Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Chipotle Mexican Grill демонстрирует высокие значения P/E, P/S и P/B, которые значительно превышают медианы отрасли, указывая на возможную переоцененность акций. Тем не менее, компания показывает отличные показатели ROE и ROA, которые значительно выше средних значений по сектору, что говорит о высокой эффективности управления капиталом. Долговая нагрузка отсутствует, что является положительным моментом, однако низкие значения EPS и EPS прогнозов указывают на возможные риски в будущей прибыльности. Выручка и чистая прибыль растут, что позитивно сказывается на финансовом состоянии компании. Однако снижение валовой маржи вызывает определенные опасения. В целом, несмотря на ряд сильных сторон, таких как отсутствие долгов и высокая рентабельность, текущие мультипликаторы указывают на необходимость пересмотра целевой цены в сторону снижения.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

Key Points
Chipotle enjoyed rapid growth throughout the 2020s until it saw traffic decrease and same-store sales decline in 2025.
The stock price is down about 30% over the past 12 months.
The company is seeking to turn things around with its "Recipe for Growth" strategy.
Until 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) had about as good a run as any stock in its industry. From 2020 through 2024, it had an average annualized return of about 29%, as its chain of restaurants boomed.
The company had 2,622 restaurants at the end of 2019 and by the end of 2024, it had grown by more than 1,000 to 3,726.
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But 2025 was a setback for the fast food chain as the stock price tanked some 38%, from around $60 per share at the end of 2024 to $37 per share at the end of 2025. It is currently trading at about $35 per share, down about 6% year to date (YTD).
Can Chipotle turn things around?
First same-store sales decline in 10 years
After years of strong growth, Chipotle hit a wall in 2025 as inflation, mainly in the form of higher prices for beef and other ingredients, cut into its margins. Tariffs also had an effect on some ingredients and packaging.
At the same time, store traffic and same-store sales slowed, as more people chose to eat at home due to inflationary prices and economic concerns.
For the full fiscal year, same-store sales decreased 1.7%, the first time that's happened since 2016. Also, overall store traffic, as measured by restaurant transactions, dropped 2.5% last year.
In addition, investors were disappointed to learn that same-store sales are projected to be flat in 2026. However, the chain is planning to open 350 to 370 new restaurants this year, which is more than the 334 that opened last year.
Recipe for growth
To turn things around, Chipotle management rolled out a five-point "Recipe for Growth" strategy in February to increase profits. In summary, the strategy involves several initiatives, including menu innovation, brand messaging, leveraging artificial intelligence, relaunching the rewards program, expanding globally into new markets, and focusing on speed and agility.
CEO Scott Boatwright said the strategy is designed to increase transactions and set Chipotle up for long-term success.
It is a reset for Chipotle in more ways than one. Because of the success the chain had enjoyed during the 2020s growth spurt, the stock's valuation had soared to unsustainable levels. It had been trading at round 56 times earnings at the end of 2024.
It is now back down to a more reasonable price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 30, which is still a bit high, considering the company's conservative growth outlook for 2026.
Given the potential for more macroeconomic headwinds in 2026, along with elevated inflation and heightened competition, it could be a difficult year for Chipotle to gain much traction on its new growth strategy.
While Chipotle still has solid long-term potential, I wouldn't be shocked to see the stock move a little lower this year as it is still trading at a high multiple given its growth projections for this year.
I would probably monitor Chipotle's growth for another quarter, perhaps looking for an opportunity to buy a little lower than the current valuation with the expectation that the earnings begin to resurge in 2027.
Should you buy stock in Chipotle Mexican Grill right now?
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Dave Kovaleski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is Chipotle Stock a Long-Term Buy?

Shake Shack Inc.’s SHAK recent performance highlights how operational efficiency is becoming a key driver of its profitability and EBITDA growth. In 2025, the company reported revenue growth of 15.4% to $1.45 billion, while adjusted EBITDA increased about 19.5% year over year to roughly $210 million. Management attributed this improvement largely to disciplined operational execution and margin-enhancing initiatives across the business.
