** Shares of restaurant chain Cava group CAVA.N up 2% at $77.82 premarket

** UBS upgrades stock to "buy" from "neutral," raises PT to $90 from $85

** Says CAVA remains a compelling growth story, and that co's solid same-store sales performance "is increasingly scarce" compared to peers in such a tough macro backdrop

** Brokerage remains encouraged by co's strong new store performance in recent years

** Co had raised its annual forecasts last month and posted a Q1 same-restaurant sales beat, helped by demand for affordable Mediterranean cuisine

** 16 of 29 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 12 "hold" and one "sell" or lower; their median PT is $95 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, stock up ~30% YTD