CHIPOTLE ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2025 RESULTS
Rhea-AI Summary
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) reported mixed first quarter 2025 results with total revenue increasing 6.4% to $2.9 billion, while comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.4%. The company's operating margin improved to 16.7% from 16.3%, though restaurant level operating margin declined to 26.2% from 27.5%.
The quarter saw diluted earnings per share rise 7.7% to $0.28, while adjusted EPS grew 7.4% to $0.29. Chipotle expanded its footprint by opening 57 company-owned restaurants, including 48 with Chipotlanes, and two international licensed locations. Digital sales represented 35.4% of total revenue.
The company faced headwinds from weather and reduced consumer spending, with transactions down 2.3%, partially offset by a 1.9% increase in average check. Cost pressures included inflation in avocados, dairy, and chicken prices, along with wage inflation in California. During Q1, Chipotle repurchased $553.7 million of stock at an average price of $54.15 per share.
Positive
- Operating margin improved to 16.7% from 16.3%
- Diluted EPS increased 7.7% to $0.28
- Revenue grew 6.4% to $2.9 billion
- Average check increased by 1.9%
- Board approved additional $400 million for share repurchases
Negative
- Comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.4%
- Restaurant level operating margin declined to 26.2% from 27.5%
- Transaction volume decreased 2.3%
- Food costs increased to 29.2% from 28.8% due to inflation
- Labor costs rose to 25.0% from 24.4% due to wage inflation
Insights
Chipotle shows resilience with revenue growth and expansion despite consumer weakness, but faces declining transactions and margin pressure.
Chipotle delivered mixed Q1 2025 results that reflect both strengths and emerging challenges. While total revenue increased
The divergence between revenue growth and transaction declines highlights a potential softening in consumer demand, which CEO Scott Boatwright acknowledged was partly due to "a slowdown in consumer spending" alongside weather impacts. This transaction weakness represents a key concern for the brand's momentum, though management expressed confidence in returning to positive transaction comps by H2 2025.
Profitability metrics present a similarly mixed picture. Operating margin improved slightly to
Despite these headwinds, Chipotle maintained its aggressive expansion strategy, opening 57 new company-owned restaurants in Q1, with 48 featuring Chipotlanes. Digital sales remained robust at
Diluted EPS increased
CHIPOTLE HIGHLIGHTS BRAND STRENGTH AND INNOVATION IN FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
First quarter highlights, year over year:
- Total revenue increased
6.4% to$2.9 billion - Comparable restaurant sales decreased
0.4% - Operating margin was
16.7% , an increase from16.3% - Restaurant level operating margin1 was
26.2% , a decrease from27.5% - Diluted earnings per share was
, a$0.28 7.7% increase from 2$0.26 - Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 was
, a$0.29 7.4% increase from 2$0.27 - Opened 57 company-owned restaurants with 48 locations including a Chipotlane, and two international licensed restaurants
"While our first quarter results were impacted by several headwinds including weather and a slowdown in consumer spending, our teams continue to make significant progress improving the execution in our restaurants, innovating our back of house, and building Chipotle into a global iconic brand," said Scott Boatwright, Chief Executive Officer, Chipotle. "I am confident that we have a strong plan to return to positive transaction comps by the second half of the year, and during these uncertain times, we will continue to invest in the things that make Chipotle a special brand – our people, culinary, value proposition, innovation and growth."
Results for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Total revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was
During the first quarter we opened 57 company-owned restaurants, of which 48 included a Chipotlane, and two international licensed restaurants. Chipotlanes continue to perform well and are helping enhance guest access and convenience, as well as increase new restaurant sales, margins, and returns.
Food, beverage and packaging costs in the first quarter of 2025 were
Labor costs in the first quarter of 2025 were
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were
The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was
Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was
During the first quarter of 2025 we repurchased
More information will be available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed with the SEC by the end of April 2025.
Outlook
For 2025, management is anticipating the following:
- Full year comparable restaurant sales growth in the low single digit range
- 315 to 345 new company-owned restaurant openings with over
80% having a Chipotlane - An estimated underlying effective full year tax rate between
25% and27% before discrete items
Definitions
The following definitions apply to these terms as used throughout this release:
- Comparable restaurant sales, or sales comps, and comparable restaurant transactions, represent the change in period-over-period total revenue or transactions for restaurants in operation for at least 13 full calendar months.
