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Sweetgreen (SG)
NYSE:SG
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Sweetgreen (SG) AI Stock Analysis

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Sweetgreen

(NYSE:SG)

Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$8.50
▼(-4.82% Downside)
Sweetgreen's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its financial performance, which shows strong revenue growth but significant profitability challenges. Technical analysis indicates a bearish trend, and valuation metrics are weak due to ongoing losses. The earnings call provided some positive insights, and the new CFO appointment is a promising development for future financial stability.
Positive Factors
Leadership Changes
The incoming CFO’s background from CMG is seen as a plus for Sweetgreen, providing valuable experience to the company.
Operational Improvements
Renewed vigor around operations is perhaps the single greatest positive wildcard for the brand, with a focus on shortening hold times for hot food, improving throughput, lessening the variance of portion sizes, and developing the people flywheel to better staff new units and improve labor productivity.
Product and Loyalty Initiatives
New seasonal items and loyalty programs continue to build, which may ease the drag on performance.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
Sweetgreen's stock is down 73% year-to-date, reflecting a tough year with operational issues and macroeconomic pressures.
Geographic and Market Risks
Key risks include geographic portability, a high concentration of locations in the New York metro area, and greater-than-average exposure.
Sales and Earnings
Sweetgreen's sales checks remain pressured with persistent weakness, indicating potential for another sales miss without improvement.

Sweetgreen (SG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Sweetgreen Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSweetgreen, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops and operates fast-casual restaurants serving healthy foods prepared from seasonal and organic ingredients. The company also accepts orders through its online and mobile ordering platforms, as well as sells gift cards that can be redeemed in its restaurants. As of September 26, 2021, it owned and operated 140 restaurants in 13 states and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
How the Company Makes MoneySweetgreen generates revenue primarily through the sale of its food products, which include salads, warm bowls, and seasonal offerings. The company operates a direct-to-consumer model via its physical store locations and an online platform that facilitates pickup and delivery services. Sweetgreen's earnings are bolstered by its loyalty program and mobile app, encouraging repeat business and enhancing customer engagement. Additionally, collaborations with local farmers and suppliers help optimize ingredient costs, contributing to its profitability. Strategic partnerships with delivery platforms also expand Sweetgreen's reach, enabling it to serve a broader customer base and increase sales.

Sweetgreen Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted Sweetgreen's strategic expansions, successful launch of new menu items, and the introduction of a revamped loyalty program. However, these positives were tempered by declines in same-store sales, external challenges impacting performance, and operational issues in key markets. Additionally, the potential impact of tariffs poses a future cost challenge.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
New Restaurant Openings and Expansion
Sweetgreen opened five new restaurants in new and legacy markets, with strong performance in new formats like Infinite Kitchens and sweetlane. Plans for 2025 include opening 40 new restaurants, including 20 with Infinite Kitchens.
Introduction of Ripple Fries
Ripple Fries launched nationwide, becoming the most attached side item and driving same-store sales improvement in March.
SG Rewards Program Launch
The new SG Rewards loyalty program launched in April, acquiring 20,000 new digital customers per week.
Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane Success
Infinite Kitchens and sweetlane locations showed strong results, with sweetlane in Schaumburg, Illinois, growing sales more than 20% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Same Store Sales Decline
Same store sales declined by 3.1% in the first quarter, with soft April sales trends reflecting a broader consumer slowdown.
External Headwinds Impact
The quarter was significantly impacted by external factors including holiday timing shifts, LA wildfires, and adverse weather.
Challenges in Core Markets
Soft sales trends in key markets like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, with noted operational challenges in urban environments.
Impact of Tariffs
Potential impact of tariffs on supply chain, restaurant build-out costs, and Infinite Kitchen components, affecting costs by about 10%.
Company Guidance
During Sweetgreen's Q1 2025 earnings call, the company reported sales of $166.3 million with a same-store sales decline of 3.1%, aligning with the higher end of their guidance range. Despite several external challenges, including holiday timing shifts, LA wildfires, and adverse weather, Sweetgreen achieved a restaurant-level profit margin of 17.9% and slight adjusted EBITDA profitability, both exceeding their outlook. They opened five new restaurants and plan to sustain a 15% to 20% annual unit growth, aiming for 40 new openings in 2025, with 20 featuring the Infinite Kitchen format. The company highlighted strong performances from its Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane formats, contributing to operational efficiencies and higher margins. Sweetgreen's strategic pillars for 2025 include menu and tech innovation, strengthening guest connections, and expanding their footprint. Despite a soft start in April sales, attributed to a broader consumer slowdown, Sweetgreen remains confident in delivering long-term value, leveraging new menu items like Ripple Fries and a revamped loyalty program, SG Rewards, which saw a strong adoption with 20,000 new digital customers weekly. They anticipate fiscal year 2025 revenue between $740 million to $760 million, with a flat same-store sales growth and an adjusted EBITDA of approximately $30 million.