A key factor behind the improvement has been the company’s revamped labor model. Rather than cutting staff, Shake Shack focused on optimizing workforce deployment to ensure the right staffing levels during peak hours. This strategy significantly improved productivity, with more than 90% of restaurants meeting labor targets in 2025 compared with about 50% in mid-2024. Better scheduling and reduced overtime helped lower labor costs as a percentage of sales while maintaining service quality.
Operational improvements have also enhanced restaurant productivity. Average wait times declined from roughly seven minutes in 2023 to under six minutes in 2025, while employee tenure increased nearly 40%, indicating stronger team stability and improved in-store execution.
Supply-chain optimization further supported profitability. Shake Shack expanded its supplier base, improved logistics networks and conducted extensive sourcing reviews to mitigate commodity inflation, including mid-teen beef price increases in the second half of 2025. These efforts helped protect margins despite industry cost pressures.
Looking ahead, management expects continued operational discipline to support earnings growth. For 2026, the company anticipates adjusted EBITDA growth in the low-to-high teens range, supported by modest pricing, supply-chain savings and improved restaurant operations. Over the longer term, Shake Shack reiterated its 2027 outlook for EBITDA growth in the low-to-high teens annually, alongside ongoing restaurant-level margin expansion.
If Shake Shack continues executing on labor optimization, supply-chain efficiencies and operational improvements, these initiatives could help sustain its EBITDA momentum through 2026 and into 2027.
How Do Competitors Compare in Driving Profitability?
Shake Shack’s operational efficiency push mirrors strategies used by key fast-casual peers such as Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG and Restaurant Brands International QSR.
Chipotle has built a strong margin profile by improving operational throughput and expanding digital capabilities. Initiatives such as streamlined kitchen workflows, mobile ordering and the Chipotlane drive-thru format allow the company to handle higher order volumes with improved labor productivity. These efforts have supported consistent restaurant-level margin expansion and strong EBITDA growth, demonstrating how operational discipline can translate into sustained profitability.
Restaurant Brands, the parent of Burger King and other global chains, has also prioritized operational improvements. Through its “Reclaim the Flame” turnaround strategy, the company is investing in restaurant modernization, technology upgrades and supply-chain efficiencies to enhance franchisee economics and systemwide profitability.
Against this competitive backdrop, Shake Shack is pursuing similar efficiency gains through labor optimization, supply-chain diversification and improved restaurant execution to sustain its EBITDA momentum.
SHAK’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shake Shack’s shares have gained 11.8% in the past year compared with the industry’s 1.9% increase.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of its forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio, SHAK is trading at 63.67, up from the industry’s 24.91.
P/E (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for SHAK’s 2026 earnings per share has decreased, as shown in the chart.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SHAK currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Can Operational Efficiency Sustain Shake Shack's EBITDA Momentum?

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG is intensifying its focus on menu innovation and marketing initiatives as it looks to strengthen customer engagement and support transaction growth. Management noted that evolving consumer preferences — particularly demand for value, clean ingredients and protein-rich meals — are shaping the company’s strategic priorities. In response, Chipotle is expanding its product innovation pipeline while refining brand messaging to reinforce its value proposition.
A key component of this strategy is a higher cadence of limited-time offerings (LTOs). Chipotle plans to introduce four LTOs in 2026 to stimulate demand and encourage repeat visits. Management indicated that customers who purchase LTO items tend to visit more frequently and deliver higher lifetime value compared with typical guests. The upcoming return of Chicken al Pastor — one of the brand’s most requested items — highlights the company’s approach of combining popular menu favorites with new product introductions to sustain consumer interest.
The company is also leaning into the growing consumer focus on protein-forward meals. Its recently launched high-protein menu platform features options such as a single taco with roughly 15 grams of protein and a protein cup designed for customers seeking smaller, protein-dense portions. Management noted that early results have been encouraging, with protein add-ons increasing 35% following the launch and promotions tied to the initiative delivering a record digital sales day.
