** Brokerage KeyBanc initiates coverage of fast-casual restaurant chain Cava CAVA.N with an "overweight" rating and PT of $100

** KeyBanc says co is the leading brand in the Mediterranean fast casual segment by a margin and has the potential to expand its primarily suburban footprint into key markets across the U.S.

** Sees CAVA's unit growth as one of the industry's best, with margins in the mid-20% and estimated new unit returns of more than 50%

** Co's same-store sales growth will likely moderate to the mid-single-digit range this year compared with 13.4% last year, but revenue growth will still exceed 20% as more demand than supply will cushion the impact of competition from new store openings, brokerage says

** PT implies a 21.4% premium to the stock's last close

** Thirteen brokerages rate the stock "buy" and higher, six "hold"; median PT is $115 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, stock down 27% YTD

(Reporting by Ankita Yadav in Bengaluru)

((Ankita.Yadav@thomsonreuters.com;))