue surpassing $1 billion on a 12-month trailing basis, marking a significant milestone for the company [7] - The company raised its adjusted EBITDA forecast to between $152 million and $159 million, up from the previous range of $150 million to $157 million [8] Market Position and Outlook - Despite strong quarterly performance, Cava maintained its same-store sales forecast of a 6% to 8% increase, anticipating slower growth in the latter half of fiscal 2025 [5] - The company plans to open 64 to 68 new locations, an increase from its prior outlook of 62 to 66 openings [8] - Cava's stock fell 5% in extended trading, reflecting investor concerns over its conservative outlook and economic factors [5]

Group 1 - CAVA Group, Inc. is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on May 15, with analysts expecting earnings of 15 cents per share, an increase from 13 cents per share in the same period last year [1] - Projected quarterly revenue for CAVA is $327.71 million, up from $259.01 million a year earlier [1] - CAVA Group will replace Altair Engineering in the S&P MidCap 400, as announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices on March 26 [1] Group 2 - CAVA shares experienced a slight decline of 0.2%, closing at $99.54 on Wednesday [2] - Analysts have provided various ratings for CAVA, with UBS maintaining a Neutral rating and lowering the price target from $125 to $112 [7] - Barclays also maintained an Equal-Weight rating, reducing the price target from $104 to $90 [7] - TD Securities kept a Buy rating but cut the price target from $130 to $120 [7] - Baird maintained an Outperform rating, lowering the price target from $125 to $105 [7] - JP Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight with a price target of $110 [7]

Core Viewpoint - CAVA Group, Inc. is set to report its first-quarter 2025 results, with expectations of earnings per share (EPS) growth and significant revenue increase compared to the previous year [1][4]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAVA's first-quarter EPS is 14 cents, reflecting a 16.7% increase from 12 cents in the same quarter last year [1]. - The consensus revenue estimate for the first quarter is $330.6 million, indicating a 27.7% growth from the prior year's figure [4]. Earnings Surprise History - CAVA has a history of earnings surprises, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 62.6% [4][6]. Factors Influencing Q1 Results - The company's first-quarter performance is expected to benefit from strong traffic growth, strategic expansion, and enhancements in digital and in-restaurant experiences [8]. - Management anticipates that same-restaurant sales growth will peak in the first quarter, aligning with a full-year guidance of 6-8% growth [9]. Loyalty Program and Menu Innovation - CAVA's loyalty program has significantly boosted customer engagement and sales participation, particularly among lower-frequency users [10]. - The company is focusing on menu innovation, with seasonal items and premium offerings generating excitement and increasing check averages [11]. Cost Pressures - CAVA's performance may face challenges from elevated input costs, particularly due to higher food and packaging expenses, and increased labor costs [12][18]. Stock Performance and Valuation - CAVA shares have declined by 23.9% over the past three months, underperforming the broader restaurant industry [13]. - The stock is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 8.96X, significantly above the industry average of 4.07X [16]. Investment Considerations - CAVA is positioned to capitalize on the growing consumer interest in health-oriented dining and Mediterranean cuisine, with ongoing investments in restaurant growth and digital capabilities [17]. - However, challenges from rising costs and elevated general and administrative expenses may limit profitability and operating leverage [18].

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Cava Group (CAVA) .Cava currently has an average brokerage recommendation ...