We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Chipotle (CMG - Free Report) is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) that is a popular Mexican restaurant chain. The company has seen success focusing on burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and salads. The growth and earnings momentum has created one of the hottest stocks over the last ten years.
The company is valued around $23 Billion and had a forward PE of 100. The valuation is troubling considering most of their restaurants are closed to in-dining due to COVID-19. With earnings coming on April 21, investors should consider selling or even shorting before the print.
COVID-19 Effect
I love Chipotle like most people, but a big part of their business has disappeared after the lockdowns prevented in restaurant dining. According to SunTrust, at 47.6% of Chipotles stores are located in counties with at least 1000 cases of COVID. Yes, Chipotle is having success with delivery and pick up. So the question is if there is enough success in this current environment to make up for lost sales.
Stock Bounces Back
The March sell off was brutal, with plenty of stocks losing half their value in a matter of weeks. Chipotle was not spared, with the stock falling from $940 to $415 in four weeks. The stock bounced quickly off the lows along with the market, but has come all the way back to the 200-day moving average above $800. This is a technical level that should find resistance after a 100% up move from lows. Adding in the potential for poor earnings result won’t help the stock price.
Valuation Earnings and Estimates
Chipotle has a premium valuation over other restaurant chains. Zacks gives a Style Score of “F” in Value, which could be big issue with earnings this week, especially when evaluating the near-term outlook.
While Chipotle is one of the more stable restaurant chains, the expectations for the quarter and immediate future all falling fast. Over the last month, estimates for the current quarter have dropped 34%, from $3.78 to $2.46. For the current year, we have seen a 56% drop, with estimates going from $18.48 to $8.14. Even looking to 2021, we see a 17% drop, which indicates no quick recovery as the stock has showed.
Earnings on 4/21/20
The thesis for the bulls involves a quick bounce back once the lockdowns are lifted. While the stock has already priced in such a scenario, the earnings story will have to be pretty good to avoid a selloff. Investors should expect a miss on both the top on bottom lines this week. The near-term outlook should be pretty bleak, which will make the stocks chances of going higher from here fairly low.
In Summary
Until there is some clarity on the impact of COVID and the lockdowns, restaurant stocks should be avoided. Given that CMG has bounced so much, investors looking to play the earnings should look to sell current holdings, hedge or even short.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
Image: Bigstock
Bear of the Day: Chipotle (CMG)
Chipotle (CMG - Free Report) is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) that is a popular Mexican restaurant chain. The company has seen success focusing on burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and salads. The growth and earnings momentum has created one of the hottest stocks over the last ten years.
The company is valued around $23 Billion and had a forward PE of 100. The valuation is troubling considering most of their restaurants are closed to in-dining due to COVID-19. With earnings coming on April 21, investors should consider selling or even shorting before the print.
COVID-19 Effect
I love Chipotle like most people, but a big part of their business has disappeared after the lockdowns prevented in restaurant dining. According to SunTrust, at 47.6% of Chipotles stores are located in counties with at least 1000 cases of COVID. Yes, Chipotle is having success with delivery and pick up. So the question is if there is enough success in this current environment to make up for lost sales.
Stock Bounces Back
The March sell off was brutal, with plenty of stocks losing half their value in a matter of weeks. Chipotle was not spared, with the stock falling from $940 to $415 in four weeks. The stock bounced quickly off the lows along with the market, but has come all the way back to the 200-day moving average above $800. This is a technical level that should find resistance after a 100% up move from lows. Adding in the potential for poor earnings result won’t help the stock price.
Valuation Earnings and Estimates
Chipotle has a premium valuation over other restaurant chains. Zacks gives a Style Score of “F” in Value, which could be big issue with earnings this week, especially when evaluating the near-term outlook.
While Chipotle is one of the more stable restaurant chains, the expectations for the quarter and immediate future all falling fast. Over the last month, estimates for the current quarter have dropped 34%, from $3.78 to $2.46. For the current year, we have seen a 56% drop, with estimates going from $18.48 to $8.14. Even looking to 2021, we see a 17% drop, which indicates no quick recovery as the stock has showed.
Earnings on 4/21/20
The thesis for the bulls involves a quick bounce back once the lockdowns are lifted. While the stock has already priced in such a scenario, the earnings story will have to be pretty good to avoid a selloff. Investors should expect a miss on both the top on bottom lines this week. The near-term outlook should be pretty bleak, which will make the stocks chances of going higher from here fairly low.
In Summary
Until there is some clarity on the impact of COVID and the lockdowns, restaurant stocks should be avoided. Given that CMG has bounced so much, investors looking to play the earnings should look to sell current holdings, hedge or even short.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>