Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts give Chipotle an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from 36 brokerages (24 buy, 11 hold, 1 sell) with an average 1‑year price target of $47.13.
• Institutional ownership is very high at 91.30%, with major investors such as Capital World Investors, Vanguard, Norges Bank and Clearbridge substantially increasing their positions recently.
• Chipotle reported a slight quarterly beat (EPS $0.25 vs. $0.24; revenue $2.98B vs. $2.96B), revenue rose 4.9% year‑over‑year, and the stock trades at a P/E of 30.06 within a 12‑month range of $29.75–$58.42.

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the thirty-six brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and twenty-four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $47.1290.

CMG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 7th. Evercore reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $45.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $37.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Friday, March 20th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 122.7% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 87,844,788 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $3,442,645,000 after buying an additional 48,398,628 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the fourth quarter worth about $711,837,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 14.8% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 144,588,220 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $5,349,764,000 after buying an additional 18,660,882 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 42.4% during the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 38,497,927 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $1,509,043,000 after buying an additional 11,471,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 206.4% during the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 14,062,158 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $520,300,000 after buying an additional 9,473,120 shares in the last quarter. 91.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of CMG opened at $34.27 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $44.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.06. The company's 50-day moving average price is $35.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $36.57. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12-month low of $29.75 and a 12-month high of $58.42.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.96 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.88% and a return on equity of 47.99%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.25 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

More Chipotle Mexican Grill News

Here are the key news stories impacting Chipotle Mexican Grill this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management is pushing international growth—Chipotle plans a larger UK footprint and new London openings, signaling expansion-driven revenue opportunity overseas. Chipotle plots further UK expansion as new London venue set to open
• Positive Sentiment: Analysis highlighting European expansion and valuation ahead of Q1 2026 keeps the stock in focus for growth investors expecting upside if expansion and margin trends meet targets. A Look At Chipotle Mexican Grill’s (CMG) Valuation As European Expansion Plans And Q1 2026 Earnings Approach
• Positive Sentiment: Broader market tailwinds (a brief rally tied to an Iran ceasefire reprieve) pushed restaurant names higher intraday, providing near-term momentum to CMG. Chipotle and Yum China Shares Skyrocket, What You Need To Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple recent write-ups compare Chipotle to Yum China (YUMC) on valuation, keeping valuation/relative-risk debate active among investors but not delivering a clear catalyst. YUMC or CMG: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks and other outlets flag CMG as a trending/closely watched stock and review whether it’s a buy now—these pieces drive attention but are opinion/flow-driven rather than definitive fundamentals. Is Trending Stock Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) a Buy Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Pre-earnings coverage on expectations for Q1 2026 highlights potential upside or downside depending on same-store sales, traffic trends and margin trajectory—this is the next clear fundamental catalyst. Chipotle Mexican Grill's Q1 2026 Earnings: What to Expect
• Negative Sentiment: Unusual options activity: investors bought ~70,816 put options (about 43% above the average daily put volume), indicating increased bearish bets or hedging that could pressure the stock if downside conviction grows or volatility spikes.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant company known for its Mexican-inspired menu of burritos, bowls, tacos and salads. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the chain emphasizes fresh, customizable meals made from a limited menu of core ingredients and a focus on ingredient quality. Chipotle operates primarily company-owned restaurants and offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery through its own digital platforms and third-party partners.

The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and traces its roots to Denver, Colorado.

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