- Average restaurant sales refers to the average trailing 12-month food and beverage revenue for restaurants in operation for at least 12 full calendar months.
- Restaurant level operating margin represents total revenue less direct restaurant operating costs, expressed as a percent of total revenue.
- Digital sales represent food and beverage revenue for company-owned restaurants generated through the Chipotle website, Chipotle app or third-party delivery aggregators. Digital sales include revenue deferrals associated with Chipotle Rewards.
Conference Call Details
Chipotle will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 4:30 PM Eastern time to discuss first quarter financial results as well as provide a business update for the second quarter 2025.
The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-888-317-6003, or for international callers by dialing 1-412-317-6061, and use code: 9708556. The call will be webcast live from the company's website on the investor relations page at ir.chipotle.com/events. An archived webcast will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call.
About Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are nearly 3,800 restaurants as of March 31, 2025, in
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and in the April 23, 2025, conference call are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements under "Outlook" about our anticipated full year 2025 comparable restaurant sales growth, number of new restaurant openings in 2025, and estimated underlying effective 2025 full year tax rate, as well as statements about our goal to have 7,000 restaurants in the
1. | Restaurant level operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted net income, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, and non-GAAP effective income tax rate are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations to GAAP measures and further information are set forth in the table at the end of this press release. |
2. | Prior period results have been retroactively adjusted for the 50-for-1 stock split in June 2024. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) | |||||||
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2025 | 2024 | ||||||
Food and beverage revenue | $ 2,859,831 | 99.5 % | $ 2,684,447 | 99.4 % | |||
Delivery service revenue | 15,422 | 0.5 | 17,401 | 0.6 | |||
Total revenue | 2,875,253 | 100.0 | 2,701,848 | 100.0 | |||
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation | |||||||
Food, beverage and packaging | 838,403 | 29.2 | 779,076 | 28.8 | |||
Labor | 718,226 | 25.0 | 659,450 | 24.4 | |||
Occupancy | 149,841 | 5.2 | 135,699 | 5.0 | |||
Other operating costs | 415,161 | 14.4 | 385,773 | 14.3 | |||
General and administrative expenses | 172,783 | 6.0 | 204,625 | 7.6 | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 87,211 | 3.0 | 83,243 | 3.1 | |||
Pre-opening costs | 8,210 | 0.3 | 7,211 | 0.3 | |||
Impairment, closure costs, and asset disposals | 6,168 | 0.2 | 5,479 | 0.2 | |||
Total operating expenses | 2,396,003 | 83.3 | 2,260,556 | 83.7 | |||
Income from operations | 479,250 | 16.7 | 441,292 | 16.3 | |||
Interest and other income, net | 22,253 | 0.8 | 19,364 | 0.7 | |||
Income before income taxes | 501,503 | 17.4 | 460,656 | 17.0 | |||
Provision for income taxes | 114,904 | 4.0 | 101,369 | 3.8 | |||
Net income | $ 386,599 | 13.4 % | $ 359,287 | 13.3 % | |||
Earnings per share: | |||||||
Basic | $ 0.29 | $ 0.26 | |||||
Diluted | $ 0.28 | $ 0.26 | |||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||
Basic | 1,354,518 | 1,372,175 | |||||
Diluted | 1,360,719 | 1,381,162 | |||||
Prior period results have been retroactively adjusted for the 50-for-1 stock split in June 2024. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except per share data) | |||
March 31, | December 31, | ||
(unaudited) | |||
Assets | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 725,597 | $ 748,537 | |
Accounts receivable, net | 101,594 | 143,963 | |
Inventory | 41,387 | 48,942 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 103,945 | 97,538 | |
Income tax receivable | - | 67,229 | |
Investments | 689,125 | 674,378 | |
Total current assets | 1,661,648 | 1,780,587 | |
Leasehold improvements, property and equipment, net | 2,436,762 | 2,390,126 | |
Long-term investments | 701,056 | 868,025 | |
Restricted cash | 30,526 | 29,842 | |
Operating lease assets | 4,075,748 | 4,000,127 | |
Other assets | 116,415 | 113,728 | |
Goodwill | 21,939 | 21,939 | |
Total assets | $ 9,044,094 | $ 9,204,374 | |
Liabilities and shareholders' equity | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Accounts payable | $ 217,406 | $ 210,695 | |
Accrued payroll and benefits | 154,429 | 261,913 | |
Accrued liabilities | 185,307 | 179,747 | |
Unearned revenue | 203,744 | 238,577 | |
Current operating lease liabilities | 284,505 | 277,836 | |
Income tax payable | 46,147 | - | |
Total current liabilities | 1,091,538 | 1,168,768 | |
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 4,348,574 | 4,262,782 | |
Deferred income tax liabilities | 38,879 | 46,208 | |
Other liabilities | 74,231 | 71,070 | |
Total liabilities | 5,553,222 | 5,548,828 | |
Shareholders' equity: | |||
Preferred stock, | - | - | |
Common stock, | 13,498 | 13,586 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 2,117,803 | 2,078,010 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (9,847) | (10,282) | |
Retained earnings | 1,369,418 | 1,574,232 | |
Total shareholders' equity | 3,490,872 | 3,655,546 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 9,044,094 | $ 9,204,374 | |