Sweetgreen Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Sweetgreen shows strong revenue growth but struggles with profitability and cash flow management. The balance sheet is stable with moderate leverage, but negative net profit and EBIT margins, along with declining free cash flow, are significant concerns.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Sweetgreen's revenue shows a positive growth trend, with a TTM growth rate of 13.7%. However, the company struggles with profitability, as evidenced by negative net profit and EBIT margins. The gross profit margin is relatively low at 15.99%, indicating challenges in cost management. Overall, while revenue growth is promising, profitability remains a significant concern.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, suggesting manageable leverage. However, the return on equity is negative, reflecting ongoing losses. The equity ratio is stable, indicating a solid capital structure. While the company maintains a reasonable balance between debt and equity, the lack of profitability impacts overall financial health.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis shows a decline in free cash flow growth, with a significant negative growth rate. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is below 1, indicating challenges in converting income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is positive, but overall cash flow management needs improvement to support long-term sustainability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue686.22M676.83M584.04M470.11M339.87M220.62M
Gross Profit127.70M132.95M101.92M69.29M40.41M-8.70M
EBITDA-28.61M-23.16M-52.51M-142.32M-117.39M-113.97M
Net Income-98.04M-90.37M-113.38M-190.44M-153.18M-141.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets831.88M856.76M856.56M908.93M762.65M265.68M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments168.45M214.79M257.23M331.61M471.97M102.64M
Total Debt338.73M330.71M302.87M300.74M0.000.00
Total Liabilities408.58M410.61M373.96M367.71M109.53M573.04M
Stockholders Equity423.30M446.14M482.60M541.23M653.12M-307.36M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-82.37M-48.81M-69.31M-145.43M-157.30M-147.25M
Operating Cash Flow18.18M43.39M26.48M-43.17M-64.53M-90.35M
Investing Cash Flow-100.47M-92.21M-95.67M-102.02M-97.55M-58.41M
Financing Cash Flow9.78M8.89M-5.20M4.63M531.61M2.15M

Sweetgreen Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price8.93
Price Trends
50DMA
11.88
Negative
100DMA
13.74
Negative
200DMA
21.92
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.87
Negative
RSI
35.44
Neutral
STOCH
29.77
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SG, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 8.93 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 9.20, below the 50-day MA of 11.88, and below the 200-day MA of 21.92, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.87 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 35.44 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 29.77 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SG.

Sweetgreen Risk Analysis

Sweetgreen disclosed 61 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Sweetgreen reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Sweetgreen Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$3.04B18.8041.01%1.78%4.77%38.24%
67
Neutral
$1.14B284.250.69%14.53%-83.26%
67
Neutral
$508.60M14.937.36%3.62%17.67%
66
Neutral
$4.35B215.774.16%13.13%-25.05%
63
Neutral
$1.94B10.6199.35%7.55%1.31%-1.46%
61
Neutral
$17.97B12.87-5.29%2.97%1.26%-14.45%
46
Neutral
$1.03B-21.95%5.74%-1.95%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SG
Sweetgreen
8.93
-19.73
-68.84%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
60.63
24.88
69.59%
WEN
Wendy's
10.33
-5.89
-36.31%
SHAK
Shake Shack
100.18
4.60
4.81%
FWRG
First Watch Restaurant Group
18.59
2.78
17.58%
PTLO
Portillo's
6.82
-5.29
-43.68%

Sweetgreen Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Sweetgreen Announces New CFO Appointment Amid Leadership Change
Positive
Sep 4, 2025

On September 4, 2025, Sweetgreen announced the retirement of Mitch Reback as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 21, 2025, and the appointment of Jamie McConnell as his successor, effective September 22, 2025. McConnell, who brings over 20 years of financial leadership experience, will oversee Sweetgreen’s finance department and report directly to CEO Jonathan Neman. Reback, who has been with Sweetgreen since 2015, will continue in an advisory role for six months to ensure a smooth transition. This leadership change is expected to support Sweetgreen’s ongoing growth and strengthen its financial foundation for long-term profitability.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Sweetgreen Holds Annual Meeting, Elects Directors
Neutral
Jun 18, 2025

On June 12, 2025, Sweetgreen, Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders where stockholders elected nine directors, ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2025, and approved executive compensation on a nonbinding basis. These decisions reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining strong governance and financial oversight, potentially impacting its strategic direction and stakeholder confidence.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 05, 2025