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Chipotle (CMG) Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates in Q4
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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. While the bottom line beat the consensus estimates for the ninth straight quarter, the top line came ahead of the same for the fifth consecutive quarter. Following the results, the company’s shares gained 1.5% in after-hour trading session on Feb 4.
The company’s adjusted earnings of $2.86 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.74. The bottom line also improved 66.3% from the year-ago quarter, driven by increased revenues and strong operating margins.
Chipotle’s increased focus on augmenting customer experience by introducing food-safety programs, various sales-building initiatives and greater digital innovation resulted in revenue growth in the fourth quarter.
Revenues & Comparable Restaurant Sales
Quarterly revenues of $1.4 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 2.7% and improved 17.6% year over year. This upside can primarily be attributed to improvement in comps and restaurant openings. In the quarter under review, Chipotle opened 80 restaurants and closed three, taking the total restaurant count to 2,622.
Comps in the fourth quarter rose 13.4%, driven by a rise of 8% in comparable restaurant transactions and an increase of 5.4% in average check.
Costs, Operating Highlights & Net Income
Food, beverage and packaging costs, as a percentage of revenues, decreased 10 basis points (bps) to 33.1% on the back of menu price increases and favorable avocado pricing, partially offset by higher costs of ingredients.
Restaurant-level operating margin was 19.2%, up 220 bps from 17% in the year-ago quarter. This upside was primarily driven by comps growth, partially negated by wage inflation, increased food costs, and marketing and delivery expenses.
Net income in the reported quarter amounted to $72.4 million, up from $32 million in the prior-year quarter.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cash and cash equivalents as of Dec 31, 2019, were $480.6 million compared with $250 million as of Dec 31, 2018.
Inventory totaled $26.1 million as of Dec 31, 2019, down from $21.6 million as of Dec 31, 2018. Goodwill, as a percentage of total assets, was 0.4% at the end of the fourth quarter compared with 1% at the end of 2018.
2020 Outlook
For 2020, management expects comps to grow in a mid-single digit. The company estimates effective tax rate between 26% and 29%. It expects to inaugurate 150-165 restaurants in 2020.
Domino's Pizza, Dunkin' Brands and Brinker International have impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 13.7%,10.9% and 7.7%, respectively.
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A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
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Chipotle (CMG) Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates in Q4
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. While the bottom line beat the consensus estimates for the ninth straight quarter, the top line came ahead of the same for the fifth consecutive quarter. Following the results, the company’s shares gained 1.5% in after-hour trading session on Feb 4.
The company’s adjusted earnings of $2.86 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.74. The bottom line also improved 66.3% from the year-ago quarter, driven by increased revenues and strong operating margins.
Chipotle’s increased focus on augmenting customer experience by introducing food-safety programs, various sales-building initiatives and greater digital innovation resulted in revenue growth in the fourth quarter.
Revenues & Comparable Restaurant Sales
Quarterly revenues of $1.4 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 2.7% and improved 17.6% year over year. This upside can primarily be attributed to improvement in comps and restaurant openings. In the quarter under review, Chipotle opened 80 restaurants and closed three, taking the total restaurant count to 2,622.
Comps in the fourth quarter rose 13.4%, driven by a rise of 8% in comparable restaurant transactions and an increase of 5.4% in average check.
Costs, Operating Highlights & Net Income
Food, beverage and packaging costs, as a percentage of revenues, decreased 10 basis points (bps) to 33.1% on the back of menu price increases and favorable avocado pricing, partially offset by higher costs of ingredients.
Restaurant-level operating margin was 19.2%, up 220 bps from 17% in the year-ago quarter. This upside was primarily driven by comps growth, partially negated by wage inflation, increased food costs, and marketing and delivery expenses.
Net income in the reported quarter amounted to $72.4 million, up from $32 million in the prior-year quarter.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Quote
Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents as of Dec 31, 2019, were $480.6 million compared with $250 million as of Dec 31, 2018.
Inventory totaled $26.1 million as of Dec 31, 2019, down from $21.6 million as of Dec 31, 2018. Goodwill, as a percentage of total assets, was 0.4% at the end of the fourth quarter compared with 1% at the end of 2018.
2020 Outlook
For 2020, management expects comps to grow in a mid-single digit. The company estimates effective tax rate between 26% and 29%. It expects to inaugurate 150-165 restaurants in 2020.
Chipotle carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other Key Picks
Some other top-ranked stocks in the same space include Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ - Free Report) , Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. and Brinker International, Inc. (EAT - Free Report) . All these stocks have the same rank as Chipotle. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Domino's Pizza, Dunkin' Brands and Brinker International have impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 13.7%,10.9% and 7.7%, respectively.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>