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Sweetgreen (SG)
NYSE:SG
US Market

Sweetgreen (SG) AI Stock Analysis

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SG

Sweetgreen

(NYSE:SG)

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Neutral 46 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$6.00
▼(-2.28% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/27/26
The score is held back primarily by persistent losses, deteriorating free cash flow, and rising leverage risk. Technical signals are mixed with longer-term trend weakness, while the earnings call adds modest support via strategic actions and expected liquidity, but does not offset negative comps and continued negative EBITDA guidance. Valuation is also limited by negative earnings and no dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Liquidity and cost reduction from Spyce sale
The Spyce divestiture provides a meaningful, durable liquidity cushion (~$100M) and reduces recurring G&A by ~$8M. Licensing Infinite Kitchen preserves operational benefits without capex, lowering cash burn and extending runway to execute the transformation and pursue profitable growth.
Operational improvements from Transformation Plan
Measured gains in throughput and higher operational standards indicate sustainable unit-level productivity improvements. Improved peak-hour capacity and standardized operations support durable uplift in restaurant-level margins and better scalability as Sweetgreen expands its store footprint.
Digital loyalty and customer experience
Rising loyalty program frequency and digital features like Scan to Pay are structural drivers of repeat visits and faster throughput. Enhanced personalization and CRM capabilities lower acquisition costs and sustainably raise lifetime value and revenue per customer.
Negative Factors
Persistent negative cash flow
Ongoing negative operating and free cash flow signals that core operations are cash-consuming rather than self-funding. This increases reliance on financings or asset sales, restricts reinvestment in restaurants and marketing, and raises dilution or refinancing risk over time.
Rising leverage and shrinking equity cushion
Higher debt alongside declining equity reduces the balance sheet buffer, increasing solvency and interest-rate sensitivity. A thinner equity cushion limits strategic flexibility, elevates refinancing risk, and constrains the company's ability to absorb further operating shortfalls during downturns.
Weak same-store sales and core demographic demand
A 9.5% comp decline concentrated in Northeast and LA, plus a ~15% drop among 25–35-year-olds, points to structural demand headwinds in key markets and demographics. Sustained weaker demand makes margin recovery and scale economics harder to achieve over the medium term.

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 and beverage offerings in its restaurants. The company operates a direct-to-consumer model, allowing customers to place orders online or through its mobile app for both in-store pickup and delivery. Key revenue streams include dine-in sales, takeout orders, and digital sales through its app and website. Additionally, Sweetgreen has explored partnerships with delivery services to enhance its reach and convenience for customers. The company also emphasizes its focus on customer loyalty programs and subscription services, providing incentives for repeat purchases and fostering a dedicated customer base, which contributes significantly to its earnings.

