McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions. The company owns and operates under various structures comprising conventional franchise, developmental license, or affiliate. McDonald's Corporation was founded in 1940 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

McDonald's демонстрирует сильные финансовые показатели, включая высокие маржи и прибыль, что подтверждает его лидерство в отрасли. Показатели ROE и ROA значительно превышают медианные значения, что указывает на эффективность использования капитала. Тем не менее, мультипликаторы, такие как P/E и P/S, находятся на высоких уровнях, что может свидетельствовать о переоцененности акций. Долговая нагрузка остается низкой, но наблюдается рост долгосрочного долга. Также стоит отметить, что дивидендная доходность снизилась, что может негативно сказаться на привлекательности для инвесторов. В то же время, рост выручки и чистой прибыли открывает перспективы для будущего роста. На фоне всех этих факторов целесообразно пересмотреть целевую цену, учитывая как позитивные, так и негативные аспекты текущей оценки компании.

McDonald's Corporation

Key Points
Sweetgreen's traffic and same-restaurant sales were obliterated in 2025.
Management is looking to revamp operations, but is facing a difficult pricing war.
The stock looks cheap, but it comes with significant risks for investors right now.
Perhaps no stock has been hit harder by the decline in restaurant stocks over the past few years than Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG). Shares of the salad and bowl chain are down 90% from all-time highs, marking a brutal performance since its 2022 market debut.
The company is facing pricing pressure from restaurant competitors and declining traffic as customers pinch pennies by eating at home. But with management looking to turn things around with new menu items this year, does that make the stock a contrarian pick that could set you up for life?
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Hard hit comp store sales growth
Comparable store sales growth is the lifeblood of any restaurant chain. It measures revenue growth from existing locations, and the general rule of thumb is that this figure should match your inflationary inputs (or, ideally, beat them) to maintain restaurant-level profit margins.
Sweetgreen's have gone off the deep end, with same-store sales growth of negative 11.5% last quarter in an environment where inflation is still elevated. This has resulted in huge losses for the company, with a net loss of $49.7 million last quarter, compared with a net loss of $29 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Management understands that it is failing to keep customers around due to the perceived high prices of its salad bowls. It is cutting costs at the corporate level, revamping its store operations and customer rewards program, and has introduced a Sweetgreen wrap at a lower price point, closer to $10, to entice price-sensitive customers.
In 2026, management is still expecting same-store sales growth of negative 4% to negative 2%, which would be below inflation once again.
Can Sweetgreen stock make a turnaround?
There is some excitement around Sweetgreen's new product offerings. They are cheaper and innovative, which could lead some customers to return to the chain as regular diners. With just 281 locations across the United States, there is also plenty of room to keep expanding with new store openings. Management expects to open 15 in 2026.
Shares of the stock look cheap on a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, with the metric just below 1 based on its 2025 sales figures. If profitability can be solved, there is a chance investors look back a few years from now and think Sweetgreen was a dirt cheap stock at the beginning of 2026.
However, there is still some intense pricing competition that should worry any investor looking to buy today. McDonald's just announced new menu items that will cost just $3 and $4, which is one of many examples of the price wars among restaurant chains at the moment.
Sweetgreen stock could be a steal today, but it comes with massive risks if current management cannot turn around its traffic and same-store sales growth woes. I would avoid buying Sweetgreen stock right now due to these long-term risks.
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Could Buying Sweetgreen Stock Today Set You Up for Life?

