---
title: "Cava rallies after Q1 results impress and management hikes full-year guidance"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286966452.md"
description: "Cava's stock surged 8% following impressive Q1 results, with revenue of $434.4 million surpassing estimates. Adjusted EBITDA reached $61.7 million, exceeding expectations. The company raised its full-year same-restaurant sales growth guidance to 4.5%-6.5%. Cava also reported a 6.8% increase in customer traffic, contrasting with competitor Sweetgreen's decline. CFO Tricia Tolivar highlighted the brand's appeal to lower-income consumers amid economic disparities."
datetime: "2026-05-19T20:55:44.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286966452.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286966452.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286966452.md)
---

# Cava rallies after Q1 results impress and management hikes full-year guidance

Cava jumped 8% after the bell on Tuesday after the the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain was able to bring in more customers and drive up more revenue than expected in the first quarter, with management signaling that this momentum was poised to continue.

Here are the numbers:

-   Q1 revenue of $434.4 million (compared to analyst estimates of $418.2 million).
-   Q1 adjusted EBITDA of $61.7 million (estimate: $57.3 million).
-   Full year guidance for same-restaurant sales growth of 4.5% to 6.5%, up from its prior guidance of 3% to 5% and above estimates for 4.95%.

The company also posted traffic growth of 6.8% — blowing away salad competitor Sweetgreen’s traffic decrease of 11.2% in the first quarter.

“We’re creating a bit of a bridge in a K-shaped economy and becoming very accessible for the low-income cohorts,” CFO Tricia Tolivar told Restaurant Dive. “When we look at our restaurant stratified based on median household income, we’re seeing tremendous strength in the lower income cohorts.”

The performance of these fast casual establishments (or slop bowl chains) has been a way to keep an eye on our increasingly unequal economy. Interestingly, as especially younger consumers seem to be pulling back, at some of these restaurants, Cava continues to perform well.

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