Sweetgreen Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Restaurant Count
Restaurant Count
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Sweetgreen Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 26, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presents a balanced picture: material near-term financial and traffic challenges (notably steep comp declines, margin pressure, and Q4 adjusted EBITDA losses) are tempered by clear operational fixes, product and digital initiatives, Infinity Kitchen benefits, meaningful menu innovation (Wraps), loyalty/digital engagement gains, and a $100M non-core sale improving cash. Management provided conservative 2026 guidance but a path to modest adjusted EBITDA profitability and improved restaurant-level margins, while acknowledging there is more work to do. Given the mix of notable operational progress and persistent financial headwinds, the outlook is cautiously constructive but not yet a full turnaround.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Full-Year Revenue and Scale
Fiscal 2025 revenue of $679.5 million and 35 net new restaurant openings during the year, ending with 281 locations, demonstrating continued expansion.
Transformation Plan and Operational Progress
Sweet Growth Transformation launched with five priorities; Project One Best Way has led to ~2/3 of restaurants hitting the company's 'great' bar and a shift in distribution toward more restaurants exceeding standards.
Infinity Kitchen (IK) Performance
Established Infinity Kitchens delivered higher AUVs and labor savings of more than 700 basis points versus comparable classic stores; ended the year with 30 IK locations (later referenced as 32 in Q1).
Menu Innovation and New Platforms (Wraps)
Most robust innovation pipeline in company history; Wraps began testing (8-store rapid ops test → ~68-store market pilot) with early feedback encouraging; pricing starts at $10.95 (sub-$15 across markets) and company expects potential mid-2026 expansion if stage-gate criteria met.
Loyalty & Digital Engagement Wins
Scan-to-pay represents ~20% of in-store transactions; loyalty members who transact both digitally and in-store visit nearly 2x more frequently than digital-only customers; $10 'Tis the Season Harvest Bowl was the highest performing reactivation promotion to date.
Culinary Execution Improvements
Targeted food quality initiatives (e.g., Miso My Salmon) improved salmon velocity by ~20%; other recipe and preparation enhancements rolled out for chicken, quinoa, rice and slaws to boost guest satisfaction and repeat visits.
Balance Sheet and Non-Operating Cash Inflow
Ended the quarter with $89.2 million in cash and closed sale of Spyce, receiving $100 million in cash proceeds, strengthening near-term liquidity.
2026 Guidance Framework
Management provided FY2026 guidance: same-store sales decline of -4% to -2% (expecting improvement through year), restaurant-level margin 14.2%–14.7%, adjusted EBITDA $1 million–$6 million, and ~15 net new restaurants planned with ~half featuring Infinite Kitchen technology.
Negative Updates
Significant Comparable Sales and Traffic Declines
Fiscal 2025 comparable sales declined 7.9% year-over-year; Q4 sales $155.2 million vs. $160.9 million prior year with comparable sales down 11.5% driven by a 13.3% decrease in traffic and mix (partially offset by +1.8% menu price).
Restaurant-Level Margin and Profitability Pressure
Q4 restaurant-level margin fell to 10.4% from 17.4% a year ago; fiscal 2025 restaurant-level margin was 15.2%. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $13.3 million in Q4 and a fiscal 2025 adjusted EBITDA loss of $11 million; net loss for Q4 was $49.7 million vs. $29.0 million prior year.
Cost Inflation and Deleverage
Food, beverage and packaging increased to 29.2% of revenue (up 180 bps YoY) driven by higher ingredient usage and waste; labor and related expenses rose to 30.5% of revenue (up 200 bps YoY) due to deleverage from lower volumes and wage inflation; other operating expenses rose to 19.1% (up 170 bps YoY).
Severe Short-Term Weather & Q1 Headwinds
January same-store sales declined 11.8% impacted by severe weather; management estimates storms have pressured Q1 by ~320 basis points to date (plus impact from a later storm affecting 100+ restaurants), making Q1 the most challenging quarter.
Subscription Transition Impact
Transition from Sweetpass+ to SG Rewards eliminated subscription revenue and introduced a loyalty deferral, contributing to the comparable sales decline in the period.
G&A and One-Time Charges
G&A expense increased to $39.7 million in Q4 (up $2.6 million YoY) driven primarily by one-time stock-based compensation modifications; this offset some operating improvement efforts.
Uncertain New-Unit Productivity and Selective Closures
Management noted Q4/new-store productivity is hard to read amid the deceleration; a handful of closures near lease ends planned and openings/development weighted to back half of 2026 to manage economics and pipeline timing.
Near-Term Sales Guidance is Negative
FY2026 same-store sales guidance expects another decline (-4% to -2%), indicating management anticipates continued top-line pressure even as they work on operational fixes and innovation rollout.
Company Guidance
Sweetgreen guided fiscal 2026 same-store sales to decline between -4% and -2% with trends expected to improve through the year, and said the first quarter will be the most challenging (January comps were -11.8% and storms have weighed ~320 bps to date, with 70 bps of price in Q1 and 2025 carryover pricing rolling off mid‑February). They expect restaurant-level margin of 14.2%–14.7% and adjusted EBITDA of $1 million to $6 million, plan to open about 15 net new restaurants (nearly half with Infinite Kitchen technology), enter two new markets (Nashville and Salt Lake City), and said underlying support-center costs for 2026 (ex-stock comp and one‑time items) should be ~13% of revenue (down from 15.3% in 2025), with the development pipeline weighted to the back half of the year.