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for McDonald's (MCD). Shares have lost about 2.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is McDonald's due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
McDonald's Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Rise Y/Y
McDonald's reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top and bottom lines increased on a year-over-year basis.
McDonald’s results reflected solid systemwide momentum, supported by comparable-sales growth, accelerated restaurant expansion and strong engagement across markets.
Management emphasized that value leadership, impactful marketing and menu innovation remained central to performance, with initiatives like McValue, global campaigns and new product launches driving customer engagement.
MCD’s Q4 Earnings & Revenue Discussion
In fourth-quarter 2025, McDonald's reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.12, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.05. It reported an adjusted EPS of $2.83 in the prior-year quarter.
Quarterly net revenues of $7 billion beat the consensus mark of $6.85 billion. Additionally, the top line rose 10% year over year.
At company-operated restaurants, sales were $2.54 billion, up 10% year over year. Sales at franchise-operated restaurants amounted to $4.31 billion, which increased 9% year over year.
Moreover, Other revenues rose 35% year over year to $162 million. Our model predicted sales by company-operated restaurants to rise 10.5%, while franchise-operated restaurants were expected to increase 3.4% from the prior-year levels.
McDonald's Comps Details
In the quarter under discussion, global comps rose 5.7% compared with the 0.4% rise reported in the prior-year quarter. Our estimate was a 3.7% increase year over year.
Comps Across MCD’s Segments
The United States: In the fourth quarter, segmental comps rose 6.8% against a 1.4% decline registered in the prior-year quarter. The company's comparable sales for the quarter were aided by positive check growth. Our model estimated the U.S. comps to increase 2.9%.
International Operated Markets: Segmental comps jumped 5.2% compared with the 0.1% increase reported in the year-ago quarter. The rise was driven by positive comparable sales across the U.K., Germany and Australia. We anticipated an increase of 4.7% from the year-ago levels.
International Developmental Licensed Segment: Segmental comparable sales registered a 4.5% increase compared with a 4.1% increase reported in the prior-year quarter. Japan led the growth in positive comparable sales, with all geographic regions also reporting increases.
Operating Highlights & Expenses of McDonald's
In the fourth quarter, McDonald’s total operating costs and expenses were $3.85 billion, up 9% year over year.
Operating income rose 10% year over year to $3.15 billion. Net income totaled $2.16 billion, up 7% year over year.
MCD’s 2025 Highlights
Total revenues in 2025 amounted to $26.9 billion compared with $25.9 billion in 2024.
Net income in 2025 came in at $8.6 billion compared with $8.2 billion reported in 2024.
In 2025, diluted EPS came in at $12.20 compared with $11.72 reported in the previous year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted -5.02% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, McDonald's has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Following the exact same course, the stock has a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, McDonald's has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
McDonald's belongs to the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry. Another stock from the same industry, Starbucks (SBUX), has gained 3.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended December 2025.
Starbucks reported revenues of $9.92 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.5%. EPS of $0.56 for the same period compares with $0.69 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Starbucks is expected to post earnings of $0.42 per share, indicating a change of +2.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.1% over the last 30 days.
Starbucks has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
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Why Is McDonald's (MCD) Down 2.5% Since Last Earnings Report?

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

McDonald’s Corporation MCD continues to position its expanding digital ecosystem as a key lever to strengthen customer engagement and increase visit frequency. During the fourth quarter of 2025, management highlighted the rapid growth of its loyalty platform and the increasing role digital channels play in connecting with customers. The company reported nearly 210 million 90-day active loyalty users across 70 markets, putting it on track to achieve its previously stated target of 250 million active users by the end of 2027. Management emphasized active loyalty membership as a critical digital metric that supports deeper customer relationships and traffic growth.
The company also shared data demonstrating the impact of loyalty participation on customer behavior. In the United States, the average customer visited McDonald’s 10.5 times in the 12 months prior to joining the loyalty program, while visits increased to 26 times in the 12 months following enrollment. This more than 2.5-fold increase in visit frequency illustrates the role of targeted offers, promotions and digital engagement in encouraging repeat visits. Management also noted that loyalty members typically spend more over time, highlighting the platform’s importance in supporting sales growth.
McDonald’s loyalty strategy is closely integrated with broader marketing and operational initiatives. Executives pointed to engagement tools such as multi-visit bonus games and app-exclusive partnerships tied to menu launches and promotional campaigns. At the same time, operational features like “Ready on Arrival” connect mobile ordering with restaurant operations, helping reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction. These initiatives allow the company to combine digital engagement with in-restaurant execution across its global system.
Supporting this ecosystem is a continued investment in technology infrastructure. McDonald’s is transitioning toward a standardized global technology backbone built around three core platforms: consumer systems, restaurant systems and company systems. Management noted that the shift from fragmented legacy systems toward a unified technology stack is expected to enable more consistent digital deployment across markets as the transformation progresses.
As McDonald’s expands its digital capabilities, loyalty remains central to its long-term engagement strategy. By integrating loyalty participation with marketing, technology and restaurant operations, the company aims to deepen customer connections and encourage more frequent visits across its global restaurant network.
Peer Comparisons
Other restaurant operators are also leveraging digital platforms and loyalty ecosystems to strengthen customer engagement and drive transaction growth.
Starbucks Corporation SBUX continues to rely on its rewards ecosystem as a core engagement driver. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company reported that its 90-day active Starbucks Rewards membership reached 35.5 million in the United States, representing a 3% year-over-year increase. Management noted that rewards member transactions returned to year-over-year growth during the quarter, while non-rewards transactions increased at an even faster pace. Executives highlighted personalization through the rewards platform as an important factor in encouraging repeat visits and strengthening customer relationships.
Dutch Bros Inc. BROS is expanding its loyalty-driven engagement strategy. The company reported that Dutch Rewards surpassed 15 million members at the end of 2025, with approximately 72% of system transactions attributed to the program, representing a four-percentage-point increase from the prior year. Management also noted that the Order Ahead program, which accounted for roughly 14% of sales mix in the fourth quarter, has helped drive greater convenience while increasing loyalty participation and customer engagement.
Compared with these peers, McDonald’s operates one of the largest global loyalty ecosystems in the restaurant industry. With nearly 210 million 90-day active users, the company is leveraging its scale to combine digital engagement, targeted promotions and operational features to encourage repeat visits and strengthen customer connections across markets.
MCD’s Stock Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of McDonald's have gained 6.9% in the past year against the industry’s fall of 0.6%.
MCD One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MCD trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 8.02, above the industry’s average of 3.72.
MCD’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 8.5% and 9.1%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have declined in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of MCD Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MCD’s Zacks Rank
MCD stock currently has 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 MCD's Digital Ecosystem Turn Loyalty Into Higher Visit Frequency?