Alongside menu innovation, Chipotle continues to expand its digital engagement efforts. The company plans to relaunch its rewards program with enhanced personalization capabilities powered by data and artificial intelligence. Management highlighted that the loyalty platform already accounts for a meaningful share of sales, suggesting further potential to deepen customer engagement and drive repeat visits as the program evolves.
These initiatives form part of Chipotle’s broader “Recipe for Growth” strategy, which also includes investments in operational technology, international expansion and talent development. As the company ramps up innovation, marketing and digital engagement, investors will likely watch closely to see whether these efforts translate into stronger traffic and transaction trends in the coming quarters.
How Are Chipotle’s Competitors Faring?
Among Chipotle’s competitors in the quick-service and fast-casual space are Starbucks Corporation SBUX and McDonald's Corporation MCD, both of which are leaning on menu innovation, marketing and loyalty ecosystems to support traffic growth.
Starbucks is advancing its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan, which prioritizes menu innovation, marketing and improvements in the in-store experience to rebuild customer engagement. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, global comparable store sales grew 4%, driven primarily by transaction gains. The company also reported a record 35.5 million 90-day active Starbucks Rewards members, underscoring the role of personalization and digital engagement in driving customer visits.
McDonald’s is executing a “three-for-three” strategy centered on compelling value, breakthrough marketing and menu innovation. The company highlighted that initiatives such as the McValue platform, major marketing campaigns and product launches across beef, beverage and chicken categories supported strong fourth-quarter comparable sales growth. McDonald’s also continues to expand its digital ecosystem, reporting nearly 210 million 90-day active users across its loyalty platform in 2025, reinforcing the link between digital engagement and visit frequency.
Against this backdrop, Chipotle’s focus on menu innovation and loyalty expansion mirrors broader industry efforts to drive customer traffic through product launches, marketing activations and digital engagement.
CMG’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Chipotle have declined 32.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 0.1%.
CMG One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Chipotle trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.34, above the industry’s average of 3.70.
CMG’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMG’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year decline of 2.6%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of CMG Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CMG’s Zacks Rank
Chipotle stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Chipotle Bets on Menu Innovation and Loyalty: Can It Drive Traffic?

Key Points
Cava's leadership team continues to focus on expansion, with a target of 1,000 stores.
Profitability is improving, and analysts expect operating income to increase faster than revenue.
Investors should be cautious, given the restaurant stock’s high valuation.
The restaurant industry is extremely competitive. But that doesn't mean there aren't newcomers entering the market. With its focus on a Mediterranean-inspired menu, Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA) is one example. Investors have been winning lately, as shares are up 43% in the past three months (as of March 9).
This growth stock has a ton of momentum on its side. Here are three things you need to know before you buy.
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Store growth is the driving force
Cava reported year-over-year revenue growth of 22.5% in fiscal 2025 (ended Dec. 28, 2025). This was after the business posted a 33.1% gain the year before. The top line has no trouble rising.
It's being driven by an aggressive expansion plan. Cava opened 72 net new stores last year. It has plans to open 74 to 76 this fiscal year. And the leadership team believes that by 2032, the company will have a physical footprint of 1,000 restaurants (compared to 439 today). The business is penetrating newer markets, particularly in the Midwest.
As with its peers in the industry, traffic has been under pressure. Cava's same-store sales were up by just 0.5% in Q4. Management believes things will improve this year, as it expects this key metric will increase by 4% (at the midpoint) in fiscal 2026. Cava hopes that customers will keep gravitating toward its health-conscious items.
How quickly can profits rise?
Growth stocks definitely have the ability to produce strong returns. It's easy to remain focused on the top line. But investors in these types of businesses need to see improving profitability.
Cava is showing some promise in this regard. It went from a $53 million operating loss in fiscal 2021 to $55 million in operating income last year. That transition was helped by a 140% revenue gain.
