Chipotle Now Expects Flat Comps for 2025

Image Source: Valuentum By Brian Nelson, CFA On July 23, Chipotle (CMG) reported disappointing second quarter results with non-GAAP earnings per share coming in line with the consensus forecast, but revenue missing what the Street was looking for. Total revenue increased 3% in the quarter thanks to new restaurant openings, but comparable restaurant sales fell 4% due to lower transactions, and its operating margin dropped to 18.2%, down from 19.7% in the prior-year period. The Street had been looking for a 2.9% decline in comp sales in the quarter. Restaurant level operating margins fell to 27.4% from 28.9% in last year’s quarter. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.33 in the quarter, down 2.9% from the second quarter of last … Read more

Chipotle Targets 7,000 Restaurants in North America

By Brian Nelson, CFA Chipotle (CMG) reported mixed third quarter results October 29 with revenue coming in a bit light relative to expectations and non-GAAP earnings per share outpacing the consensus forecast. Total revenue increased 13% in the quarter thanks to a 6% increase in comparable restaurant sales and new restaurant openings. Comparable restaurant sales missed the consensus estimate calling for 6.4% growth. Still, Chipotle’s comparable restaurant sales growth consisted of higher transactions of 3.3% and a 2.7% increase in average check, a combination we view positively. The burrito-maker’s operating margin was 16.9% in the quarter (consensus was at 15.7%), up from 16%, while adjusted diluted earnings per share came in at $0.27, up from $0.23 in the prior-year period. … Read more

How Some Members Use Valuentum’s Investment Services

By Brian Nelson, CFA Thank you for your membership to Valuentum. We serve a wide variety of investors, including dividend growth investors, value investors, and pure Valuentum investors, among others. Many different types of investors and professionals use our research and financial analysis in a whole host of applications from individual stock-selection to the evaluation of closed-end funds to an overlay in a money-management setting and beyond. We wanted to make sure that you know that, if you’re a dividend growth or income investor, that there are others that use our website to utilize the Valuentum process, fair value estimates and other metrics. Similarly, if you’re a practitioner of the Valuentum system, I wanted to make sure that you are … Read more

Domino’s Pizza Breaks Through Downtrend on Uber Eats and Postmates Deal

Image Source: Domino’s Pizza is up nearly 14% on a year-to-date basis during 2023, but the company’s shares haven’t done much over the past 52 weeks. By Brian Nelson, CFA On July 12, Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) announced that it had inked a new deal with Uber (UBER) that would allow customers in the U.S. to order Domino’s food through the Uber Eats and Postmates apps with delivery provided by drivers of Domino’s and its franchisees. Domino’s Pizza continues to be a standout leader in digital initiatives across the restaurant arena, and the firm noted that the new agreement will open up Domino’s and its franchisees “to a new segment of customers and what (it) believes will be a meaningful amount of … Read more

Best Idea Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Growth Runway is Enormous

Image Shown: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc’s restaurant level unit economics continued to improve in the third quarter of 2021, supporting the company’s growth trajectory. Image Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc – Third Quarter of 2021 Non-GAAP Reconciliation Presentation By Callum Turcan On October 21, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG) reported third-quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Comparable restaurant sales grew 15% year-over-year last quarter as Chipotle’s e-commerce business held up well, with digital sales up 9% year-over-year (representing 43% of its total sales during this period), while customers resumed in-store dining activities in earnest. We liked what we saw in Chipotle’s latest earnings report. Shares of CMG are included as an idea in the Best … Read more

Best Idea Chipotle Rockets Higher!

Image Shown: We include Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc an as idea in the Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio. On July 21, shares of CMG surged higher after the firm reported a stellar earnings report after the market close on July 20. By Callum Turcan On July 20, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG) reported second-quarter 2021 earnings that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company’s comparable store sales boomed higher by over 31% year-over-year as Chipotle’s customer base returned to its in-store dining offerings in the wake of coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) containment efforts getting eased across the US. Its digital sales were up almost 11% year-over-year and represented a little under half of its total revenues. Chipotle’s momentum is expected to … Read more

ICYMI: Valuentum’s Brian Nelson on the Latest Howard Marks’ Memo: “Something of Value”

Valuentum’s President of Investment Research Brian Michael Nelson, CFA, explains why there are not really value and growth stocks, why most of the research in quantitative finance is spurious and needs to be redefined on a forward-looking basis, and why enterprise valuation (not the efficient markets hypothesis) should be the organizing principle of finance. Nelson explains his views about valuation, what it means to be a value investor, and investing in the context of Oaktree Capital Howard Marks’ latest memo, “Something of Value,” January 11, 2021. Please don’t forget to give the second edition of the book “Value Trap” a 5-star rating on Amazon here. Thank you for your membership! —– Tickerized for holdings in the IWM. Valuentum members have … Read more

Chipotle, Domino’s Continue to Deliver for Shareholders

Image Shown: Domino’s Pizza Inc aims to grow its market share in the US by leaning heavily on its delivery and digital operations, a realm the firm has significant competitive advantages in, as compared to leaning on carryout operations at physical stores. Image Source: Domino’s Pizza Inc – January 2021 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan In the restaurant industry, one thing the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic has made clear is that having drive thru operations, a strong online presence and efficient delivery services will be key to meeting consumer demand going forward. Physical restaurant locations that rely on indoor dinning will become relevant once again when the pandemic is contained, something the ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines should help accomplish, but … Read more

Value Is Not Static and the Qualitative Overlay Is Vital to Our Process

With prudence and care, the Valuentum Buying Index process and its components are carried out. Our analyst team spends most of its time thinking about the intrinsic value of companies within the context of a discounted cash-flow model and evaluating the risk profile of a company’s revenue model. We have checks and balances, too. First, we use a fair value range in our valuation approach as we embrace the very important concept that value is a range and not a point estimate. A relative value overlay as the second pillar helps to add conviction in the discounted cash-flow process, while a technical and momentum overlay seeks to provide confirmation in all of the valuation work. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes even before a VBI rating is published, but it will always be just one factor to consider. Within any process, of course, we value the human, qualitative overlay, which captures a wealth of experience and common sense. We strive to surface our best ideas for members.

24 in a Row! Order the Exclusive Today!

Image Source: An excerpt from the March 2020 edition of the Exclusive publication. Valuentum offers commentary across the capital stack in the Exclusive publication. In the Exclusive publication, Valuentum highlights three new ideas each month to consider, one for income, one for capital appreciation, and a “short” idea consideration (all three outside our existing coverage universe). Fresh, underfollowed and new ideas — outside our coverage universe — every month! Nothing is held back.  Big Winners Backed by In-Depth Theses Since the monthly Exclusive was first published in July 2016, Valuentum’s mission with the publication has been to produce an unmatched newsletter that delivers ideas with high success rates and ones backed by in-depth theses across the three key themes: income, … Read more