CAVA vs SG Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
CAVA has shown stronger recent growth momentum and an additional grocery products channel, while Sweetgreen offers a similarly health-focused fast-casual concept that has faced a more uneven path toward profitability.
Investors weighing CAVA against Sweetgreen are choosing between a currently faster-growing Mediterranean concept and a longer-established salad chain still working to prove consistent profitability.
CAVA holds the edge across 5 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. CAVA leads on both 1-year return (+9.36%) and forward P/E quality (99.54x vs -10.00x for SG), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. CAVA leads on both revenue growth (31.30%) and operating margin (7.62%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for CAVA (+15.16%) than for SG (-4.86%).
- Want exposure to a fast-growing Mediterranean fast-casual concept
- Value a brand with an additional grocery products revenue stream
- Believe in continued new restaurant unit growth
- Can tolerate valuation and execution risk tied to rapid expansion
- Want exposure to the health-focused fast-casual dining niche
- Are watching for a turnaround toward consistent profitability
- Believe in the brand's technology-driven ordering approach
- Can tolerate historical earnings volatility
| Metric | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 35.5 | 22.0 |
| AI rank | #1606 | #4351 |
| Latest close | $73.63 | $6.99 |
| 1M return | +18.09% | +10.95% |
| 6M return | +7.58% | +15.73% |
| 1Y return | +9.36% | -22.16% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.94K (+9.4%) started 2025-08-21 | $7.78K (-22.2%) started 2025-08-21 |
| 5Y ago | $16.82K (+68.2%) started 2023-06-15 | $1.41K (-85.9%) started 2021-11-18 |
| 10Y ago | $16.82K (+68.2%) started 2023-06-15 | $1.41K (-85.9%) started 2021-11-18 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $8.6B | $832.1M |
| Trailing P/E | 131.48 | 77.67 |
| Forward P/E | 99.54 | -10.00 |
| Price/Sales | 6.26 | 1.22 |
| EV/Revenue | 6.32 | 1.53 |
| Analyst target | $84.79 | $6.65 |
| Target upside | +15.16% | -4.86% |
| Metric | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 31.30% | 3.80% |
| Earnings growth | 19.80% | N/A |
| EPS growth | +19.80% | N/A |
| FCF margin | -0.05% | -9.07% |
| Operating margin | 7.62% | -12.59% |
| Profit margin | 4.82% | 2.00% |
| ROIC proxy | 8.32% | 3.07% |
| Return on equity | 8.32% | 3.07% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 1.75 | 2.20 |
| Debt/equity | 61.90 | 76.00 |
| Current ratio | 2.48 | 1.43 |
| Quick ratio | 2.36 | 1.30 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +9.36% | -22.16% |
| CAGR | +9.36% | -22.17% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.36 | -0.02 | |
| Max drawdown | 37.56% | 49.68% | |
| Max daily drop | 11.20% | 14.27% | |
| Max wkly drop | 19.23% | 27.82% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +68.18% | -85.88% |
| CAGR | +17.74% | -33.74% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.49 | -0.18 | |
| Max drawdown | 71.11% | 91.13% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.63% | 23.06% | |
| Max wkly drop | 25.51% | 38.03% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +68.18% | -85.88% |
| CAGR | +17.74% | -33.74% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.49 | -0.18 | |
| Max drawdown | 71.11% | 91.13% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.63% | 23.06% | |
| Max wkly drop | 25.51% | 38.03% |
| Category | CAVA | SG |
|---|---|---|
| Company | CAVA Group, Inc. | Sweetgreen, Inc. |
| Sector | Restaurants / Fast-Casual Dining | Restaurants / Fast-Casual Dining |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | CAVA operates a fast-casual restaurant chain centered on Mediterranean-inspired bowls, pitas, and salads, alongside a packaged dips and spreads business sold in grocery stores. | Sweetgreen operates a fast-casual restaurant chain focused on customizable salads and warm bowls, emphasizing fresh, health-oriented ingredients and technology-driven ordering. |
| Investor focus | Watch same-restaurant sales growth and the pace of new unit openings as key indicators of the brand's expansion runway. | Watch progress toward consistent profitability and same-store sales trends as the company works to scale its restaurant base. |
- Strong same-restaurant sales growth and brand momentum in fast-casual dining
- Differentiated Mediterranean cuisine positioning versus more common fast-casual concepts
- Additional revenue channel through packaged grocery products carrying the CAVA brand
- Strong brand recognition in the health-focused fast-casual dining niche
- Investment in digital ordering and technology-driven store formats
- Loyal customer base concentrated in urban and suburban markets
- Restaurant expansion requires continued execution on new site selection and operations
- Fast-casual dining faces intense competition and shifting consumer spending patterns
- Profitability can be pressured by food and labor cost inflation
- History of inconsistent profitability compared to some fast-casual peers
- Higher price points can make the concept sensitive to consumer spending pullbacks
- Competition from other health-focused and traditional fast-casual chains
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