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Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)
:CMG

Chipotle (CMG) AI Stock Analysis

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CMG

Chipotle

(NYSE:CMG)

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Outperform 73 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
$37.00
▲(0.00% Upside)
Chipotle's strong financial performance is the primary driver of its overall score, supported by effective cash flow management and profitability. However, technical analysis and valuation indicate potential risks, with the stock trading below key moving averages and a high P/E ratio. Earnings call insights and corporate events provide a mixed outlook, with growth initiatives countered by macroeconomic challenges.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The consistent sales growth and significant digital sales contribution highlight Chipotle's ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and enhance its market position.
International Expansion
Expanding into international markets like the Middle East and Asia positions Chipotle for long-term growth by tapping into new customer bases and diversifying revenue streams.
Share Repurchase Program
The expanded share repurchase program demonstrates Chipotle's commitment to returning value to shareholders and reflects confidence in its financial health and future prospects.
Negative Factors
Decline in Comparable Sales
The minimal increase in comparable sales suggests challenges in maintaining customer frequency, which could impact long-term revenue growth if not addressed.
Rising Costs
Rising input costs due to inflation and tariffs could pressure margins, affecting profitability and necessitating strategic cost management to sustain financial performance.
Decreased Restaurant-Level Margin
The decline in restaurant-level margins indicates potential operational inefficiencies or cost pressures, which could impact profitability if not effectively managed.

Chipotle (CMG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Chipotle Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) is a fast-casual restaurant chain based in the United States, specializing in Mexican-inspired cuisine. Founded in 1993, Chipotle operates in the food service sector and is known for its customizable burritos, tacos, and bowls made with high-quality ingredients. The company emphasizes sustainable sourcing and food integrity, offering a menu that caters to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan options. With a focus on delivering a unique dining experience, Chipotle has expanded its footprint across North America and continues to innovate in menu offerings and technology integration.
How the Company Makes MoneyChipotle generates revenue primarily through its restaurant sales, which include dine-in, takeout, and online orders. The company operates a significant number of locations across the U.S. and internationally, and each restaurant contributes to its overall revenue through the sale of food and beverages. Key revenue streams include the sale of core menu items such as burritos, bowls, and salads, as well as drinks and sides. Additionally, Chipotle has embraced digital ordering and delivery services, which have become increasingly important revenue channels, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has formed partnerships with third-party delivery platforms to enhance its reach and convenience for customers. Chipotle also benefits from a loyalty program that encourages repeat business and increases customer retention. Overall, the combination of in-store sales, digital innovations, and strategic partnerships drives the company's financial performance.

Chipotle Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Restaurants
Restaurants
Tracks the number of Chipotle locations, indicating expansion strategy and market penetration, which are key to revenue growth and brand presence.
Chart InsightsChipotle's restaurant count has shown consistent growth, with a notable acceleration in 2025. Despite a 4% decline in comparable sales, the company is aggressively expanding, opening 61 new locations in Q2 2025, including many with Chipotlanes. This expansion, coupled with strong digital engagement, suggests a strategic pivot to drive future growth despite current margin pressures and a challenging consumer environment. The focus on international markets, particularly in Canada and the Middle East, indicates a diversification strategy to mitigate domestic market volatility.
Data provided by:The Fly

Chipotle Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 29, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Although Chipotle experienced sales growth and successful international expansion, the company faces significant challenges due to macroeconomic pressures and rising costs, leading to a decline in comparable sales and margins.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Sales Growth
Sales grew 7.5% to reach $3 billion, with digital sales accounting for 36.7% of total sales.
New Restaurant Openings
Chipotle opened 84 new restaurants, including 64 Chipotlane.
Innovative Menu Additions
Introduced new menu items like Adobo Ranch and Red Chimichurri, which drove transaction growth and customer engagement.
International Expansion
Chipotle entered new international markets, including the Middle East and announced plans for expansion in Asia with South Korea and Singapore.
Negative Updates
Decline in Comparable Sales
Comparable sales increased by only 0.3%, and the company anticipates full year comps to decline in the low single-digit range.
Macroeconomic Challenges
Persistent macroeconomic pressures affected customer frequency, particularly among households earning below $100,000.
Rising Costs
Inflation accelerated into the mid-single-digit range, driven by tariffs and rising beef costs, pressuring margins.
Decreased Restaurant-Level Margin
Restaurant-level margin was 24.5%, a decline of 100 basis points year-over-year.
Company Guidance
During Chipotle Mexican Grill's third-quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported a 7.5% increase in sales, reaching $3 billion, driven by a 0.3% rise in comparable sales. Digital sales accounted for 36.7% of total sales. However, restaurant-level margins declined by 100 basis points year-over-year to 24.5%. Adjusted diluted EPS grew by 7% to $0.29, and 84 new restaurants were opened, with 64 featuring the Chipotlane format. The company noted consumer headwinds, particularly among lower to middle-income guests and the 25- to 35-year-old age group, which have impacted transaction frequency. Chipotle plans to address these challenges by enhancing its consumer flywheel with improved execution, value communication, and menu innovation, along with a focus on digital engagement and expanding access through new restaurant openings. The company remains committed to its long-term growth strategies, aiming to surpass $4 million in average unit volumes (AUVs) and expand to 7,000 restaurants in North America.

