Over the last six months, restaurateur Chipotle Mexican Grill
Highfalutin honeys
The issue was important because it wasn't the same for other casual dining chains. Panera Bread
It was hard for investors not to get caught up in the spicy chain's promise. Over the past five years, Chipotle feasted on 22% compounded annual revenue growth, exceeding Panera's 17% pace. Smaller Cosi, on the other hand, saw a 3% contraction over the same time period. Even perennial favorite McDonald's
So can Chipotle find its growth groove again? Or did it ever really lose it? An argument can be made that it was the market that got ahead of itself with its expectations, not the restaurant, which actually posted a 21% increase in sales and a 61% jump in profits.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Snapshot
Market Cap | $10.1 billion |
Revenues, TTM | $2.5 billion |
1-Yr. Stock Return | (0.6%) |
Return on Investment | 19.8% |
Est. 5-Yr. EPS Growth | 21.8% |
Dividend & Yield | N/A |
Recent Price | $318.81 |
CAPS Rating (out of 5) | *** |
Source: FinViz.com. TTM = trailing 12 months. N/A = not available; CMG does not pay a dividend.
The other issue weighing on Chipotle's results, aside from the internal numbers, was external forces that could make the rest of the year just as difficult. Investors feared that the blistering drought that burnt up the Midwest this summer would cause profits to take a hit from rising food costs. Not even Panera could escape that wall of worry, and along with Chipotle, Yum! Brands
As it turned out, though, the crops were salvaged. Corn yields per acre were expected to wither to their lowest level in 17 years, but while the crop was hurt, it wasn't nearly as bad as anticipated; farmers are now expected to harvest 10.727 billion bushels, "only" 13% less than a year ago. Prices are still elevated but remain below the levels forecast just last month.
Price is what you pay
It seems that the real risk to Chipotle, even more so than Panera or McDonald's, is that the market prices it like a growth stock instead of a steady earner. It still assigns it a multiple of 38 times its earnings and 29 times forecasts, and almost 80% more than its estimated growth rate. You'd have to look to Whole Foods Market
I'll be rating Chipotle to underperform the broad market indexes on Motley Fool CAPS, the 180,000-member-driven investor community where informed opinion is translated into stock ratings of one to five stars. The Mexican eatery has been rising in favor among members and now carries a mid-ground three-star rating in large part because 85% of the 3,140 members weighing in on the restaurateur think it will beat the Street.
Tell me in the comments section below whether you think Chipotle Mexican Grill can spice up its growth and regain its former lofty heights.
A sky-high opportunity
Whole Foods has proven to be the exception to the rule, and you can sign up for the Fool's special report on the company, which details how it's making a difference in the market. It comes with a year's worth of free updates, and gives you specific information about what's going right and what investors need to look out for. Fool readers can click here for your copy today.