Wall Street analysts expect operating income to increase at a yearly pace of 34% between 2025 and 2028, much faster than the projected revenue growth. That showcases the benefits of greater scale to the business model.
Shares are in nosebleed territory
The valuation is extreme. Shares trade at a price-to-sales ratio double that of Chipotle Mexican Grill, the leader in the fast-casual dining category. The market is pricing in huge expectations.
To add more context to the stock's nosebleed valuation, consider the situation on a unit basis. Each of Cava's restaurants commands $21 million in market cap. Chipotle carries a market cap per store of $11 million. Clearly, there is a lot of optimism being sold in Cava's pitas and bowls.
Investors should proceed with caution. This restaurant stock doesn't look like a smart buy today.
Should you buy stock in Cava Group right now?
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Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cava Group and Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Things to Know About Cava Group Stock Before You Buy

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 11, 2026 – Zacks Equity Research shares Roku ROKU as the Bull of the Day and Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on —Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR and Micron Technology, Inc. MU.
Here is a synopsis of all three stocks:
Roku helped pioneer streaming. Roku-made TVs, Roku TV models, Roku streaming players, and TV-related audio devices are available worldwide through direct retail sales and/or licensing arrangements with TV OEM brands. The company enables content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provides advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers.
The stock sports the highly coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with EPS expectations moving bullishly across the board.
Roku Posts Strong Results
Roku posted a double-beat concerning our headline expectations in its latest quarterly release, with adjusted EPS of $0.53 much improved from the -$0.24 per share loss in the same period last year. Sales of $1.4 billion grew 16% YoY, reflecting an acceleration relative to the last few periods.
The above-mentioned release also wrapped up its broader FY25, with total streaming hours of 145.6 billion throughout the year growing 15% YoY alongside a 15% improvement in gross profit. The company also reported record free cash flow on a trailing twelve-month basis, adding to the positivity.
The positive release helped move shares higher and shift sentiment post-earnings, up 15% just over the last month. As shown below, EPS revisions have been highly positive not just over recent months but over the past year as well, with estimates for FY26 and FY27 up 240% and 100%, respectively, since the end of last March.
The growth outlook remains notably bullish, as shown below. EPS is expected to grow 255% in its current FY26 and an additional 55% in FY27, whereas sales are expected to see growth rates of 16% and 13% across FY26 and FY27, respectively. The stock sports a Style Score of ‘B’ for Growth.
Bottom Line
Investors can implement a stellar strategy to find expected winners by taking advantage of the Zacks Rank – one of the most powerful market tools that provides a massive edge.
The top 5% of all stocks receive the highly coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). These stocks should outperform the market more than any other rank.
Roku would be an excellent stock for investors to consider, as displayed by its Zack Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Chipotle Mexican Grill, together with its subsidiaries, operates quick-casual and fresh Mexican food restaurant chains. The company offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads.
EPS revisions are bearish across the board, landing the stock into an unfavorable Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Chipotle Shares Struggle
CMG shares have had a somewhat rough showing in 2026 so far, down 6%. Weak performance and sentiment become much more visible when extending the timeframe to cover the past year, with shares down more than 30% compared to the S&P 500’s impressive 25% gain.
Sales growth has been weak across 2025 and most of 2024 relative to what we saw across 2022 to 2023
Notably, comparable restaurant sales fell 2.5% year-over-year throughout its latest reported period, though overall sales were up 4.9%. While sales growth remained in positive territory, it likely reflected a boost from newly opened locations, of which CMG opened 132 throughout the above-mentioned period. Comparable restaurant sales growth has remained in negative territory for several recent periods now, reflecting that existing locations have continued to face weaker traffic and overall performance.
Restaurant operating margins were also reported at 23.4%, which compares to a 24.8% print in the same period last year. The profitability crunch, paired with weak sales growth in existing locations, has remained a thorn in the side of the company, helping explain the weak share performance.
Bottom Line
Negative earnings estimate revisions paint a challenging picture for the company’s shares in the near term.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company’s earnings outlook.
