Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG): New Analyst Report from Zacks Equity Research - Zacks Equity Research Report

Summary:
We have reverted to a Neutral recommendation on Chipotle’s from Outperform reflecting the company’s muted 2015 outlook. Although the company’s third-quarter adjusted earnings as well as revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and also increased year over year, the muted comps outlook for 2015 raised concerns. We believe elevated costs of beef, avocados and dairy might force the company to hike prices for a second consecutive time in two years, which could hurt traffic trends at its outlets. Nevertheless, the company is expected to maintain its strong market position through innovative menu launches, serving antibiotic-free meats as well as organic menu items and increased media exposure.

Overview:

Founded in 1993 and based in Denver, CO, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) operates quick-casual and fresh Mexican food restaurant chains in 35 states throughout the United States, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada and the U.K. Chipotle offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads. Chipotle restaurants feature free-range, hormone-free pork, natural chicken and other meat products cooked through traditional methods and served in a unique atmosphere. Chipotle classifies its restaurants as end-caps (at the end of a line of retail chains), in-lines (in a line of retail chains), free-standing units and others.

As of Sep 30, 2014, the company operated 1,724 restaurants throughout the United States. The company also has seven restaurants in Canada, six in England, three in France and one in Germany. Further, the company operates eight ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants, serving fast-casual, Asian inspired cuisine. Chipotle also holds an equity stake in a consolidated entity that owns and operates a Pizzeria Locale unit, a fast casual pizza concept.

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