Key Highlights

  • CAVA Group shares closed up 14.24% on August 12 at $69.47 after a stronger-than-expected fiscal Q2 report.
  • Revenue rose 31.3% year-over-year to $365.4 million, with same-restaurant sales growth of 9%, well above the 7.4% Street estimate.
  • Growth came despite lingering concerns from a recent Cyclospora food-safety scare.
  • Management reiterated full-year guidance of 4.5% to 6.5% same-restaurant sales growth and 75 to 77 new restaurant openings.

Why Did CAVA Group Stock Close Higher Today?

CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA) shares closed up 14.24% on August 12 at $69.47 after the Mediterranean fast-casual chain posted stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter 2026 results, with adjusted EPS of $0.19 beating the $0.18 estimate. Revenue rose 31.3% year-over-year to $365.4 million, and same-restaurant sales growth of 9% came in well above the 7.4% Street estimate, driven by 5.3% traffic growth despite lingering concerns from a recent Cyclospora food-safety scare. CAVA Group is a category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant company that operates a rapidly expanding chain of company-owned restaurants across the United States, offering customizable bowls, pitas, and salads built around fresh, bold Mediterranean flavors.

Reiterated Guidance and Analyst Response

Management reiterated full-year guidance of 4.5% to 6.5% same-restaurant sales growth and 75 to 77 new restaurant openings, citing prudence amid macro uncertainty. Multiple analysts raised price targets following the report, including RBC to $95, UBS to $90, and Roth to $95, and highlighted that new restaurant cohorts are outperforming expectations, with same-store sales trends recovering to mid-single-digit growth in recent weeks, suggesting the food-safety impact was less severe than feared. A few firms, including TD Cowen and Mizuho, trimmed targets citing Margin pressure from food, labor, and delivery costs.

Conclusion

CAVA Group shares closed sharply higher today as investors welcomed a second-quarter report that topped expectations on same-restaurant sales and revenue growth even amid a recent food-safety scare. With reiterated full-year guidance and encouraging recovery signs in recent weeks, the stock's rally reflects renewed confidence in the chain's expansion trajectory.