Prior period results have been retroactively adjusted for the 50-for-1 stock split in June 2024. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) | |||
Three months ended | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Operating activities | |||
Net income | $ 386,599 | $ 359,287 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 87,211 | 83,243 | |
Deferred income tax provision | (7,329) | (4,890) | |
Impairment, closure costs, and asset disposals | 6,018 | 4,209 | |
Provision for credit losses | (1,294) | (412) | |
Stock-based compensation expense | 37,601 | 36,003 | |
Other | 914 | 835 | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||
Accounts receivable | 43,239 | 26,146 | |
Inventory | 7,535 | 1,331 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (9,748) | 16,291 | |
Operating lease assets | 72,540 | 64,797 | |
Other assets | 61 | 1,561 | |
Accounts payable | 13,208 | 12,588 | |
Accrued payroll and benefits | (107,013) | (85,289) | |
Accrued liabilities | (183) | 25,322 | |
Unearned revenue | (31,001) | (19,358) | |
Income tax payable/receivable | 113,377 | 97,960 | |
Operating lease liabilities | (55,662) | (51,537) | |
Other long-term liabilities | 1,002 | 1,147 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 557,075 | 569,234 | |
Investing activities | |||
Purchases of leasehold improvements, property and equipment | (144,810) | (132,703) | |
Purchases of investments | (4,000) | (366,798) | |
Maturities of investments | 154,889 | 198,462 | |
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities | 6,079 | (301,039) | |
Financing activities | |||
Repurchase of common stock | (553,796) | (27,005) | |
Tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards | (32,902) | (72,654) | |
Other financing activities | 1,524 | (415) | |
Net cash used in financing activities | (585,174) | (100,074) | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (236) | (752) | |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | (22,256) | 167,369 | |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period | 778,379 | 586,163 | |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $ 756,123 | $ 753,532 | |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information | |||
Income taxes paid | $ 8,754 | $ 7,859 | |
Purchases of leasehold improvements, property and equipment accrued in accounts | $ 76,389 | $ 64,207 | |
Repurchase of common stock accrued in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ 12,102 | $ 3,646 | |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) | ||||||||||
For the three months ended | ||||||||||
Mar. 31, | Dec. 31, | Sep. 30, | Jun. 30, | Mar. 31, | ||||||
Company-owned restaurants opened | 57 | 119 | 86 | 52 | 47 | |||||
Chipotle permanent closures | (2) | (2) | (1) | (1) | (3) | |||||
Chipotle relocations | - | (6) | - | - | (2) | |||||
Company-owned restaurants at end of period | 3,781 | 3,726 | 3,615 | 3,530 | 3,479 | |||||
Average restaurant sales | $ 3,186 | $ 3,213 | $ 3,184 | $ 3,146 | $ 3,082 | |||||
Comparable restaurant sales increase/(decrease) | (0.4 %) | 5.4 % | 6.0 % | 11.1 % | 7.0 % | |||||
For the three months ended | ||||||||||
Mar. 31, | Dec. 31, | Sep. 30, | Jun. 30, | Mar. 31, | ||||||
Licensed restaurants opened | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | |||||
Licensed restaurants at end of period | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | |||||
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Below are definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures in this release. The following tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted net income is net income excluding expenses related to certain legal proceedings and stock-based compensation retention grants. Adjusted general and administrative expense is general and administrative expense excluding expenses related to certain legal proceedings and stock-based compensation retention grants. The adjusted effective income tax rate is the effective income tax rate adjusted to reflect the after tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments. Restaurant level operating margin is equal to the revenues generated by our restaurants less their direct operating costs which consist of food, beverage and packaging, labor, occupancy and other operating costs. This performance measure primarily includes the costs that restaurant level managers can directly control and excludes other costs that are essential to conduct our business. Management uses restaurant level operating margin as a measure of restaurant performance. Management believes restaurant level operating margin is useful to investors in that it highlights trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. We present these non-GAAP measures in order to facilitate meaningful evaluation of our operating performance across periods. These adjustments are intended to provide greater transparency of underlying performance and to allow investors to evaluate our business on the same basis as our management, which uses these non-GAAP measures in evaluating the company's performance. Our adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted general and administrative expenses, adjusted effective income tax rate and restaurant level operating margin measures may not be comparable to other companies' adjusted measures. These adjustments are not necessarily indicative of what our actual financial performance would have been during the periods presented and should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to, our results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further details regarding these adjustments are included in the tables below.