Chipotle Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Chipotle's financial statements reflect strong revenue and profit growth, efficient operations, and effective cash flow management. The company shows robust financial health with a high return on equity and solid cash flow generation, despite some reliance on debt.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Chipotle has demonstrated strong revenue growth with a TTM revenue increase of 18.13% and consistent improvement in gross profit margins over the years, reaching 37.34% in the latest TTM period. The net profit margin is healthy at 13.32%, indicating effective cost management. EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust, reflecting operational efficiency. Overall, the income statement shows a positive growth trajectory and profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35 in the TTM period, which is manageable but indicates reliance on debt financing. Return on equity is impressive at 43.16%, showcasing strong profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio stands at 34.71%, suggesting a balanced capital structure. While the company is leveraging debt effectively, maintaining a close watch on debt levels is advisable.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Chipotle's cash flow statement highlights a solid free cash flow growth rate of 7.32% in the TTM period, with a strong operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.85, indicating efficient cash generation from operations. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.70 suggests good conversion of earnings into cash. The cash flow position is strong, supporting future growth and debt servicing.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.79B11.31B9.87B8.63B7.55B5.98B
Gross Profit3.03B3.02B2.59B2.06B1.71B1.04B
EBITDA2.35B2.32B1.95B1.50B1.10B574.79M
Net Income1.54B1.53B1.23B899.10M652.98M355.77M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets9.28B9.20B8.04B6.93B6.65B5.98B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.42B1.42B1.30B899.14M1.08B951.60M
Total Debt4.98B4.54B4.05B3.73B3.52B3.16B
Total Liabilities6.06B5.55B4.98B4.56B4.36B3.96B
Stockholders Equity3.22B3.66B3.06B2.37B2.30B2.02B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.57B1.51B1.22B844.01M839.61M290.50M
Operating Cash Flow2.21B2.11B1.78B1.32B1.28B663.85M
Investing Cash Flow-143.37M-837.53M-946.01M-830.03M-522.04M-432.72M
Financing Cash Flow-2.07B-1.07B-660.65M-929.40M-548.61M-104.85M

Chipotle Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price37.00
Price Trends
50DMA
35.41
Positive
100DMA
38.36
Negative
200DMA
44.73
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.66
Negative
RSI
68.41
Neutral
STOCH
83.47
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CMG, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 37 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.20, above the 50-day MA of 35.41, and below the 200-day MA of 44.73, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.66 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 68.41 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.47 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for CMG.

Chipotle Risk Analysis

Chipotle disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Chipotle reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Chipotle Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$22.04B19.8754.10%3.06%8.61%9.39%
75
Outperform
$31.93B25.0228.08%3.49%16.82%-29.91%
73
Outperform
$48.92B33.1644.96%7.31%5.26%
65
Neutral
$226.96B27.182.24%1.26%2.87%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
59
Neutral
$42.52B29.821.85%11.60%-4.33%
56
Neutral
$96.89B52.322.88%2.80%-50.71%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CMG
Chipotle
37.63
-24.11
-39.05%
DRI
Darden Restaurants
192.88
14.84
8.34%
MCD
McDonald's
319.65
36.04
12.71%
SBUX
Starbucks
89.42
2.96
3.42%
YUM
Yum! Brands
154.70
26.82
20.97%
QSR
Restaurant Brands International
69.91
6.78
10.74%

Chipotle Corporate Events

Stock Buyback
Chipotle Expands Share Repurchase Program by $1.8 Billion
Positive
Dec 8, 2025

On December 4, 2025, Chipotle‘s Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.8 billion for share repurchases, marking a shift to larger, multi-quarter repurchase pools. As of December 5, 2025, approximately $1.85 billion remains authorized for repurchases, with $2.3 billion already repurchased in 2025. This move reflects Chipotle’s ongoing commitment to its share repurchase program, which has been in place since 2008, and may impact shareholder value positively.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Chipotle Elects Josh Weinstein to Board of Directors
Positive
Nov 25, 2025

On November 24, 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the election of Josh Weinstein to its Board of Directors, effective November 25, 2025. Weinstein, who has extensive experience in the leisure travel industry as CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. This addition expands Chipotle’s Board to ten directors, nine of whom are independent, and is part of the company’s commitment to ongoing director refreshment. Weinstein’s hospitality expertise is expected to support Chipotle’s strategic priorities and enhance its mission of cultivating a better world.

Stock Buyback
Chipotle Announces $500M Share Repurchase Authorization
Positive
Sep 15, 2025

On September 15, 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors had authorized an additional $500 million for share repurchases, following a decision made on September 3, 2025. This early announcement allows the company to opportunistically repurchase shares before filing its third quarter Form 10-Q. With this new authorization, approximately $750 million is available for share repurchases, continuing a program in place since 2008, which has no expiration date and can be modified or discontinued at any time.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 09, 2025