A Sweetgreen banner on the NYSE, November 18, 2021.
Source: NYSE
Sweetgreen on Thursday reported widening losses but strong sales growth for its fourth quarter in its first report since its initial public offering.
The salad chain also issued a strong sales outlook for 2022, although it doesn’t expect to turn a profit yet.
Shares of the company soared 18% in extended trading. Since going public in mid-November, the stock has struggled, shedding more than 50% and dragging its market value down to roughly $2.2 billion. Shares closed Thursday down roughly 11%.
The salad chain reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $66.2 million, or $1.14 per share, compared with a loss of $41.1 million, or $2.49 per share, a year earlier.
Net sales rose 63% to $96.4 million, topping expectations of $84.7 million, according to a survey of analysts by Refinitiv.
The chain reported same-store sales growth of 36% for the quarter. In the year-ago period, the company saw its same-store sales shrink by 28% as the pandemic took a toll on demand for its warm bowls and salads.
Looking ahead to the first quarter, Sweetgreen said it anticipates revenue of between $100 million and $102 million and same-store sales growth of 30% to 33%. It’s also expecting adjusted losses before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of between $18 million and $20 million.
For the full year, Sweetgreen anticipates revenue of $515 million to $535 million and same-store sales growth of 20% to 26%. Wall Street is expecting the chain to see net sales of $513.1 million in 2022, though analyst coverage on the stock is light.
The company expects to see adjusted losses before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $33 million to $40 million for 2022. It’s also planning on opening at least 35 new locations during the year.
Read the full earnings report here.
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