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) | |||
Three months ended | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Net income | $ 386,599 | $ 359,287 | |
Non-GAAP adjustments: | |||
Legal proceedings(1) | - | 13,275 | |
Stock-based compensation retention grants(2) | 11,877 | - | |
Total non-GAAP adjustments | 11,877 | 13,275 | |
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments above(3) | (1,676) | (3,307) | |
After tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments | 10,201 | 9,968 | |
Adjusted net income | $ 396,800 | $ 369,255 | |
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding | 1,360,719 | 1,381,162 | |
Diluted earnings per share | $ 0.28 | $ 0.26 | |
Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $ 0.29 | $ 0.27 | |
(1) | Charges for estimated settlements for distinct legal matters that exceeded or are expected to exceed typical costs for these types of legal proceedings. |
(2) | Stock-based compensation expense for retention equity awards granted to key executives in connection with the CEO transition. |
(3) | Adjustments related to the tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments, which were determined based on the nature of the underlying non-GAAP adjustments and their relevant jurisdictional tax rates. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | |||
Adjusted General and Administrative Expenses (in thousands) (unaudited) | |||
Three months ended | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
General and administrative expenses | $ 172,783 | $ 204,625 | |
Non-GAAP adjustments: | |||
Legal proceedings(1) | - | (13,275) | |
Stock-based compensation retention grants(2) | (11,877) | - | |
Total non-GAAP adjustments | (11,877) | (13,275) | |
Adjusted general and administrative expenses | $ 160,906 | $ 191,350 | |
(1) | Charges for estimated settlements for distinct legal matters that exceeded or are expected to exceed typical costs for these types of legal proceedings. |
(2) | Stock-based compensation expense for retention equity awards granted to key executives in connection with the CEO transition. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | |||
Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate (unaudited) | |||
Three months ended | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Effective income tax rate | 22.9 % | 22.0 % | |
Tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments(1) | (0.2) | 0.1 | |
Adjusted effective income tax rate | 22.7 % | 22.1 % | |
(1) | Adjustments related to the tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments, which were determined based on the nature of the underlying non-GAAP adjustments and their relevant jurisdictional tax rates. |
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | |||||||
Restaurant Level Operating Margin (in thousands) (unaudited) | |||||||
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2025 | Percent of | 2024 | Percent of | ||||
Income from operations | $ 479,250 | 16.7 % | $ 441,292 | 16.3 % | |||
Non-GAAP Adjustments | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | 172,783 | 6.0 | 204,625 | 7.6 | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 87,211 | 3.0 | 83,243 | 3.1 | |||
Pre-opening costs | 8,210 | 0.3 | 7,211 | 0.3 | |||
Impairment, closure costs, and asset disposals | 6,168 | 0.2 | 5,479 | 0.2 | |||
Total non-GAAP Adjustments | 274,372 | 9.5 | 300,558 | 11.1 | |||
Restaurant level operating margin | $ 753,622 | 26.2 % | $ 741,850 | 27.5 % | |||
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SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
