Zacks Research Has Negative Outlook of CMG Q1 Earnings

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report issued on Tuesday, February 17th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the restaurant operator will post earnings of $0.24 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.28. Zacks Research has a “Strong Sell” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Chipotle Mexican Grill’s current full-year earnings is $1.29 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Q2 2026 earnings at $0.33 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.29 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.29 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.15 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.30 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.38 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.34 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.32 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $1.35 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $1.55 EPS.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Monday, January 26th. Mizuho lowered their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $47.24.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 1.2%

NYSE:CMG opened at $37.51 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.90, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.31. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12 month low of $29.75 and a 12 month high of $58.42.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.96 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.88% and a return on equity of 47.99%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.25 EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,804 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,703 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Centurion Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Centurion Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,713 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $322,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 76,358 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $4,288,000 after buying an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. now owns 14,632 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $573,000 after buying an additional 272 shares in the last quarter. 91.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Chipotle Mexican Grill

Here are the key news stories impacting Chipotle Mexican Grill this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Recent reported results showed a slight beat on EPS and revenue, with year‑over‑year revenue growth and strong margins/ROE — evidence the core business remains profitable and supports longer‑term cash flow. (Earnings release Feb. 3 commentary)
• Neutral Sentiment: A Yahoo Finance valuation piece walks through how analysts are digesting Chipotle’s 2026 guidance and plans to reinvest in margins. The article frames the reinvestment plan as a reason for near‑term margin pressure but possibly constructive for sustaining growth, leaving valuation views mixed. A Look At Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Valuation As Analysts React To 2026 Guidance And Margin Reinvestment Plans
• Neutral Sentiment: A Motley Fool piece examines where CMG could be in a year, noting the stock’s recent large trailing‑12‑month decline and exploring scenarios. It’s more analytical than a clear buy/sell signal, adding to mixed investor views. Where Will Chipotle Mexican Grill Be in 1 Year?
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research issued widespread cuts to near‑term and multi‑year EPS forecasts (Q1–Q4 2026, FY2026, FY2027 and beyond) and maintains a “Strong Sell” stance. Those downgrades compress forward earnings expectations and are a principal driver of downward pressure on CMG’s share price today. MarketBeat coverage of CMG / Zacks revisions
• Negative Sentiment: Another Motley Fool column argues Chipotle is interesting but recommends an alternative (Dutch Bros) as a better growth purchase — reinforcing rotation risk away from CMG among retail investors. Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Is Interesting, but Here’s What I’d Buy Instead

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant company known for its Mexican-inspired menu of burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the chain emphasizes fresh, customizable meals made from a limited menu of core ingredients and a focus on ingredient quality. Chipotle operates primarily company-owned restaurants and offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery through its own digital platforms and third-party partners.

The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and traces its roots to Denver, Colorado.