Sweetgreen Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Despite multi-year revenue growth, profitability and cash generation remain weak: net losses persist with meaningfully negative margins, EBITDA is negative, operating cash flow turned negative in 2025, and free cash flow is consistently negative (worsening materially in 2025). Leverage has risen as equity declined, increasing risk if losses continue.
Income Statement
32
Negative
Revenue has expanded strongly from 2021–2024 (positive growth each year), but the latest annual period shows essentially flat revenue (~$679M vs. ~$677M) and a sharp deterioration in the reported growth rate. Profitability remains the core issue: net losses persist every year, and margins are still meaningfully negative (about -13% in 2024 and about -20% in 2025). EBITDA is negative across the period, and operating losses continue, indicating the business has not yet reached sustainable scale despite top-line gains.
Balance Sheet
46
Neutral
The balance sheet shows moderate leverage but worsening trends: total debt rose (about $303M in 2023 to ~$354M in 2025) while equity declined (about $483M to ~$356M), pushing debt-to-equity close to 1.0 in 2025. Total assets are sizable (~$788M), but recurring net losses are translating into negative returns on equity (roughly -20% to -38% in recent years). Overall, solvency is not immediately distressed, but the shrinking equity cushion and rising leverage increase risk if losses continue.
Cash Flow
28
Negative
Cash generation is volatile and recently weakened: operating cash flow was positive in 2023–2024 but turned negative in 2025 (about -$13M), suggesting profitability and/or working-capital pressures. Free cash flow is consistently negative and deteriorated materially in 2025 (about -$119M), implying ongoing funding needs to support operations and investment. While free cash flow improved versus earlier years at times, the overall profile remains cash-consuming rather than self-funding.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue679.47M676.83M584.04M470.11M339.87M
Gross Profit0.00132.95M101.92M69.29M40.41M
EBITDA-62.46M-23.16M-52.51M-142.32M-117.39M
Net Income-134.06M-90.37M-113.38M-190.44M-153.18M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets788.10M856.76M856.56M908.93M762.65M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments89.18M214.79M257.23M331.61M471.97M
Total Debt354.49M330.71M302.87M300.74M0.00
Total Liabilities431.98M410.61M373.96M367.71M109.53M
Stockholders Equity356.13M446.14M482.60M541.23M653.12M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-119.19M-48.81M-69.31M-145.43M-157.30M
Operating Cash Flow-12.70M43.39M26.48M-43.17M-64.53M
Investing Cash Flow-114.25M-92.21M-95.67M-102.02M-97.55M
Financing Cash Flow2.86M8.89M-5.20M4.63M531.61M

Sweetgreen Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price6.14
Price Trends
50DMA
6.58
Negative
100DMA
6.70
Negative
200DMA
9.23
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.25
Negative
RSI
51.66
Neutral
STOCH
69.86
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SG, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 6.14 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.77, below the 50-day MA of 6.58, and below the 200-day MA of 9.23, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.25 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.86 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral 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
69
Neutral
$3.21B21.0533.74%2.11%4.90%27.14%
68
Neutral
$11.95B29.6228.77%1.63%14.40%12.45%
64
Neutral
$7.86B159.038.64%23.93%153.50%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
58
Neutral
$3.82B90.508.83%13.49%402.23%
46
Neutral
$640.40M-6.07-26.47%2.43%-23.25%
45
Neutral
$1.13B30.464.72%-0.64%-60.71%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SG
Sweetgreen
6.14
-17.01
-73.48%
PZZA
Papa John's International
30.91
-13.88
-30.99%
TXRH
Texas Roadhouse
184.37
9.19
5.25%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
65.08
13.68
26.60%
SHAK
Shake Shack
98.61
-8.22
-7.69%
CAVA
CAVA Group, Inc.
84.74
-5.34
-5.93%

Sweetgreen Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Sweetgreen Finalizes Spyce Sale and Strategic Refocus
Positive
Jan 5, 2026

On December 29, 2025, Sweetgreen completed the previously announced sale of its Spyce business unit, which developed the Infinite Kitchen automation technology, to Wonder Group for $100 million in cash and $86.4 million in Series C preferred stock. The deal, which follows Sweetgreen’s roughly $70 million acquisition of Spyce in 2021, transfers ownership of the Infinite Kitchen automation business and related assets to Wonder while allowing Sweetgreen to retain long-term access to the technology through a supply and services agreement and an intellectual property license, ensuring continued use of Infinite Kitchen systems in many of its restaurants. The transaction marks a strategic shift that lets Sweetgreen narrow its focus on core restaurant operations and operational efficiency, while offloading the capital-intensive automation platform yet preserving its role as a key component of the guest experience; certain Spyce employees moved to Wonder, and the two companies established ongoing commercial and licensing arrangements that define future responsibilities and risk allocation.

The most recent analyst rating on (SG) stock is a Hold with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sweetgreen stock, see the SG Stock Forecast page.

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: Feb 27, 2026