# CAVA Raises Restaurant and Sales Forecasts for Fiscal 2026

By John Kim

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/49741
Published: 2026-11-06T02:39:13.000Z
Updated: 2026-11-06T02:39:13.000Z
Section: Business

> Third-quarter same-restaurant sales rose 3.1% as CAVA revenue increased 22.1% to $353.7 million.

CAVA Group, Inc. raised its fiscal 2026 forecast for restaurant openings and same-restaurant sales on Nov. 4, after third-quarter sales growth at established restaurants slowed to 3.1%.

The restaurant forecast rose from 75–77 net new restaurants to 76–78, while the same-restaurant sales range increased from 4.5%–6.5% to 6%–7%. CAVA lowered its restaurant-level profit margin forecast to 23.7%–24%, from 23.7%–24.3%. It raised expected pre-opening costs to $28.5 million–$29.5 million, from $22 million–$22.5 million, and narrowed its adjusted EBITDA range to $184 million–$189 million, from $181 million–$191 million.

The updated outlook accompanied results for the 12 weeks ended Oct. 4. CAVA revenue, a measure that excludes licensed restaurants, rose 22.1% year over year to $353.7 million. The company separately reported consolidated revenue of $356.436 million; the two figures cover different scopes.

Same-restaurant sales growth slowed from 9% in the fiscal second quarter to 3.1% in the third. The measure compares sales at restaurants open for at least 365 days. CAVA opened 24 net new restaurants during the quarter and ended it with 500 restaurants. CAVA is a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain with more than 500 restaurants across 31 states and Washington, D.C.

CAVA co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said the company opened its 500th restaurant ahead of schedule. CAVA attributed about 150 basis points of third-quarter same-restaurant sales impact to Cyclospora and broader concerns about fresh-produce consumption.

Net income was $13.2 million, down from $14.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization with specified adjustments, rose 5.7% to $42.3 million.