For those seeking strong stocks, the best idea would be to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) – these stocks sport a notably stronger earnings outlook paired with the potential to deliver explosive gains in the near term.
Additional content:
2 Large-Cap AI Stocks Already Up 300%+ That Could Still Soar Higher
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has driven significant gains for Palantir Technologies Inc. and Micron Technology, Inc., turning them into two of the most highly sought-after stocks on Wall Street. Over the past two years, Palantir and Micron’s shares have soared 517.1% and 311.7%, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at their recent developments and the reasons why their rally is far from over.
Palantir Sees Strong Growth Driven by AI Platform
Several U.S. commercial organizations and government agencies adopted Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). The AIP has gained strong popularity because it enables organizations to seamlessly integrate AI and large language models into highly complex data environments.
Due to the strong demand for AIP, Palantir’s revenues for the fourth quarter of 2025 came in at $1.4 billion, up 70% year over year and 19% quarter over quarter, according to investors.palantir.com. Revenues from the U.S. commercial client segment jumped 137% year over year and 28% sequentially to $507 million. Government segment revenue increased 66% year over year and 17% quarter over quarter to $570 million.
Palantir expects its GAAP net income to continue improving during the current year. The company already reported $609 million in GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 43% profit margin. The company also projects total revenues to increase to $7.182-$7.198 billion in 2026 from $4.475 billion in the previous year.
Palantir’s Gotham and Foundry platforms face limited competition, which could support predictable cash flows in the future. Palantir already generated $791 million in adjusted free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a free cash flow margin of 56%.
Therefore, Palantir is experiencing strong growth, largely driven by its AIP, supported by rising revenues, high margins and robust free cash flows. As a result, the company’s projected earnings growth rate for the current year is 74.7%, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 in earnings per share (EPS) suggests 87.1% year-over-year growth.
MU Sees Strong Growth Driven by Cloud Memory and HBM Demand
Micron reported $13.64 billion in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, up 56% year over year, which exceeded Wall Street’s projection of $12.88 billion, according to investors.micron.com. Its cloud memory segment drove growth with $5.28 billion in sales, up a whopping 99.5% year over year. The strong top-line performance helped Micron achieve a non-GAAP net income of $5.48 billion, surpassing analysts’ estimates.
Strong demand for Micron’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips boosted its quarterly performance. This is because the HBM chips are gaining recognition for their ability to manage high volumes of workloads while enhancing power performance.
Currently, demand for HBM chips shows no signs of easing amid supply constraints. This imbalance between demand and supply is expected to strengthen Micron’s pricing power, improve profit margins and potentially drive the stock price higher.
Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, also noted that tight HBM supply amid strong demand is likely to continue, supporting higher prices and benefiting the company.
Management expects Micron’s net income to grow, and forecasts fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenue of $18.3-$19.1 billion. Its expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 323.4%, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $35.12 in EPS indicates 224.9% year-over-year growth.
Presently, Micron sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Palantir has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Roku and Chipotle Mexican Grill have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

Key Points
Quarterly-filed Form 13Fs provide a way for investors to track which stocks Wall Street's top fund managers have been buying and selling.
Although profit-taking is a reason billionaire Bill Ackman sent shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill to the chopping block, it may not be the only one.
Meanwhile, Pershing Square's boss has built up a roughly 9.6-million-share stake in a "Magnificent Seven" stock that's an undisputed leader in two industries.
Amid the heart of earnings season lies one of Wall Street's most important quarterly data releases: the filing of Form 13Fs with regulators. A 13F allows investors to track which stocks Wall Street's brightest asset managers bought and sold in the latest quarter (in this instance, the fourth quarter).
On Feb. 17, the 13F filing from one of Wall Street's most-followed billionaire investors, Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management, showed he completely exited his former top holding, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG). At the same time, Ackman was a busy buyer of a "magnificent" dual-industry leader for the second time over the last three quarters.