Key Points
Gallagher Fiduciary added 525,553 shares of VCLT in the fourth quarter.
The fund's quarter-end stake value rose by approximately $39.9 million, reflecting both share increase and price movement.
The fund's VCLT position now totals 845,731 shares, worth roughly $64 million as of December 31, 2025.
The stake represents 2.1% of Gallagher's reported 13F assets, which places it outside the fund's top five holdings.
Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC reported a buy of the Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:VCLT) in the fourth quarter.
What happened
According to an SEC filing dated Feb. 17, 2026, Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC increased its holding in Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF by 525,553 shares. The estimated transaction value was about $40 million, calculated using the average closing price over the quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $39.9 million, reflecting both share additions and price changes.
What else to know
The fund’s VCLT position totaled approximately 2.1% of 13F assets under management (AUM), as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Top holdings after the filing:
NYSE: MCD: $1.3 billion (43.8% of AUM)
NYSE: PCG: $312.2 million (10.1% of AUM)
NYSE: DAL: $280.4 million (9.1% of AUM)
NYSEMKT: VTI: $161.5 million (5.2% of AUM)
NYSE: CBRE: $143.8 million (4.7% of AUM)
As of Feb. 16, 2026, VCLT shares were priced at $77.27, up 7.6% over one year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 5.6 percentage points.
VCLT’s trailing dividend yield was 5.41% as of Feb. 16, 2026.
ETF overview
Net assets
$8.5 billion
Dividend yield
5.41%
Price (as of market close 2/13/26)
$77.27
1-year total return
7.6%
ETF snapshot
The investment strategy focuses on tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Bond Index and targeting long-term, investment-grade corporate bonds.
Underlying holdings primarily consist of U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable securities issued by industrial, utility, and financial companies with maturities greater than 10 years.
Structured as a passively managed ETF, the fund offers a low-cost exposure to long-term corporate debt, appealing to investors seeking higher yield and duration within a diversified portfolio.
The Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF provides institutional investors with targeted access to the long-duration segment of the U.S. investment-grade corporate bond market. The fund's scale and disciplined index-tracking approach help deliver efficient exposure to a diversified pool of high-quality issuers.
What this transaction means for investors
Gallagher manages money for many clients, so there can be many reasons for its buy/sell decisions each quarter. While it significantly added to VCLT in the fourth quarter, it also bought more stock exposure through VTI. It also reduced positions in individual stocks, including McDonald’s, PG&E, and Delta Air Lines, which were three of its top holdings.
Interest rates have been elevated in recent years, but some investors are anticipating lower rates in 2026. This outlook would favor buying long-term duration bonds, which could benefit from lower rates.
The Federal Reserve already cut rates twice last year, and some investors expect more rate cuts to stimulate the economy this year. Buying bonds can help an investor lock in higher yields, while also positioning for capital returns if bond prices rise and interest rates fall.
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Gallagher Fiduciary Buys $40 Million of Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF

