Restaurant DataBites: April Trends Improving off Recent Troughs

Research evidence excerpt

Restaurant DataBites: April Trends Improving off Recent Troughs

USA | Restaurants EquityMayResearch14, 2026

Summary Changes in Alt Data IndicatorsRestaurant DataBites: April Trends Improving off

Category Data Measure Apr '26 Mar '26

Jef Score/Index Higher LowerRecent Troughs Casual Dining Foot traffic r s

Web visits s s

Restaurant Alternative Data Indices were mostly improved in April after recent Fast JefFootScore/Indextraffic Higherr Lowers

Casual App downloads s s

&troughs in March, with Location-based Entertainment seeing the highest Small Monthly active users r r

relative gains YoY, while Quick Service was ~flat. Inflection in foot traffic, box WebSocialvisitsengagement rr s1

albeit from depressed levels, was encouraging, while digital trends were largely JefFootScore/Indextraffic Flats Lowers

unchanged (mixed with app DLs similarly lower m/m while MAU growth ServiceQuick AppMonthlydownloadsactive users sr sr

continues to trend higher across FC & QSR). We highlight a few specific brands WebSocialvisitsengagement r1 r1

Location

Foot traffic r sbelow. Jef Score/Index Higher Lower based

Ent. App downloads 1 s

. Monthly active users r 1

Stock-specific highlights: Source: JefData

Please refer to the reports below for more

CAVA: We highlight strength in April foot traffic trends, which improved +190bps m/m and on detailed analysis on Placer.ai foot traffic

a fiscal calendar basis, or 1Q ended Apr vs C4Q, the implied sequential improvement is also results in April.

encouraging at +160bps Q/Q. The recent launch of Salmon late in the month likely contributed to

Casual Dining & Full Service

these results, alongside ongoing media/social campaign efforts, with success at the latter showing

up in digital trends (app DLs +7 rank to 3rd, with active user growth also sustaining).