Cava Group Posts Strong Results, But Outlook Holds Back Stock
Cava Group beat first-quarter profit and sales estimates, but its outlook wasn't as strong as some had anticipated.
The Mediterranean restaurant chain kept its same-restaurant sales growth and restaurant-level profit margin unchanged from its previous outlook, and it sees costs higher.
Co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said the company faced economic uncertainty and challenging weather in the quarter.Cava Group (CAVA) shares fell Friday, a day after the Mediterranean fast-casual chain's outlook offset better-than-expected results.
The company didn't change its estimates for full-year same-restaurant sales growth (6.0% to 8.0%) and restaurant-level profit margin (24.8% to 25.2%) from the guidance it gave in February. It also raised its prediction for pre-opening costs to $14.5 million to $15.5 million from $14.0 million to $15.0 million.
However, it did increase its outlooks for net new Cava restaurant openings to a range of 64 to 68 from 62 to 66, and adjusted EBITDA to $152.0 million to $159.0 million from $150.0 million to $157.0 million.
In the first quarter, Cava reported earnings per share of $0.22 on revenue that surged 28% year-over-year to $331.8 million. Both were above Visible Alpha forecasts. Same-restaurant sales grew 10.8%, also above estimates, and traffic rose 7.5%.
Co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said the performance showed the continuing strength of the company's category-defining brand, "in spite of economic uncertainty and challenging weather."
In a note to clients, JPMorgan analysts remained bullish on Cava, affirming their recent re-upgrade of the stock with a "buy now and own for the long term" opinion. They added the company was "comping well in a difficult environment."
Including Friday morning's 3% decline, shares of Cava Group are nearly 15% lower in 2025.
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To participate in or listen to the call, please dial the appropriate number: Toll Free - North America: (+1) 800 717 1738 Conference ID Number: 21262 About Currency Exchange International, Corp. Currency Exchange International is in the business of providing comprehensive foreign exchange technology and processing services for banks, credit unions, businesses, and consumers in the United States and select clients globally. Primary products and services include the exchange of foreign currencies, wire transfer payments, Global EFTs, and foreign cheque clearing. Wholesale customers are served through its proprietary FX software applications delivered on its web-based interface, ('CXIFX'), its related APIs with core banking platforms, and through personal relationship managers. Consumers are served through Group-owned retail branches, agent retail branches, and its e-commerce platform, ('OnlineFX'). Contact Information For further information please contact: Bill MitoulasInvestor Relations(416) 479-9547Email: KEY PERFORMANCE AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES The Group measures and evaluates its performance, as presented in this document, using a number of financial metrics and measures, such as adjusted net income, which do not have standardized meanings under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may not be comparable to other companies. The Group's management believes that these measures are more reflective of its operating results and provide the readers of this document with a better understanding of management's perspective on the performance. These measures enhance the comparability of our financial performance for the current year with the corresponding period in the prior year. For further information, including a reconciliation, refer to key performance and non-GAAP financial measures in the MD&A. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, demand and market outlook for wholesale and retail foreign currency exchange products and services, future growth, the timing and scale of future business plans, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'plan', 'predict', 'preliminary', 'project', 'will', 'would', and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date such information is provided, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Group's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in such forward-looking information. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking information due to a number of factors including, without limitation, the competitive nature of the foreign exchange industry; evolving worldwide geopolitical developments and pandemics including COVID-19 all of which may continue to have a material adverse effect on global economic activity, and may continue to result in volatility and disruption to global supply chains, operations, mobility of people and the financial markets which impact personal and business travel, tourism and factors relevant to the Group's business; global economic deterioration negatively impacting tourism in general; currency exchange risks, the need for the Group to manage its planned growth, the effects of product development and the need for continued technological change, protection of the Group's proprietary rights, the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Group and the industry in which it operates, network security risks, the ability of the Group to maintain properly working systems, theft and risk of physical harm to personnel, reliance on key management personnel; volatile securities markets impacting security pricing in a manner unrelated to operating performance and impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital as well as the factors identified throughout this press release and in the section entitled 'Risks and Uncertainties' of the Group's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six-month periods ended April 30, 2025 and 2024. Forward-looking information contained in this press release represents management's expectations as of the date hereof (or as of the date such information is otherwise stated to be presented) and is subject to change after such date. The Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this press release. 1 These are non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and are not standardized financial measures under IFRS, they are based on management-determined non-recurring items. For further information, refer to the key performance and non-GAAP financial measures section on page 4 of this document. 2 These are non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and are not standardized financial measures under IFRS, they are based on management-determined non-recurring items. For further information, refer to the key performance and non-GAAP financial measures section on page 4 of this document.3 These adjusted results are non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and are not standardized financial measures under IFRS, they are based on management-determined non-recurring items. For further information, refer to the key performance and non-GAAP financial measures section on page 4 of this in to access your portfolio