DoorDash DASH shares have plummeted 32.2% in the trailing six months, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s increase of 3.2% and the Zacks Internet - Services industry’s surge of 22.9%.
The company’s shares have also underperformed its peers, which include Amazon AMZN and Uber Technologies UBER. Both Amazon and Uber Technologies are also expanding their footprints in the local food delivery logistics platforms. Uber Technologies and Amazon shares have lost 22% and 7.2%, respectively, in the trailing six-month period.
The underperformance can be attributed to the company’s extensive competition in its largest segment, local food delivery logistics. The market is extremely fragmented, and the company is constantly struggling for market share with other local food delivery logistics platforms.
DASH Stock's Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, DASH is benefiting from strong order growth and rising Marketplace GOV, along with enhanced logistics efficiency and a growing contribution from advertising.
DoorDash Benefits From Expanding Partner Network
DoorDash is consistently investing in expanding its partner base to provide express grocery delivery for consumers, a new offering that cements its position further among other on-demand delivery platforms. This has boosted DoorDash’s total orders and marketplace GOV. In the fourth quarter of 2025, total orders increased 32% year over year to 903 million. Marketplace GOV increased 39% year over year to $29.7 billion.
The company’s expanding partner base, which includes OpenAI, Old Navy, Family Dollar, Waymo, Kroger, McDonald’s MCD, and Ace Hardware, has acted as a catalyst for growth, significantly broadening DoorDash’s reach and enhancing its service offerings.
DASH’s partnership with McDonalds has been noteworthy. In collaboration with McDonald’s, DoorDash launched a new U.S. online ordering experience via McDonald’s.com, enabling customers to order McDelivery directly via mobile web or desktop without needing an app or account. This integration enhances convenience and expands DASH and McDonald’s global collaboration across 29 countries.
In December 2025, DoorDash announced a partnership with OpenAI to launch a DoorDash app in ChatGPT that lets users turn recipes and meal ideas into shoppable grocery orders delivered from local stores in as little as an hour.
Earnings Estimate Revisions Show Mixed Trend for DASH
DoorDash’s strength in total orders and Marketplace GOV is expected to benefit its top-line growth. For the first quarter of 2026, DoorDash anticipates Marketplace GOV to be in the range of $31.0-$31.8 billion.
For the first quarter of 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 42 cents per share, indicating an 34.37% decrease over the past 30 days. The figure implies a year-over-year decrease of 4.55%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the first quarter of 2026 revenues is pegged at $4.13 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 36.18%.
DoorDash, Inc. Price and Consensus
DoorDash Faces Rising Competition
Despite strong order growth and expanding partnerships, DoorDash is constantly battling for market share with other local food delivery logistics platforms such as Uber Technologies, online delivery platform Uber Eats and Amazon. As competition intensifies, companies are seeking new ways to differentiate themselves and expand their market presence.
Amazon’s Prime membership program is a cornerstone of its delivery ecosystem, offering unparalleled convenience and speed to millions of customers worldwide. Prime members benefit from fast and free delivery options, including same-day and next-day delivery, which have become increasingly faster over the years. Amazon has achieved record-fast delivery speeds for Prime members globally, with nearly 70% more items delivered same-day in the United States in 2025 compared to the previous year. This includes expanding same-day delivery to rural areas, doubling the number of customers receiving same-day delivery in these regions.
Uber Technologies is benefiting from the boom in its Delivery business through its online delivery platform Uber Eats. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Uber Technologies’ Delivery segment revenues increased 30% year over year on a reported basis and 29% on a constant currency basis to $4.89 billion. Gross bookings from the Delivery segment rose 26% year over year on both a reported and constant currency basis to $25.43 billion.
DASH Stock Is Overvalued
DoorDash shares are currently overvalued, as suggested by its Value Score of F.
In terms of the trailing 12-month Price/Book ratio, DASH is trading at 7.64, higher than the Internet - Services industry’s 7.55X.
DASH's Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Should Investors Do With DASH Stock?
DoorDash’s strong order growth, expanding partnerships, and portfolio support its bullish outlook. However, intense competition, along with a fragmented market, could pressure margins. Stretched valuation also remains a concern.
DoorDash currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that investors should wait for a more favorable entry point to accumulate the stock.
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DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Should You Hold on to DASH Stock Despite Its 32% Plunge in Six Months?

