Most traders wait for breakouts to chase. I buy the setup before the breakout and add when I’m proven right.

That’s exactly what I did with CAVA Friday afternoon. While the stock sat at $54 showing me this beautiful flag pattern on the 30-minute chart, I grabbed the December 12th $55 calls for $0.95.

The CAVA Setup That Has Me Excited

The 30-minute chart looked absolutely fantastic on Friday.

It had a clean flag formation sitting right at volume profile support.

Look, I don’t care that CAVA is down 55% year-to-date or that analysts are worried about same-store sales.

What I care about is that this thing bounced 12% off its November lows and is now sitting in a perfect flag pattern with a gap overhead at $84.

The fundamentals might be messy, but the chart is telling me something different: this stock wants to move higher.

Most traders won’t touch anything that’s down 55% year-to-date. They’re still reading about disappointing earnings and guidance cuts.

But that’s exactly why these setups work – I’m buying when the bad news is already baked in.

My Game Plan for Today

I want CAVA to break above $55 early today. If it does, I’m adding to my position – maybe building this up to 3-5 contracts total.

The beauty of buying at $54 with $55 calls is that I get to see the stock prove me right before I add more.

If CAVA breaks above my strike price, that tells me the flag is working and bigger things are coming.

That gap at $84 gives me a clear target for a potential $30 move from current levels. My December 12th calls give me plenty of time for this to develop.

Your Action Plan

CAVA needs to break above $55 with conviction. If I see that happening in the first hour, I’m adding to my position. From there, I’m looking for this thing to start working toward that gap fill.

While everyone else is wondering if the restaurant space can recover, I’ll be positioned for what the chart is already telling me.

Watch CAVA at today’s open. If it breaks above $55 with volume in the first hour, consider weekly calls for a play.

If you are trading the stock, target the gap fill around $84 for profit-taking.

If you’d like to know how I’m playing this and other ideas I’m executing, check this out.