Joby Aviation closes $591 million stock offering with full underwriter option
Investing.com - RBC Capital initiated coverage on CAVA Group Inc (NYSE:CAVA) Wednesday with an Outperform rating and an $80.00 price target. According to InvestingPro data, CAVA currently trades at a P/E ratio of 55.6x and maintains strong liquidity with a current ratio of 2.72x.
The Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain’s stock has declined 45% year-to-date, which RBC Capital views as an opportunity given CAVA’s improving unit economics that prompted an increase in unit growth guidance during the second quarter. The company demonstrates solid financial health with an Altman Z-Score of 8.87 and impressive revenue growth of 28.2% in the last twelve months.
RBC Capital expects CAVA to achieve mid-single-digit comparable sales growth over the next few years, driven by category growth, operational improvements, marketing initiatives, and menu innovation, despite near-term sales volatility amid challenging consumer spending trends.
The 2025 class of new CAVA locations is tracking toward average unit volumes exceeding $3 million, with an estimated cash-on-cash return of 54.5%, significantly above the company’s 35% target at its initial public offering, according to RBC Capital.
RBC Capital’s proprietary analysis estimates CAVA’s long-term total addressable market at 2,429 units compared to 398 units as of the second quarter of 2025, representing potential for 6.1x growth, supported by the company’s solid financial position with $290 million in cash, no debt, and positive free cash flow. For deeper insights into CAVA’s growth potential and valuation, InvestingPro subscribers can access 14 additional expert tips and comprehensive financial metrics.
In other recent news, CAVA Group has opened its first Miami location in Brickell, marking its third restaurant in South Florida this year. The new restaurant offers dining room and patio seating, as well as digital order pick-up and delivery options. In terms of analyst activity, Jefferies has reiterated its Buy rating on CAVA Group, viewing the recent stock pullback as a buying opportunity. Jefferies expects improvement in same-store sales through 2026 and beyond, despite current demand concerns in the fast-casual sector. Meanwhile, CFRA has lowered its price target for CAVA Group to $120, citing expectations of slower sales growth in 2025 due to reduced consumer spending. Bernstein SocGen also adjusted its price target to $100, maintaining an Outperform rating but expressing concerns about negative same-store sales growth in new locations. Additionally, a critical report by Business Insider has impacted the fast-casual sector, questioning the value propositions of chains like CAVA, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle. The report highlighted sales struggles, with Sweetgreen and Chipotle experiencing notable declines in the second quarter.
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