Jim Cramer backs Cava Group, UBS upgrades stock to Buy

1 min read     Updated on 17 Jun 2026, 05:43 PM
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Radhika SScanX News Team
AI Summary

Jim Cramer endorsed Cava Group on CNBC's Mad Money, calling it the best new concept and tasty, clean, and fun. UBS analyst Dennis Geiger supported this by upgrading the stock to Buy and raising the price target to $90. Cramer also advised speculating on ImmunityBio and Trulieve Cannabis, while recommending holding Ashland Inc., which received a raised price target from UBS.

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Jim Cramer endorsed Cava Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA) on CNBC's "Mad Money Lightning Round," calling it the best of the new concepts. "I think there's something there for everybody. There really is. It's tasty, clean, fun," Cramer stated. Supporting this view, UBS analyst Dennis Geiger upgraded Cava Group from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $85 to $90 on June 10.

Rating and Target Changes

Metric New Value Previous Value
Rating Buy Neutral
Price Target $90 $85

Cramer also discussed ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), suggesting it serve as a speculative position. "Let Immunitybio be your speculation," he advised, referencing his book "How to Make Money in Any Market." ImmunityBio presented Phase 3 study data for advanced non-small cell lung cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on June 1.

Regarding Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (NYSE: TRLV), Cramer described it as a "terrific spec." Trulieve became the first American marijuana company to list on a major U.S. stock exchange, with shares beginning trading on the NYSE under the symbol TRLV on June 10. The host recommended holding Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), which UBS analyst Joshua Spector maintained with a Buy rating and a raised price target of $72 from $66 on June 10.

CAVA shares fell 2.5% to settle at $87.30 on Tuesday. Immunitybio shares fell 5.8% to close at $6.72. Trulieve Cannabis shares dipped 4.7% to close at $9.40, while Ashland shares declined 1.3% to settle at $64.56.

Will Cava Group sustain its growth momentum as it scales operations and faces increased competition in the fast-casual segment?

How might ImmunityBio's Phase 3 trial results influence investor sentiment and its stock performance in the coming months?

Could Trulieve's NYSE listing pave the way for broader institutional investment in the cannabis sector?

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CAVA plans to hire 2,500+ team members in 2026

1 min read     Updated on 09 Jun 2026, 09:03 PM
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Reviewed by
Shriram SScanX News Team
AI Summary

CAVA announced plans to hire over 2,500 new team members and open 75+ restaurants in 2026 under its Flavor Your Future platform. The initiative emphasizes internal growth, leadership development, and expanded career opportunities. The company also introduced new equity incentives for General Managers.

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CAVA plans to hire more than 2,500 new team members in 2026 as part of its new Flavor Your Future platform, which focuses on career development and internal growth. The company also expects to open over 75 new restaurants during the year, creating job opportunities in the communities it serves. This expansion aims to support the company's rapid growth by building a deeper bench of role-ready leaders.

New Roles and Internal Mobility

A key component of the platform is the new Assistant General Manager (AGM) role, designed to strengthen day-to-day operations and accelerate leadership development. CAVA set a goal to fill more than 150 AGM roles this year and has already surpassed this target. Since the role launched in December 2025, 60% of AGMs have been promoted from within the company.

Leadership Development and Incentives

CAVA is expanding its recognition and rewards systems for leaders through new performance and equity-based incentives. All General Managers are now eligible for long-term incentive (LTI) equity grants, providing them with a direct stake in the company's success. Additional incentives tied to hiring and promotion performance further align leadership growth with business impact.

Growth and Promotions in 2025

The company reported significant internal mobility in 2025, with over 3,500 restaurant team members celebrating advancements and promotions. This focus on internal development is central to CAVA's strategy to build sustainable restaurant teams and foster long-term careers.

Benefits and Employee Support

CAVA offers a range of benefits aimed at supporting the overall well-being of its team members. These include healthcare coverage, financial wellbeing support through a 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase options, and education support via tuition discounts. Family-focused benefits, wellness offerings, and everyday perks such as commuter benefits and discounted meals during shifts are also provided.

Metric Value
New team members to hire in 2026 2,500+
New restaurants to open in 2026 75+
AGM roles filled in 2026 150+
AGMs promoted from within 60%
Team members promoted in 2025 3,500+

How will the aggressive expansion of 75+ new restaurants impact CAVA's unit economics and profit margins in the short term?

What specific metrics will CAVA use to measure the success of the new AGM role and the Flavor Your Future platform beyond hiring numbers?

How will the increased equity-based incentives for General Managers affect the company's overall capital allocation strategy?

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