tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Sweetgreen (SG)
NYSE:SG
US Market
Advertisement

Sweetgreen (SG) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
807 Followers

Top Page

SG

Sweetgreen

(NYSE:SG)

Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
$15.00
▼(-1.45%Downside)
Sweetgreen's overall score is primarily influenced by its financial performance, which shows growth but lacks profitability, and technical indicators suggesting neutral to negative momentum. Valuation is a significant concern due to the negative P/E ratio. Positives from the earnings call and a strategic COO appointment slightly offset these challenges.
Positive Factors
Customer Acquisition
New customer acquisition remains strong, with the brand successfully expanding its customer base with items like protein plates, steak, and Ripple Fries.
Margin Improvement
Infinite Kitchens are expected to dramatically improve the margin profile over the next three years, alongside identified opportunities in delivery fees, occupancy, and labor.
Market Positioning
The company is well positioned within restaurants as the number one fast casual salad player, with strong average unit volumes and competitive advantages in food quality, digital capabilities, and automation.
Negative Factors
Financing Concerns
The pursuit of Infinite Kitchens aggressively may result in a financing overhang, creating concerns about future financial stability.
Sales Performance
Concerns are raised about missing same store sales targets, which may prevent the company from receiving credit for its Infinite Kitchens initiative.
Urban Market Challenges
Sweetgreen experienced a decline in sales due to weakness in the urban lunch business, where a significant portion of its sales occur.

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:May 08, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -16.24%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 07, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call revealed a mix of positive developments and challenges. Sweetgreen highlighted new restaurant openings, successful menu innovations, and operational improvements. However, these were tempered by a decline in same store sales, challenges in key markets, and the potential impact of tariffs.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Five New Restaurant Openings
Sweetgreen opened five new restaurants in Q1 2025, with locations in Philadelphia, New York metro area, Richmond, and Milwaukee. The 2024 class of new restaurants delivered a Q1 margin of 18.3%.
Infinite Kitchen and Sweetlane Success
The Infinite Kitchen format showed strong results with significant margin leverage and improved efficiency. The Sweetlane in Schaumburg, Illinois, saw comparable sales grow more than 20% year-over-year.
Menu Innovation and SG Rewards Launch
Successful nationwide launch of Ripple Fries and a new collaboration with COTE Korean Steakhouse for a Korean barbecue inspired menu. The reimagined loyalty program, SG Rewards, has added 20,000 new digital customers a week since its launch.
Operational Improvements
Implementation of AI-powered workforce management system led to increased average weekly hours by nearly 10% and reduced absentee rates by nearly 50%.
Negative Updates
Same Store Sales Decline
Q1 2025 same store sales declined by 3.1%, with a mid-single digit decline in April, reflecting a broader consumer slowdown and external uncertainties.
Challenges in Major Markets
Major markets like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles experienced softer sales trends due to consumer sentiment decline and operational inconsistencies.
Impact of Tariffs
Tariffs are expected to impact the supply chain, restaurant build-out costs, and Infinite Kitchen expenses, with potential cost increases of about 10% for build-outs.
Company Guidance
During Sweetgreen's Q1 2025 earnings call, the company reported sales of $166.3 million and a same-store sales decline of 3.1%, which was at the higher end of their guidance range. Despite external challenges such as holiday timing shifts and adverse weather, they achieved a restaurant-level profit margin of 17.9% and slight adjusted EBITDA profitability, both exceeding their outlook. Sweetgreen opened five new restaurants, contributing to year-to-date revenue growth, and highlighted the success of its Infinite Kitchen and sweetlane formats, which drove significant operational efficiencies and sales increases. They reiterated their 2025 guidance, aiming for 40 new restaurant openings with revenue between $740 million and $760 million, same-store sales growth approximately flat, and an adjusted EBITDA of around $30 million. The company also introduced new menu innovations, such as Ripple Fries, which improved same-store sales, and a collaboration with COTE Korean Steakhouse, reflecting their focus on culinary innovation and customer engagement.