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Chipotle gets sent to the chopping block
As recently as March 31, 2024, Chipotle Mexican Grill was Pershing Square Capital Management's No. 1 holding by market value. But as of Dec. 31, 2025, Ackman had overseen the disposal of the 21,541,177 remaining shares his fund had held (as of Sept. 30).
The logical reason for Ackman to sell is to cash in his chips after an outsize gain. Between Sept. 30, 2016, and the end of 2025, Chipotle shares more than quadrupled. Chipotle handily outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 over nine years, reflecting its focus on responsibly raised meat products and its out-of-the-box innovation, such as its mobile order-focused drive-thru lanes ("Chipotlanes").
But Ackman may have had other incentives to head for the exit.
For instance, Chipotle Mexican Grill's comparable restaurant sales cratered last year. Following years of high single-digit comparable restaurant sales growth, revenue from existing stores fell 1.7% in 2025. Despite passing higher prices along to consumers, a notable decline in transactions is weighing on the company's operating results. It would appear that inflationary pressures have begun to take a toll.
Furthermore, Chipotle's stock is arguably no longer a bargain absent its supercharged comparable restaurant sales growth. A forward price-to-earnings ratio of 26 is a notable premium for a restaurant chain whose existing-store sales fell last year.
Magnificent Seven member Amazon has billionaire Bill Ackman's full attention
At the other end of the spectrum, Pershing Square Capital Management's billionaire boss can't seem to get enough of "Magnificent Seven" stock Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). After opening a 5,823,316-share position during the second quarter and maintaining this stake throughout the third quarter, Ackman loaded up another 3,784,508 shares in the December-ended quarter. The more than 9.6 million shares held make Amazon the new No. 3 holding for Pershing Square.
Most consumers are familiar with Amazon because of its world-leading online marketplace. According to data from Forbes Advisor and Analyzify, Amazon was responsible for 37.6% of U.S. retail e-commerce in 2024.
But while e-commerce generates a boatload of revenue, it's often a low-margin operating segment. The bulk of Amazon's operating income and cash flow originates from cloud infrastructure service platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS is the leading global cloud infrastructure platform by total spend, and its growth rate is reaccelerating thanks to the incorporation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model solutions.
Additionally, Amazon is historically inexpensive, relative to its future cash flow. Whereas Amazon's median multiple to year-end cash flow was 30 throughout the 2010s, shares can be purchased right now for just shy of 10 times forecast cash flow in 2027.
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Sean Williams has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Billionaire Bill Ackman Dumped His Fund's Stake in Chipotle and Has Piled Into This Dual-Industry Leader Over the Previous 3 Quarters

Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG, together with its subsidiaries, operates quick-casual and fresh Mexican food restaurant chains. The company offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads.
EPS revisions are bearish across the board, landing the stock into an unfavorable Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Chipotle Shares Struggle
CMG shares have had a somewhat rough showing in 2026 so far, down 6%. Weak performance and sentiment become much more visible when extending the timeframe to cover the past year, with shares down more than 30% compared to the S&P 500’s impressive 25% gain.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sales growth has been weak across 2025 and most of 2024 relative to what we saw across 2022 to 2023, as shown below. Please note that the chart illustrates the YoY % change in sales, not actual sales figures.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Notably, comparable restaurant sales fell 2.5% year-over-year throughout its latest reported period, though overall sales were up 4.9%. While sales growth remained in positive territory, it likely reflected a boost from newly opened locations, of which CMG opened 132 throughout the above-mentioned period. Comparable restaurant sales growth has remained in negative territory for several recent periods now, reflecting that existing locations have continued to face weaker traffic and overall performance.
Below is a chart illustrating CMG’s comparable restaurant sales growth rates on a quarterly basis.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Restaurant operating margins were also reported at 23.4%, which compares to a 24.8% print in the same period last year. The profitability crunch, paired with weak sales growth in existing locations, has remained a thorn in the side of the company, helping explain the weak share performance.
Bottom Line
Negative earnings estimate revisions paint a challenging picture for the company’s shares in the near term.
Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company’s earnings outlook.
For those seeking strong stocks, the best idea would be to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) – these stocks sport a notably stronger earnings outlook paired with the potential to deliver explosive gains in the near term.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Bear of the Day: Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)

Key Points
Sweetgreen's low market cap could appeal to growth investors.
Mounting losses and declining same-store sales are growth challenges investors need to watch.
On the surface, Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) may look like the fast-casual chain of our time. It focuses on healthy, locally sourced ingredients to make its salads and bowls. Also, its digital-first approach tends to make the ordering process more efficient.
Moreover, investors can see the 4,000% long-term growth of Chipotle Mexican Grill, one of the original fast-casual restaurant chains, and wonder if the consumer discretionary stock can have the same type of success and help small investors become millionaires.
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Sweetgreen's path to $1 million
First of all, the market cap implies that Sweetgreen could mint millionaires if it experiences growth comparable to Chipotle's. Currently, the market cap is around $655 million.
If a $10,000 investment could increase a hundredfold, that would imply a market cap of $65.5 billion if that investment reached $1 million. Its low marktet cap today could put Sweetgreen on investors' radar because a restaurant stock worth tens of billion has happened before. Even though Chipotle's market cap is around $45 billion, it reached a high of $94 billion in 2024, indicating hundredfold growth is theoretically possible for this type of stock.
Sweetgreen also continues to expand. As of its most recent earnings report, it operated 281 locations, including 35 new locations that opened in 2025.
However, such growth relies on solid execution. Unfortunately, Sweetgreen has yet to prove itself in this area. In 2025, revenue totaled $679 million, a yearly increase of 0.3%. This occurred as same-store sales fell by 7.9% year over year.
Moreover, that led to $134 million in net losses. This is concerning for a company with only $89 million in liquidity. To shor up its balance sheet, it sold its Spyce automated kitchen technoly for $186.4 million, a sale that closed in late December.
Although that gave it some relief from a liquidity standpoint, it no longer owns Infinite Kitchen, the automated robotic line that operates at some of ite locations. Sweetgreen retains usage rights to Infinite Kitchen.
With losses expected to continue, Sweetgreen will likely need additional liquidity soon. That means it will have to either take on debt or issue additional shares, which would dilute current shareholders. Those conditions do not bode well for those wanting to become millionaires from Sweetgreen stock.
Could Sweetgreen stock help you become a millionaire?
Unfortunately, Sweetgreen is not providing investors with an obvious path to millionaire status.
Indeed, growth investors would love to buy a future market leader when its market cap is under $1 billion.
However, investors also need to see improved financials. The fact that opening more restaurants has not translated into significant revenue growth does not bode well for the company, nor does it reassure investors when it sells ownership of an asset that dramatically boosts efficiency.
Until it can reverse its same-store sales declines, even going to $10 per share may be difficult for Sweetgreen.
Should you buy stock in Sweetgreen right now?
Before you buy stock in Sweetgreen, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Sweetgreen wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $530,233!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,119,682!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 955% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 10, 2026.
Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends Sweetgreen and recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Could Sweetgreen Stock Help You Become a Millionaire?

Key Points
Cava, Costco, Chipotle, and TJX are methodically growing their footprints and showing that disciplined expansion pays off over time.
For these brands, staying ahead in product and operations is key to sustaining strong growth.
Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA) just reminded investors what happens when a fast-casual brand hits its stride -- and I called it!
Back in January, I started looking closely at Cava after its stock price dropped more than 50%, and I came away believing the sell-off had more to do with a broad fast-casual slowdown affecting chains than with any real weakness in Cava, which is still showing strong new-store profitability and long-term expansion potential.
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The restaurant chain featuring Mediterranean cuisine saw its stock surge roughly 25% recently after blowing past expectations, crossing the $1 billion annual revenue milestone, and guiding for 74 to 76 new restaurant openings in 2026 as it pushes toward 500 locations and a long-term target of 1,000 by 2032.