Key Points
The fast-casual chain's comparable restaurant sales fell 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright has made it clear the company will not introduce a value menu to compete with peers like McDonald's.
Trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of about 30, the stock's valuation still leaves little room for error.
Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) have taken a beating recently. The stock is down about 40% from its 52-week high of $58.42, and it has fallen even further from its all-time highs. For a company that has spent years trading at a premium valuation while delivering incredibly consistent growth, a massive haircut like this naturally has investors wondering if it's time to buy.
On the surface, the narrative seems simple: a tough macroeconomic environment is weighing on the consumer, pulling the stock down with it.
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But investors shouldn't be too quick to buy the dip.
The real issue might not just be a dynamic consumer, but rather a structural shift in the competitive landscape.
A traffic problem, not just a consumer problem
The clearest sign of pressure is showing up in the company's top line.
Chipotle's fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.9% year over year to $2.98 billion, largely aided by new store openings. But its comparable restaurant sales, which measure sales at locations open for at least 13 full calendar months, fell 2.5% during the period. This represents a stark deceleration from the 5.4% comparable sales growth the company posted in the prior-year period.
Notably, this decline in comparable restaurant sales was driven entirely by a 3.2% drop in transactions, meaning fewer people are visiting Chipotle restaurants. This weakness completely offset a 0.7% year-over-year increase in the average customer check size during the quarter.
And this wasn't a one-off quarterly stumble. For the full year of 2025, comparable restaurant sales declined 1.7%. While full-year 2025 revenue still climbed 5.4% year over year to $11.9 billion, this top-line growth was fueled heavily by the addition of 334 new company-owned restaurants rather than organic strength at existing locations. Further, the company's full-year decrease in comparable restaurant sales was similarly entirely driven by a 2.9% year-over-year decrease in transaction count (partially offset by a 1.2% boost to average check).
It is easy to blame this entirely on a challenging consumer backdrop.
But there may be a bigger problem.
The competitive landscape
Some peers are finding their stride in this market. McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), for instance, is having success with a value strategy. By aggressively leaning into its $5 Meal Deals and other promotional pricing, McDonald's is successfully fighting for a larger share of a shrinking consumer wallet.
Historically, Chipotle has operated in a league of its own, sitting comfortably between traditional fast food and sit-down dining. But as economic pressures pinch household budgets, the gap between premium fast-casual and value-oriented fast food seems to be narrowing.
Chipotle, however, refuses to play the value game.
During a recent interview with Yahoo! Finance, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright pushed back on the idea of launching a McDonald's-style value menu, noting that he believes the company's food is compellingly priced, given its quality.
While protecting the brand's premium positioning is admirable, it comes at a cost. When traffic falls, a restaurant model built for high throughput suffers. Fixed costs like labor, ingredients, and rent eat up a larger portion of revenue. This squeezes restaurant-level operating margins.
This margin pressure is already affecting the company's profitability. Specifically, the company's restaurant-level operating margin declined 140 basis points year over year to 23.4% in the fourth quarter. Because these expenses outpaced revenue growth, fourth-quarter adjusted net income fell roughly 2.6% year over year to $331.3 million.
That said, the company hasn't completely turned its back on the idea of lower price points. Boatwright told Yahoo! Finance in early February that it is testing a happy hour.
"We're calling it Happier Hour, so think maybe a couple of tacos and a beverage sometime during the middle daypart," Boatwright said.
Maybe moves like this could be Chipotle's saving grace?
A pricey valuation
Still, even if Chipotle's new happy hour concept works, shares are pricey.
Even after shedding roughly 40% of its value from its 52-week high, Chipotle stock still commands a premium valuation. The stock trades at about 30 times earnings as of this writing, even as the company's outlook remains weak.
Chipotle guided for its full-year 2026 comparable restaurant sales to be roughly flat year over year. And the near-term picture remains disappointing (especially given a valuation like this), with management noting during the fourth-quarterearnings callthat underlying comparable sales trends for the first quarter of 2026 are expected to be in the negative 1% to negative 2% range.
And keep in mind, this flat full-year guidance is up against an easy comparison, as Chipotle's full-year 2025 comparable restaurant sales were down 1.7%.
Overall, I don't think the stock is attractive enough at this level. A combination of declining traffic, intensifying competition from value-focused peers like McDonald's, and an uninspiring 2026 outlook is a tough setup. Of course, I could be wrong about exercising caution here, but it's fine with me if I am. I'd rather invest in businesses that are already performing well rather than hope for a reacceleration.
Should you buy stock in Chipotle Mexican Grill right now?
Before you buy stock in Chipotle Mexican Grill, 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 Chipotle Mexican Grill 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 $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of March 9, 2026.
Daniel Sparks and his clients have 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.

