Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc logo

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc(CMG)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$29.85
10/19/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CMG

10/19/2026: CMG (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a leading fast-casual restaurant chain known for its focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients and a company-owned restaurant model. The company's primary strengths include its strong brand identity, highly efficient digital-first operations, and reliable unit-level profitability. Its main growth story is centered on the aggressive expansion of its store footprint, particularly via 'Chipotlane' drive-thrus, and menu innovation. Investors should monitor risks such as rising food and labor costs, food safety challenges, and a high valuation that demands consistent performance. The stock is best suited for growth-oriented investors, though it remains sensitive to broader consumer spending trends and market sentiment.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitThe company has a consistent history of scaling operations and increasing earnings, making it a staple for growth-oriented portfolios.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveChipotle often displays strong relative strength and price momentum, making it attractive when market sentiment is bullish.
Value investorWeak fitThe stock historically trades at a high P/E multiple, which often conflicts with traditional value investing valuation criteria.
Dividend investorWeak fitChipotle does not currently pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the business model is high-quality, the stock's high valuation and growth expectations can lead to significant price volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highThe stock often experiences sharp price movements based on quarterly same-store sales data.
Valuation riskHighA high earnings multiple leaves little room for error if growth expectations are not met.
Competition risk (fast-casual peers)MediumIncreasing competition from peers like CAVA could pressure market share.
Business qualityStrongThe company maintains a high-quality, recognizable brand with strong unit-level economics.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not rely on this stock for current income.
Execution riskMediumRapid expansion requires consistent execution in staffing and quality control across thousands of locations.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 0.94%
Avg. Invested days 48
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/19/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CMG receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CMG has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+0.1%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 12.1%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+5.4%), very low insider ownership of 0.72%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CMG's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.4B (12.1% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is CMG's strongest growth driver at +5.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while free-cash-flow growth (-4.2%, slightly negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 92.6% and approximately 99.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.72%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 10.27%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.62%
JPMorgan Chase & Co 5.23%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.77%
State Street Corp 4.40%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CMG generates approximately $254 of gross profit, $169 of operating income, and $121 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and solid cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is strong.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 23.58%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CMG has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 37.82B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 27.42
1Y Target Price 43.55
Price to earnings Ratio 27.42
1Y Target Price 43.55
Volume (30-day avg) 18.2M shares
Beta 0.96
52 Weeks Range 28.04 - 42.74
Updated Date 10/18/2026
52 Weeks Range 28.04 - 42.74
Updated Date 10/18/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.09

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Restaurant SalesIn-store dining, digital order pick-up, and third-party delivery sales of burritos, bowls, and salads.The vast majority of revenue comes from customers buying food directly at company-owned locations.
Geography: North AmericaOver 3,500 locations across the United States, with select presence in Canada.The company's success is heavily tied to the health of the North American consumer economy.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 27.42
Forward PE 28.49
Enterprise Value 51.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.04
Enterprise Value 51.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.04
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.94
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 24.4
Shares Outstanding 1.27B
Shares Floating 1.26B
Shares Outstanding 1.27B
Shares Floating 1.26B
Percent Insiders 0.72
Percent Institutions 92.64

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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