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Side-by-side financial comparison of CAVA GROUP, INC. (CAVA) and BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC (EAT). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($1.5B vs $292.2M, roughly 5.0× CAVA GROUP, INC.). BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC runs the higher net margin — 8.8% vs 5.0%, a 3.8% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, CAVA GROUP, INC. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (19.9% vs 6.9%). BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC produced more free cash flow last quarter ($155.2M vs $1.4M). Over the past eight quarters, CAVA GROUP, INC.'s revenue compounded faster (30.0% CAGR vs 13.9%).
Cava, also referred to as Cava Grill, is an American Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain with locations across the United States. Cava is owned by the publicly traded Cava Group, which purchased Zoës Kitchen in August 2018. The combined company is the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry. Cava also produces a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings that are sold in grocery stores across the US. As of May 2023, all Zoës Kit...
Brinker International, Inc. is an American multinational hospitality industry company that owns Chili's and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant chains. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker currently owns, operates, or franchises 1,672 restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy worldwide.
CAVA vs EAT — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 2025 vs Q2 2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $292.2M | $1.5B |
| Net Profit | $14.7M | $128.5M |
| Gross Margin | — | — |
| Operating Margin | 5.9% | 11.6% |
| Net Margin | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| Revenue YoY | 19.9% | 6.9% |
| Net Profit YoY | -17.9% | 8.4% |
| EPS (diluted) | $0.12 | $2.86 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $292.2M | $1.5B | ||
| Q3 25 | $280.6M | $1.3B | ||
| Q2 25 | $331.8M | $1.5B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $1.4B | ||
| Q4 24 | $243.8M | $1.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $233.5M | $1.1B | ||
| Q2 24 | $259.0M | $1.2B | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $1.1B |
| Q4 25 | $14.7M | $128.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $18.4M | $99.5M | ||
| Q2 25 | $25.7M | $107.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $119.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $18.0M | $118.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $19.7M | $38.5M | ||
| Q2 24 | $14.0M | $57.3M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $48.7M |
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | — | — | ||
| Q2 25 | — | — | ||
| Q1 25 | — | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 25.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 26.7% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 25.2% | — | ||
| Q1 24 | — | — |
| Q4 25 | 5.9% | 11.6% | ||
| Q3 25 | 7.0% | 8.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 4.7% | 9.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 11.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.6% | 11.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | 6.9% | 5.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 3.6% | 6.1% | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 6.2% |
| Q4 25 | 5.0% | 8.8% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.5% | 7.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 7.7% | 7.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 8.4% | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.4% | 8.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 8.5% | 3.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 5.4% | 4.7% | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 4.3% |
| Q4 25 | $0.12 | $2.86 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.16 | $2.17 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.22 | $2.31 | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $2.56 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.15 | $2.61 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.17 | $0.84 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.12 | $1.22 | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $1.08 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $284.6M | $15.0M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $451.3M |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $769.0M | $379.3M |
| Total Assets | $1.3B | $2.7B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 1.19× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $284.6M | $15.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $290.2M | $33.6M | ||
| Q2 25 | $289.4M | $18.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $17.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $367.2M | $14.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $343.7M | $16.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $329.1M | $64.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $15.5M |
| Q4 25 | — | $451.3M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $525.8M | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $426.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $518.3M | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $652.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $806.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $786.3M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $818.5M |
| Q4 25 | $769.0M | $379.3M | ||
| Q3 25 | $750.7M | $343.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $726.2M | $370.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $259.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $616.4M | $131.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $595.4M | $12.7M | ||
| Q2 24 | $580.8M | $39.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $-46.7M |
| Q4 25 | $1.3B | $2.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.3B | $2.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.2B | $2.7B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $2.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.1B | $2.6B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.0B | $2.5B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.0B | $2.6B | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $2.5B |
| Q4 25 | — | 1.19× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 1.53× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 1.15× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 2.00× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 4.96× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 63.54× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 19.96× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | — |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $45.6M | $218.9M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $1.4M | $155.2M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 0.5% | 10.7% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 15.1% | 4.4% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 3.10× | 1.70× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $46.6M | $455.9M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $45.6M | $218.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $60.3M | $120.8M | ||
| Q2 25 | $38.6M | $186.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $212.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $43.9M | $218.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $48.9M | $62.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $38.4M | $141.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $130.1M |
| Q4 25 | $1.4M | $155.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $19.2M | $62.2M | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.7M | $106.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $132.4M | ||
| Q4 24 | $23.4M | $168.9M | ||
| Q3 24 | $22.7M | $6.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.7M | $83.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $78.7M |
| Q4 25 | 0.5% | 10.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.8% | 4.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.8% | 7.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 9.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 9.6% | 12.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 9.7% | 0.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.8% | 6.9% | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 7.0% |
| Q4 25 | 15.1% | 4.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 14.7% | 4.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 10.8% | 5.5% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 5.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | 8.4% | 3.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 11.2% | 5.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 13.0% | 4.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 4.6% |
| Q4 25 | 3.10× | 1.70× | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.28× | 1.21× | ||
| Q2 25 | 1.50× | 1.74× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 1.78× | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.44× | 1.84× | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.48× | 1.63× | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.74× | 2.47× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 2.67× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
CAVA
| Restaurant Revenue | $289.8M | 99% |
| Rewards | $2.9M | 1% |
| CPG Revenue And Other | $2.5M | 1% |
EAT
| Chilis Restaurants | $1.3B | 91% |
| Maggianos Restaurants | $134.9M | 9% |
| Franchise Revenues | $13.4M | 1% |