Chipotle Stock: Down More Than 40% From Its 52-Week High, Is It Time to Buy?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (Symbol: VYM) where we have detected an approximate $766.6 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.1% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 481,157,851 to 486,243,143). Among the largest underlying components of VYM, in trading today McDonald's Corp (Symbol: MCD) is off about 0.7%, Texas Instruments Inc. (Symbol: TXN) is off about 1.5%, and AT&T Inc (Symbol: T) is lower by about 3.9%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the VYM Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of VYM, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, VYM's low point in its 52 week range is $112.0542 per share, with $157.29 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $148.68. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Funds Holding MVLA
Funds Holding FMQQ
FTCS YTD Return
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

VYM, MCD, TXN, T: ETF Inflow Alert

Key Points
Coca-Cola Consildated and McDonald's hit all-time highs last week. Restaurant Brands International scored a 52-week high.
Coca-Cola Consolidated has delivered 16 straight years of revenue growth, and its stock is almost a seven-bagger over the past five years.
McDonald's and Restaurant Brands International may have a beef when it comes to viral CEO taste-test videos, but right now they're both winning the war for consumers.
Last week was rough for most investors, but there were some pockets of strength. Oil and gas companies raced higher as fuel costs soared. Defense contractors were enlisted in bullish action amid geopolitical tensions. Several companies in those industries hit fresh 52-week highs this past week.
However, even in the economically sensitive and vulnerable consumer discretionary sector, a few names rose to the challenge. Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE), McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), and Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR) -- three stocks that need folks feeling good enough about their finances to keep buying their products -- managed to notch fresh highs last week. Let's take a closer look.
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1. Coca-Cola Consolidated
It's important to point out that this is not Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) itself. The global beverage giant didn't hit a new high last week, but Coca-Cola stock is trading just 6% below its all-time high set on the final trading day of last month.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is Coca-Cola's largest stateside bottler, helping distribute sugary sodas and other beverages in the pop star's wide product portfolio across 14 states, serving 60 million consumers. It's not the high-margin juggernaut it's repping, but pull up the stock chart. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is beating the market with a 51% surge over the past year. You're lucky if you've held longer, as Coca-Cola Consolidated has more than tripled over the past three years. It's nearly a seven-bagger over the past five years.
This isn't a story of torrid growth, but the business is steady. It has delivered 16 consecutive years of positive revenue growth, but to be fair, those top-line increases haven't topped 12% in any of the past eight years.
Coca-Cola Consolidated has been doing this for a long time. The CEO is the great-grandson of the company's founder, who started it all 123 years ago. It's not a household name as the middleman for the higher-margin Coca-Cola, but this is a low-beta stock with a track record of big gains over the past few years. You have to like its odds to be more sparkling than flat.
2. McDonald's
The country's largest restaurant operator by market value had an interesting week. On the positive side, on Tuesday it introduced the Big Arch on Tuesday, the fast-food behemoth's limited-time offering in the "better burger" category. On the negative front, its CEO went viral for the wrong reason. A video of Chris Kempczinski performing a taste test of the new burger last month began to gain traction for its awkwardness.
CEOs of other eateries began posting their own videos, mocking if not celebrating the taste-test delivery. McDonald's will be fine, even if the Big Arch fared about as well as the failed Arch Deluxe. And momentum is on its side. In a year in which many restaurant concepts struggled, McDonald's closed out 2025 with strong quarterly comps.
It has more than 45,000 locations worldwide, and with franchisees operating roughly 95% of those restaurants, McDonald's collects high-margin revenue. It generated a record net margin of 27% in 2025. When Mickey D's boosts its dividend later this year, and it should, it will stretch its streak of annual increases to 50 years. When it does, McDonald's will join a rare group of companies investors call Dividend Kings.
Its CEO's taste-test may have given viewers a chuckle, but these days it's McDonald's itself that's laughing all the way to the bank.
3. Restaurant Brands International
One of the videos lampooning McDonald's Kempczinski was posted by the president of Burger King for the U.S. and Canada, Tom Curtis. Burger King is one of the chains owned by Restaurant Brands International, along with Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs.
Restaurant Brands' $26 billion market cap is no match for McDonald's at $223 billion. It also generates a third of Mickey D's revenue and a third of its net profit margin. But its 3.5% dividend yield is the highest among the three stocks on this list that hit fresh highs last week, and its 12% revenue growth in 2025 also takes the crown.
You can thrive in today's investing climate if you're selling gasoline, munitions, or burgers with something to wash them down with, apparently. Don't assume that this is a bad time for all consumer-facing businesses.
Should you buy stock in Coca-Cola Consolidated right now?
Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola Consolidated, 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 Coca-Cola Consolidated 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 $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% 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 9, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Restaurant Brands International. 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.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

