Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. $CMG Stock Acquired by NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC

Key Points

• NorthCrest Asset Management increased its Chipotle stake by 597.2% in the third quarter, owning 150,957 shares valued at approximately $4.8 million. Institutional investors collectively hold 91.3% of CMG’s outstanding stock.
• Chipotle reported quarterly revenue of $3.35 billion, up 9.3% year over year, and earnings of $0.33 per share, slightly exceeding analyst expectations.
• CMG opened at $30.41, well below its 52-week high of $42.81, while analysts maintained a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $43.91; Starbucks’ denial of acquisition plans removed a potential takeover catalyst.

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG - Free Report) by 597.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 150,957 shares of the restaurant operator's stock after purchasing an additional 129,306 shares during the quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC's holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $4,823,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,417,475,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 19.8% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 16,478,248 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $527,469,000 after buying an additional 2,727,762 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 23.3% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 11,980,192 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $383,486,000 after buying an additional 2,266,087 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the second quarter worth approximately $383,483,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 30.6% during the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 10,845,627 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $368,751,000 after acquiring an additional 2,541,795 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.30% of the company's stock.

Key Chipotle Mexican Grill News

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

• Positive Sentiment: European expansion could accelerate growth. Strong comparable sales and improving restaurant economics in Europe may support faster unit expansion, revenue growth, and better returns on investment in 2027 and beyond. Chipotle's European Expansion: Can Strong Comps Fuel 2027 Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to cite sales growth and cash generation. Chipotle was included among stocks viewed favorably as third-quarter earnings season begins, based on strong sales growth, solid cash flow, and valuation metrics. Its digital strategy and planned capital investments of approximately $4 billion could also support longer-term growth, although margins may face pressure. 3 Sales Growth Stocks to Buy as Q3 Earnings Get Underway
• Neutral Sentiment: Shares are testing a historically important support level. The stock has repeatedly rebounded from around $30 since 2021, raising the possibility of a technical bounce. However, its ability to hold that level remains uncertain after significant underperformance versus the broader market. Can Chipotle Stock Bounce Off The Current Support?
• Neutral Sentiment: A large promotional campaign is raising brand visibility. Chipotle launched a limited-edition, oversized “Big Ass Chipotle Bag” to promote its Family Meals offering. The stunt may generate social-media attention but is unlikely to materially affect financial results. Chipotle Goes Big for Family Meals With the Big Ass Chipotle Bag
• Negative Sentiment: Starbucks denied plans to acquire Chipotle. The denial eliminated a takeover premium that had supported CMG shares amid acquisition rumors. Investors must now value Chipotle on its standalone growth prospects rather than the possibility of a strategic buyout, contributing to renewed selling pressure. Starbucks Says It Is Not Buying Chipotle After Takeover Speculation

Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Matthew R. Bush sold 2,675 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.75, for a total value of $95,631.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 21,415 shares of the company's stock, valued at $765,586.25. This represents a 11.10% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.45% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $30.41 on Wednesday. The company's 50 day moving average price is $34.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.96. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $28.03 and a fifty-two week high of $42.81.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.01. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.43% and a return on equity of 54.65%. The company had revenue of $3.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.33 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on CMG shares. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $42.00 to $39.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings raised Chipotle Mexican Grill from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating and issued a $44.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $36.00 price target (up from $35.00) on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $42.50 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $43.91.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc is a fast-casual restaurant company that specializes in Mexican-inspired food made with a limited number of core ingredients. Its menu includes burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, salads and sides, with options such as chicken, steak, barbacoa, carnitas, sofritas and vegetables. The company also offers beverages, including soft drinks and other drinks, and allows customers to customize meals.

Founded by Steve Ells in 1993, Chipotle operates company-owned restaurants under the Chipotle Mexican Grill brand.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.