Fast-Casual Darling Grows Revenue 20% but Profit Margins Tell a Different Story

1 day ago 5

William Temple

Thu, December 11, 2025 astatine 8:41 AM CST 4 min read

Mature Operation, Superior Margins (16.1%), Steady Growth, and Capital Return (Buybacks). A cardinal barroom illustration titled 'SCALE VS. SPEED: Q3 2025 ANALYSIS' graphically compares CAVA (orange bars) and CMG (red bars) crossed Revenue Growth (CAVA 19.9%), Operating Margin (CAVA 7.3%), and Same-Store Sales (CAVA 8.4%). CMG's bars amusement little gross maturation and same-store income but importantly higher operating borderline than CAVA. Text beneath the illustration summarizes CAVA's strategy arsenic 'Building scale, investing successful growth' and CMG's arsenic 'Leveraging efficiency, prioritizing stability'.

CAVA grew gross 19.9% but nett income fell 17.9% arsenic restaurant-level borderline compressed to 24.6% from 25.6%.
Chipotle maintains 16.1% operating borderline versus CAVA’s 6.3% and trades astatine 30x net compared to CAVA’s 45.8x.
Chipotle deployed $686.5M connected buybacks successful Q3 portion CAVA targets 1,000 locations by 2032 from its existent base.
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CAVA Group (NYSE: CAVA) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) some reported Q3 2025 net successful precocious October and aboriginal November. CAVA posted 19.9% gross maturation but missed EPS estimates by 7.7%, portion Chipotle grew gross 7.5% and met expectations contempt borderline pressure.

CAVA delivered $292.24 cardinal successful revenue, narrowly beating estimates, with same-store income up 1.9%. The institution opened 17 caller restaurants and maintained a 37.6% integer mix. Restaurant-level borderline compressed to 24.6% from 25.6% a twelvemonth earlier, driven by higher food, beverage, packaging, and labour costs. Net income fell 17.9% year-over-year to $14.75 million. CEO Brett Schulman emphasized "market stock growth" and reinforcing the brand's "value proposition."

Chipotle generated $3.0 cardinal successful revenue, somewhat missing estimates, with comp income up 0.3%. The institution opened 84 locations, 64 with Chipotlane drive-through formats. Operating borderline declined to 15.9% from 16.9%, pressured by labour costs. Net income slipped 1.4% to $382.1 million. CEO Scott Boatwright acknowledged "persistent macroeconomic pressures" but highlighted the brand's "extraordinary worth proposition." Chipotle's operating borderline remains 2.6 times higher astatine 16.1% versus 6.3%.

This infographic compares the Q3 2025 net of CAVA Group and Chipotle Mexican Grill, illustrating CAVA's precocious maturation imaginable against CMG's mature stableness and operational efficiency.

Metric	CAVA	CMG
Revenue Growth YoY	19.9%	7.5%
Operating Margin	6.3%	16.1%
Same-Store Sales	+1.9%	+0.3%
Digital Mix	37.6%	36.7%

CAVA is betting connected assertive expansion, targeting 1,000 locations by 2032 from its existent base. The Mediterranean fast-casual conception appeals to health-conscious consumers, and the institution is gaining marketplace share. But profitability lags. With a 12.1% nett borderline and 6.3% operating margin, CAVA is inactive gathering operational efficiency. The institution trades astatine 45.8x trailing net and 101x guardant earnings, pricing successful important aboriginal maturation contempt caller net declines.