Sweetgreen Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Sweetgreen demonstrates positive revenue growth and improved cost management, but remains unprofitable. The balance sheet is robust with strong cash reserves, yet increased leverage poses potential risks. Positive operating cash flows are encouraging, though negative free cash flows highlight areas needing improvement. Overall, while there are strengths in growth and liquidity, profitability and leverage require close attention.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Sweetgreen's revenue has grown consistently over the years, with a notable increase in the TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). However, the company is still operating at a net loss, impacting its net profit margins negatively. The gross profit margin shows improvement, indicating better cost management, but the negative EBIT and EBITDA margins highlight ongoing challenges in achieving operational profitability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's balance sheet showcases a solid equity base with a stable equity ratio. However, the debt-to-equity ratio has increased, indicating higher leverage, which could pose risk if not managed properly. The return on equity remains negative due to ongoing net losses, but the company maintains a healthy cash position to cover debts.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Sweetgreen's cash flow from operations has turned positive, which is a positive sign for future financial stability. However, free cash flow remains negative, impacting the overall cash flow health. The company's cash reserves provide a buffer, but continued negative free cash flow could limit future growth opportunities.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue676.83M584.04M470.11M339.87M220.62M
Gross Profit132.95M101.92M69.29M40.41M-8.70M
EBITDA-24.07M-53.39M-142.32M-117.39M-113.97M
Net Income-90.37M-113.38M-190.44M-153.18M-141.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets856.76M912.25M908.93M762.65M265.68M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments214.79M257.23M331.61M471.97M102.64M
Total Debt330.71M302.87M300.74M0.000.00
Total Liabilities410.61M429.66M367.71M109.53M573.04M
Stockholders Equity446.14M482.60M541.23M653.12M198.28M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-41.07M-69.31M-145.43M-157.30M-147.25M
Operating Cash Flow43.39M26.48M-43.17M-64.53M-90.35M
Investing Cash Flow-92.21M-95.67M-102.02M-97.55M-58.41M
Financing Cash Flow8.89M-5.20M4.76M531.61M2.15M

Sweetgreen Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price15.22
Price Trends
50DMA
13.75
Positive
100DMA
17.87
Negative
200DMA
26.18
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.05
Negative
RSI
60.54
Neutral
STOCH
85.42
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SG, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 15.22 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 13.79, above the 50-day MA of 13.75, and below the 200-day MA of 26.18, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 60.54 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.42 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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 (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$3.10B19.6846.60%1.64%4.42%48.23%
72
Outperform
$837.18M25.177.37%4.57%6.89%
70
Outperform
$5.75B467.802.70%14.07%-47.47%
69
Neutral
$1.08B101.211.86%14.43%-53.71%
WEWEN
68
Neutral
$2.01B11.1790.40%8.21%2.18%-5.15%
64
Neutral
£1.73B10.396.12%301.19%0.55%-32.84%
SGSG
59
Neutral
$1.68B-19.79%11.10%18.05%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SG
Sweetgreen
15.22
-9.29
-37.90%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
66.01
29.91
82.85%
WEN
Wendy's
10.84
-4.83
-30.82%
SHAK
Shake Shack
134.51
55.36
69.94%
FWRG
First Watch Restaurant Group
17.63
3.04
20.84%
PTLO
Portillo's
11.46
2.27
24.70%

Sweetgreen Corporate Events

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.

The most recent analyst rating on (SG) stock is a Buy with a $36.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sweetgreen stock, see the SG Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Sweetgreen Appoints Jason Cochran as COO
Positive
Apr 29, 2025

On April 29, 2025, Sweetgreen announced the appointment of Jason Cochran as Chief Operating Officer, effective May 5, 2024. Cochran, bringing over 25 years of operational leadership experience, will oversee Field Operations and Operations Services and Innovation, reporting directly to CEO Jonathan Neman. His previous roles include CEO of American West Restaurant Group and Vice President of Operations Services at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Cochran’s appointment is expected to support Sweetgreen’s growth and operational excellence, aligning with the company’s mission to scale its impact across communities.

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: Jul 19, 2025