SBUX vs CAVA Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Compare Starbucks and Cava by turnaround execution vs unit growth trajectory, average unit volume, digital ordering mix, margin profile, and which restaurant stock offers better 2026 risk-reward.
Use this Starbucks vs Cava comparison to evaluate the key differences across valuation, growth, profitability, and risk before making an investment decision.
SBUX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. SBUX leads on both 1-year return (+10.19%) and forward P/E quality (35.09x vs 82.44x for CAVA), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for CAVA (+50.04%) than for SBUX (+0.91%).
| Metric | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 39.5 | 35.0 |
| AI rank | #1193 | #1699 |
| Latest close | $103.25 | $62.01 |
| 1M return | -0.27% | -24.60% |
| 6M return | +5.77% | -6.17% |
| 1Y return | +10.19% | -28.11% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.94K (+9.4%) started 2025-07-25 | $7.19K (-28.1%) started 2025-07-24 |
| 5Y ago | $9.86K (-1.4%) started 2021-07-26 | $14.16K (+41.6%) started 2023-06-15 |
| 10Y ago | $26.38K (+163.8%) started 2016-07-25 | $14.16K (+41.6%) started 2023-06-15 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $120.23B | $7.22B |
| Trailing P/E | 80.53 | 119.25 |
| Forward P/E | 35.09 | 82.44 |
| Price/Sales | 2.80 | 5.62 |
| EV/Revenue | 3.72 | 5.80 |
| Analyst target | $106.45 | $93.04 |
| Target upside | +0.91% | +50.04% |
| Metric | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 8.80% | 32.10% |
| Earnings growth | 32.60% | -9.10% |
| EPS growth | +32.60% | -9.10% |
| FCF margin | -3.39% | -0.92% |
| Operating margin | 8.42% | N/A |
| Profit margin | 3.89% | 4.79% |
| ROIC proxy | N/A | 8.02% |
| Return on equity | N/A | 8.02% |
| Dividend yield | 2.35% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 0.97 | 1.69 |
| Debt/equity | N/A | 61.54 |
| Current ratio | 0.92 | 2.65 |
| Quick ratio | 0.26 | 2.53 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +9.35% | -28.11% |
| CAGR | +9.38% | -28.13% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.30 | -0.34 | |
| Max drawdown | 16.90% | 51.74% | |
| Max daily drop | 5.03% | 16.63% | |
| Max wkly drop | 9.21% | 22.46% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -10.33% | +41.64% |
| CAGR | -2.16% | +11.85% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.05 | 0.41 | |
| Max drawdown | 43.68% | 71.11% | |
| Max daily drop | 15.88% | 16.63% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.87% | 25.51% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +114.86% | +41.64% |
| CAGR | +7.95% | +11.85% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.25 | 0.41 | |
| Max drawdown | 43.68% | 71.11% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.20% | 16.63% | |
| Max wkly drop | 21.22% | 25.51% |
| Category | SBUX | CAVA |
|---|---|---|
| Company | SBUX | CAVA |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | N/A |
| Industry | Restaurants | N/A |
| Core business | N/A | N/A |
| Investor focus | N/A | N/A |
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