Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Chipotle (CMG) Reports Q1 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

Read MoreHide Full Article

For the quarter ended March 2026, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.09 billion, up 7.4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.24, compared to $0.29 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.41% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.08 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.24, the EPS surprise was -1.11%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Chipotle performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Company-operated restaurants at end of period: 4,090 versus the nine-analyst average estimate of 4,102.
  • Comparable restaurant sales increase: 0.5% compared to the -0.6% average estimate based on nine analysts.
  • Company-operated restaurants opened: 49 versus 64 estimated by five analysts on average.
  • Company-operated restaurants at beginning of period: 4,042 compared to the 4,042 average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Average restaurant sales - TTM: $3.09 million versus $3.06 million estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Revenue- Food and beverage: $3.07 billion versus $3.06 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.4% change.
  • Revenue- Delivery service: $15.51 million compared to the $15.08 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.6% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Chipotle here>>>

Shares of Chipotle have returned +2.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)

Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.

Click Here, It's Really Free

Published in