CAVA Shares Plunge 4.33% on $350M Volume, Ranking 279th as Pittsburgh Debut Drives 2032 Expansion Hurdle

On August 8, 2025, CAVA (NYSE: CAVA) closed at a 4.33% decline with a trading volume of $350 million, ranking 279th in market activity. The stock's performance coincided with the opening of its first Pittsburgh restaurant at 3619 Forbes Avenue. The 2,500-square-foot Oakland location features dine-in and digital order capabilities, with plans for a second Pittsburgh site later this year.

CAVA’s expansion aligns with its 2032 goal to operate at least 1,000 restaurants nationwide. The company opened 58 net new locations in the 2024 fiscal year and anticipates 17% growth in 2025. The new Pittsburgh outlet will employ 25–40 locals and maintain extended operating hours. Community engagement remains central to CAVA’s strategy, including a $1,000 donation-matching program and a national food donation initiative launched in 2023 to address food insecurity.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day delivered a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark return of 29.18% by 137.53%. This underscores the role of liquidity concentration in short-term stock performance, particularly in volatile markets.