3 Surprising Stocks That Hit Fresh Highs Last Week

For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – March 9, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Starbucks Corp. SBUX, McDonald's Corp. MCD and Dutch Bros Inc. BROS.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Starbucks' Traffic Trends Improve: Is the Recovery Taking Shape?
Starbucks Corp. reported a notable improvement in customer traffic during first-quarter fiscal 2026, signaling a potential turning point after several quarters of soft store visits.
Global comparable-store sales increased 4% year over year, supported primarily by higher transactions rather than pricing. In the United States — Starbucks’ largest market — comparable sales also rose 4%, driven by a 3% increase in transactions and a modest 1% rise in average ticket. Importantly, the quarter marked the first U.S. transaction growth in eight quarters, highlighting improving customer engagement following a prolonged traffic slowdown.
The company credited the improvement to operational initiatives tied to its “Back to Starbucks” strategy, which focuses on enhancing the in-store experience, improving service speed and strengthening execution at the store level. A central component of this strategy is the Green Apron Service model, designed to increase staffing efficiency and deliver faster service. Early stores adopting the Green Apron Service model are showing encouraging customer feedback and operational improvements.
Digital engagement also remained a critical driver of visits. Starbucks Rewards membership reached a record 35.5 million active members in the United States, reinforcing the loyalty ecosystem that accounts for a significant portion of transactions. Management noted that transactions from both rewards and non-rewards customers increased year over year, marking the first such improvement in several years.
International markets also supported the traffic rebound. The company’s international segment posted 5% comparable sales growth, driven by transaction gains across several regions. China — Starbucks’ second-largest market — delivered 7% comparable sales growth, benefiting from product innovation, marketing initiatives and steady demand in delivery channels.
While the company continues to navigate cost pressures and ongoing investments in store operations, the return of transaction growth suggests that Starbucks’ focus on service improvements and customer experience may be beginning to translate into measurable demand recovery.
How Starbucks’ Traffic Trends Compare with Peers
Customer traffic trends across the restaurant and beverage industry remain uneven, with companies relying on different levers to drive visits. Compared with peers, Starbucks is now beginning to show improving transaction momentum after a period of softer demand.
For example, McDonald's Corp. reported solid guest traffic performance in the fourth quarter of 2025. Global comparable sales increased 5.7%, supported by positive guest counts and higher average checks, with U.S. comparable sales rising 6.8%. Management attributed the strength to value-focused offerings, large-scale marketing campaigns and menu innovation, all of which helped drive steady customer visits despite a challenging consumer environment.
Meanwhile, Dutch Bros Inc., a fast-growing beverage chain, continues to deliver strong transaction-driven growth. The company reported 7.7% system same-shop sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, fueled by 5.4% transaction growth, reflecting strong demand for beverage innovation and increasing adoption of its Dutch Rewards loyalty program.
Against this backdrop, Starbucks’ return to positive transaction growth stands out because it follows eight consecutive quarters of declining U.S. transactions. While McDonald’s and Dutch Bros have maintained relatively steady traffic trends through value offerings, innovation and loyalty engagement, Starbucks’ recent improvement suggests its operational reset and service-focused initiatives may be starting to stabilize store visits.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Starbucks have declined 6.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 3.1%.
From a valuation standpoint, Starbucks trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.85, below the industry’s average of 3.76.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBUX’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year uptick of 8.5%. The EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
Starbucks stock currently has 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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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.