Chipotle Mexican Grill
Q4 2025 Earnings
Market Reaction
S&P 500 over the same 30 days: −1.15%.
Did CMG Beat Earnings? Q4 2025 Results
Chipotle Mexican Grill closed out 2025 on a note of cautious resilience, posting Q4 earnings per share of $0.25 against a consensus estimate of $0.24, a 4.73% beat, while revenue of $2.98 billion edged past expectations by 0.62% and grew 4.9% year over year. The story behind the numbers, however, carried more complexity: comparable restaurant sales fell 2.5%, dragged by a 3.2% decline in transactions, making 2025 the company's first full year of negative comp sales, a development that has drawn fresh scrutiny over valuation. New restaurant openings, a record 334 during the year bringing the total to 4,042 company-owned locations, were the primary engine keeping revenue growth positive. Restaurant-level operating margin contracted to 23.4% from 24.8%, reflecting wage inflation and softer volumes. <a href="https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/03/chipotle-live-complete-coverage-of-cmgs-q4-earnings/">Full coverage of the results</a> details CEO Scott Boatwright's five-pillar "Recipe for Growth" strategy, as management guided 2026 comparable sales to approximately flat with 350 to 370 new restaurant openings planned.
- New restaurant openings drove revenue growth of 4.9% in Q4 and 5.4% for full year
- Gift card breakage revenue of $27.0 million in Q4, a $19.1 million increase year over year
- Menu price increases partially offset food cost inflation
- Lower general and administrative expenses due to reduced stock-based compensation, performance bonuses and legal reserves
- Digital sales represented 37.2% of Q4 food and beverage revenue
“Through our proven business model, prudent investments in operational excellence and the support of a strong balance sheet, 2025 was a year of progress and resilience for Chipotle. Against a dynamic consumer backdrop, we opened a record number of restaurants globally and grew Q4 and full year revenue.”
Chipotle Mexican Grill CEO, on the earnings call
Forward Guidance & Outlook
For 2026, management anticipates full year comparable restaurant sales to be approximately flat. The company expects 350 to 370 new restaurant openings, including 10 to 15 international partner-operated restaurants, with around 80% of company-owned restaurants including a Chipotlane. The estimated underlying effective full year tax rate is expected to be between 24% and 26% before discrete items.
CMG YoY Financials
CMG Revenue by Segment
Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.