greeksoup/ stock research

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 7.4% on new openings: Total revenue rose 7.4% to $3.1 billion. The company attributed the increase to new restaurant openings, with comparable restaurant sales adding a smaller contribution. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 12.9%: Operating margin was 12.9% against 16.7% a year earlier. Income from operations was $397.1 million, compared with $479.3 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined: Net income was $302.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, against $386.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Transactions rose, average check fell: Comparable restaurant sales rose 0.5% as transactions grew 0.6%, partly offset by a 0.1% decline in average check. Full-year 2025 comparable sales had fallen 1.7%. Source
  • Food costs rose to 29.6%: Food, beverage and packaging costs were 29.6% of total revenue against 29.2%. Lower dairy and avocado costs and menu price increases partly offset the rise. Source
  • Labor rose to 26.1% of revenue: Labor was 26.1% of total revenue against 25.0%. It included a 40 basis point legal cost; excluding that, adjusted labor was 25.7%. Source
  • Adjusted restaurant margin fell to 23.7%: Adjusted restaurant level operating margin was 23.7% against 26.2%. Unadjusted restaurant level operating margin was 23.3%. Source
  • Buybacks of $700.8 million: The company repurchased $700.8 million of stock at an average price of $36.14 per share during the quarter. Source

“Our first quarter exceeded expectations as we advanced our Recipe for Growth strategy, delivering tangible progress across operations, digital, menu innovation, people, and development”

Scott Boatwright, Chief Executive Officer, Chipotle

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable restaurant sales Sourcefull year 2026about flatKept
New restaurant openings Sourcefull year 2026350 to 370Kept
Chipotlane share of company-owned restaurants Sourcefull year 2026around 80%Kept
Underlying effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202624% to 26% before discrete itemsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company said it welcomed a new Chief Brand Officer and a new Chief Digital Officer. Source
  • New: A $2.1 million Recipe for Growth restructuring cost appears as a non-GAAP adjustment this quarter; the prior release showed no such item. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 7.4% on new openings: Total revenue rose 7.4% to $3.1 billion. The company attributed the increase to new restaurant openings, with comparable restaurant sales adding a smaller contribution. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 12.9%: Operating margin was 12.9% against 16.7% a year earlier. Income from operations was $397.1 million, compared with $479.3 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined: Net income was $302.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, against $386.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source

Restaurant openings and footprint

  • 49 company restaurants opened, 42 Chipotlanes: The company opened 49 company-owned restaurants in the quarter, 42 of them with a Chipotlane. No partner-operated restaurants opened in the period. Source
  • Chipotlanes said to perform well: Management said Chipotlanes continue to perform well, enhancing guest access and convenience and lifting new restaurant sales, margins and returns. Source
  • Restaurants span North America and Europe: Restaurants operate in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Middle East. The company describes itself as owning and operating its North American and European restaurants. Source

“positioning Chipotle for sustained, long-term growth as we advance on our path to becoming a global iconic brand.”

Scott Boatwright, Chief Executive Officer, Chipotle

Traffic, check and digital demand

  • Transactions rose, average check fell: Comparable restaurant sales rose 0.5% as transactions grew 0.6%, partly offset by a 0.1% decline in average check. Full-year 2025 comparable sales had fallen 1.7%. Source
  • Digital share rose to 38.6%: Digital sales were 38.6% of total food and beverage revenue, compared with 37.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 36.7% for full year 2025. Source
  • Average restaurant sales eased: Average restaurant sales were $3,094 thousand on a trailing 12-month basis, down from $3,186 thousand a year earlier and from $3,104 thousand in the fourth quarter. Source

Costs and restaurant margins

  • Food costs rose to 29.6%: Food, beverage and packaging costs were 29.6% of total revenue against 29.2%. Lower dairy and avocado costs and menu price increases partly offset the rise. Source
  • Labor rose to 26.1% of revenue: Labor was 26.1% of total revenue against 25.0%. It included a 40 basis point legal cost; excluding that, adjusted labor was 25.7%. Source
  • Other operating costs and occupancy rose: Other operating costs were 15.6% of total revenue against 14.4%. Occupancy was 5.5% against 5.2%. Source
  • Adjusted restaurant margin fell to 23.7%: Adjusted restaurant level operating margin was 23.7% against 26.2%. Unadjusted restaurant level operating margin was 23.3%. Source

G&A, tax and adjusted earnings

  • G&A rose on All Managers Conference: G&A was $203.7 million against $172.8 million. The company cited the biennial All Managers Conference and performance bonuses and wages, partly offset by lower stock-based compensation. Adjusted G&A was $197.9 million. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 25.4%: The effective income tax rate was 25.4%, against 22.9%. Management cited smaller tax benefits from option exercises and equity vesting, fewer tax credits and other discrete items. The adjusted rate was 25.3%. Source
  • Adjusted net income $316.2 million: Adjusted net income was $316.2 million, or $0.24 per adjusted diluted share, against $396.8 million and $0.29. Non-GAAP adjustments totaled $17.6 million before tax. Source

Cash flow and share repurchases

  • Operating cash flow rose to $651.4 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $651.4 million, against $557.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks of $700.8 million: The company repurchased $700.8 million of stock at an average price of $36.14 per share during the quarter. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $180.3 million: Purchases of leasehold improvements, property and equipment were $180.3 million, against $144.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • $1.0 billion authorization remains: $1.0 billion remained under Board repurchase authorizations at March 31, 2026, down from $1.7 billion at year-end 2025. Authorizations may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. Source
  • Cash and investments declined: Cash and cash equivalents fell to $246.6 million from $350.5 million at year-end. Current and long-term investments totaled $721.2 million, against $895.7 million. Source

Strategy, leadership and people

  • Recipe for Growth progress cited: Management said the quarter showed tangible progress across operations, digital, menu innovation, people and development under the Recipe for Growth strategy. Source
  • Retention awards tied to CEO departure: Stock-based compensation of $3.0 million relates to retention awards for certain executives, made in connection with the former CEO's departure. Source
  • Employee base grew past 135,000: The company reports over 135,000 employees, against over 130,000 at the end of 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • Form 10-Q filing in April 2026: More information will be in the Form 10-Q, which the company said will be filed with the SEC in April 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable restaurant sales Source0.5% increase
Traffic (transactions) Sourcetransactions up 0.6%
Average check Source0.1% decrease
Inventory Source$44,685 thousand (Dec. 31, 2025: $49,508 thousand)
Store openings and closings Source49 opened, 1 permanent closure, no relocations
E-commerce (digital) share Source38.6% of food and beverage revenue

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management named wage inflation, lower average restaurant sales volumes and higher benefits expense, including performance-based bonuses, as labor cost pressures. Source
  • External: Management cited inflation in beef and freight, and higher produce usage, as food cost pressure. Source
  • Regulatory: The company recorded an estimated liability in labor for legal matters it expects to exceed typical costs for legal proceedings. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.