Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. $CMG Stock Position Raised by Howard Capital Management LLC

Howard Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) by 198.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 25,326 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,840 shares during the period. Howard Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $809,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CMG. MV Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. 91.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Down 2.4%

Shares of CMG opened at $29.84 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a twelve month low of $28.03 and a twelve month high of $42.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.37, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $33.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $33.46.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The restaurant operator reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.33 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.43% and a return on equity of 54.65%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.33 EPS. Analysts predict that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.14 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CMG has been the topic of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. Guggenheim reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $36.00 price target (up from $35.00) on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Raymond James Financial cut their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $42.50 to $37.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Mizuho restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $43.00 price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $43.67.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Matthew R. Bush sold 2,675 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $765,586.25. This trade represents a 11.10% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.45% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Chipotle Mexican Grill News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Raymond James maintained an “outperform” rating while lowering its price target from $42.50 to $37.00. The revised target still implies substantial upside from recent trading levels, suggesting the firm views the recent decline as excessive. Raymond James lowers Chipotle price target
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $39 to $40, although it retained an “equal weight” rating. The move indicates modestly improved valuation expectations.
• Positive Sentiment: UBS expects Chipotle’s sales growth to strengthen in 2027, supported by new initiatives and investments intended to increase customer traffic and engagement. Historical performance also offers a potential seasonal catalyst: shares produced double-digit fourth-quarter returns in 2020 and 2023. History says Q4 will bring for Chipotle stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Restaurant chains, including Chipotle, are adjusting portion sizes, menu formats and pricing strategies as consumers become more price-conscious. These changes could support traffic but may also affect average checks and margins. Restaurant chains adjust menu strategies
• Negative Sentiment: UBS projects broadly in-line third-quarter sales, including same-store sales growth of 1.5%, but warns that weaker trends entering the fourth quarter could pressure near-term results. Sales growth and restaurant margins remain challenged ahead of the expected 2027 recovery. UBS outlook for Chipotle
• Negative Sentiment: Stephens lowered its price target from $40 to $38 and kept an “equal weight” rating, reinforcing concerns about limited near-term operating momentum.

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.