CEO Brett Schulman said consumer spending remains steady as the company introduces salmon as its first seafood offering and rolls out TurboChef ovens and kitchen display systems across all locations.
Cava's strategy, marrying geographic expansion with culinary innovation and operational technology, is working.
Here are three S&P 500 stocks executing a strikingly similar formula.
1. Costco Wholesale
Ah, it's a classic. Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) is building warehouses the way Cava is building restaurants: methodically, globally, and with a clear long-term map. The company plans to open 28 new warehouses in fiscal 2026, with a stated goal of exceeding 30 annually in future years. Half of those openings will be international, spanning Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
CFO Gary Millerchip said the company looks "five to 10 years ahead regarding our real estate strategies" and still sees a robust pipeline across every market where it operates.
The expansion playbook is evolving. Costco is now converting old hypermarkets in France and former home improvement stores in Canada into full-scale warehouses, reducing capital requirements while increasing its footprint. A new 200,000-square-foot location in Monterrey, Mexico, will be the largest Costco warehouse in Latin America, with additional stores planned for Mexico City, Puebla, and Queretaro beyond 2026.
Meanwhile, Kirkland Signature, the private-label brand that 90% of members cite as a key reason they renew, introduced over 30 new products in Q4 alone, expanding into premium categories like organic foods and luxury skincare.
2. Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is doing something it has never done before: going truly global. The company hit 4,000 restaurants in December 2025, with CEO Scott Boatwright ringing the New York Stock Exchange bell to celebrate. Since Boatwright joined in 2017, Chipotle has added 1,700 locations, a 70% increase in its North American footprint.
The international expansion is what makes the next chapter different. Chipotle signed its first joint venture with SPC Group to open restaurants in South Korea and Singapore in 2026, marking its Asian debut.
A development agreement with Alshaya Group has already brought stores to Dubai and Kuwait, and a partnership with Alsea will bring Chipotle to Mexico this year. In Europe, the chain is accelerating in London with 20 U.K. locations and counting.
The long-term target remains 7,000 restaurants in North America, with 350 to 370 new openings planned for 2026, roughly one per day.
3. TJX Companies
In late February, TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX) reported fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter and full-year results (ended Jan. 31, 2026), with net sales rising 9% year over year to $17.7 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.58, beating analyst expectations. Despite strong sales and a 16% increase in adjusted EPS, investors reacted negatively, pushing the stock down more than 1% as CEO Ernie Herrman highlighted the company's focus on off-price fundamentals and a "treasure hunt" shopping experience.
But I'm not fazed. Like Chipotle, TJX is expanding its empire at a pace that makes most retailers look timid. The company plans to open 146 new stores in 2026, bringing its total footprint to 5,300 locations, and the long-term vision is 7,000 stores globally. That means 1,700 more stores to come, spread across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and two brand-new markets: Spain and the Middle East.
Herrman's strategy goes beyond raw store count. TJX is aggressively scaling its Sierra outdoor brand, with 24 new Sierra stores planned this year, competing directly with specialty outdoor retailers. Smaller-format stores in untapped rural and semirural markets are extending TJX's reach while maintaining capital efficiency.
TJX is following a similar strategy to Cava. An investment here will pay off.
Should you buy stock in Cava Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Cava Group, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Cava Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $530,233!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,119,682!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 955% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 10, 2026.
Micah Zimmerman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cava Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Costco Wholesale, and TJX Companies. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Best 3 S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Right Now After Cava's Big Move

Here are three stocks added to the Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) List today:
ATS Corporation ATS is an automation solutions provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 8.1% downward over the last 60 days.
AirSculpt Technologies, Inc. AIRS is a body contouring services provider. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 14.3% downward over the last 60 days.
Dine Brands Global, Inc. DIN is a restaurant chain operator.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised 13.4% downward over the last 60 days.
View the entire Zacks Rank #5 List.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
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DINE BRANDS GLOBAL, INC. (DIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
ATS Corporation (ATS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

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