Chipotle Mexican GrillCMGTOP PICKApr 15, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 05, 2026. Market Open.
More of a value play. Long track record of successfully making adjustments. Well run, lots of brand loyalty. Not the perfect environment for this type of business, but that's being reflected in the stock price (down 25-30%).
Earnings yesterday were not amazing. Same-store sales declined, yet the stock didn't really get punished. A positive, as that tells him the turnaround story is being believed. It'll take some time, but there is upside if it can execute on the turnaround. Opening new stores is a capital expenditure, but management has proven that those moves can increase ROI. No dividend.
Positioning appeals to a broad demographic, especially younger consumers who are more focused on quality and sustainability. Same-store sales expected to grow 6-7% this year. Brand still has pricing power. Store expansion is aggressive (300 stores this year) but disciplined. Efficiency is key to the story.
Not cheap, but justified. Track record of execution, clean balance sheet. Reports today after the bell, and she expects a beat. No dividend.
An opportunity to pick up a pretty good name that has done a sideways move for some time. Millennials (generation Y) are taking to the name. The company is able to price what they want because consumers believe they are getting good value for their money and the quality is very high. Store count is around 1600 in the US, which he thinks is a very low concentration, considering what they have ahead of them. This doesn’t even consider what they are doing internationally.