NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
First quarter highlights, year over year:
Total revenue increased 7.4% to $3.1 billion
Comparable restaurant sales increased 0.5%
Operating margin was 12.9%, a decrease from 16.7%
Adjusted restaurant level operating margin1 was 23.7%, a decrease from 26.2%
Diluted earnings per share was $0.23, a 17.9% decrease from $0.28
Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 was $0.24, a 17.2% decrease from $0.29
Opened 49 company-owned restaurants, with 42 locations including a Chipotlane.
"Our first quarter exceeded expectations as we advanced our Recipe for Growth strategy, delivering tangible progress across operations, digital, menu innovation, people, and development," said Scott Boatwright, Chief Executive Officer, Chipotle. "We are excited to welcome a new Chief Brand Officer and a new Chief Digital Officer to further strengthen our value proposition, sharpen our brand messaging, and accelerate innovation—positioning Chipotle for sustained, long-term growth as we advance on our path to becoming a global iconic brand."
Results for the three months ended March 31, 2026:
Total revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was $3.1 billion, an increase of 7.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by new restaurant openings and, to a lesser extent, a 0.5% increase in comparable restaurant sales due to higher transactions of 0.6%, partially offset by a 0.1% decrease in average check. Digital sales represented 38.6% of total food and beverage revenue.
During the first quarter we opened 49 company-owned restaurants, of which 42 included a Chipotlane. 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 2026 were 29.6% of total revenue, an increase from 29.2% in the first quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by inflation, primarily in beef and freight, and higher produce usage. These increases were partially offset by lower dairy and avocado costs, and the benefit of menu price increases.
Labor costs in the first quarter of 2026 were 26.1% of total revenue, an increase from 25.0% in the first quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily driven by wage inflation, lower average restaurant sales volumes, and higher benefits expense, including performance-based bonuses. These headwinds were partially offset by the benefit of menu price increases. Excluding a 40 basis point impact from costs related to certain legal proceedings, adjusted labor costs1 were 25.7% of total revenue, compared to 25.0% in the first quarter of 2025.
1
Adjusted restaurant level operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted labor costs, adjusted net income, adjusted 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.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2026 were $203.7 million, compared to $172.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by our biennial All Managers Conference held in the first quarter of 2026, performance bonuses and wages, and benefited from lower stock-based compensation. Adjusted general and administrative expenses1 for the first quarter of 2026 were $197.9 million, compared to $160.9 million in the first quarter of 2025.
The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2026 was 25.4%, an increase from 22.9% in the first quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by a reduction in tax benefits related to option exercises and equity vesting, fewer tax credits, and an increase in other discrete income tax items.
Net income for the first quarter of 2026 was $302.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to $386.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted net income1 for the first quarter of 2026 was $316.2 million, or $0.24 per adjusted diluted share, compared to $396.8 million, or $0.29 per adjusted diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025.
During the first quarter of 2026 we repurchased $700.8 million of stock at an average price per share of $36.14. As of March 31, 2026, $1.0 billion remained available under share repurchase authorizations from our Board of Directors. The repurchase authorization may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.
More information will be available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed with the SEC in April 2026.
Outlook
For 2026, management is anticipating the following:
Full year comparable restaurant sales to be about flat
350 to 370 new restaurant openings, which includes 10 to 15 international partner-operated restaurants. Around 80% of company-owned restaurants will have a Chipotlane
An estimated underlying effective full year tax rate between 24% and 26% 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 company-owned 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 company-owned 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.
Partner-operated restaurants - Chipotle restaurants over which Chipotle does not have a controlling financial interest and for which Chipotle does not directly manage day-to-day operations. This includes restaurants operated by third parties pursuant to license or franchise agreements and restaurants in which Chipotle holds a minority, non‑controlling ownership interest.
Conference Call Details and Supplemental Slides
Chipotle will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 4:30 PM Eastern time to discuss first quarter 2026 financial results and provide a business update for the second quarter to date. In connection, supplemental slides for the call will be available on the company's website at ir.chipotle.com/presentations.
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 using code: 1676292. The call will be webcast live on the company's website 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 over 4,100 restaurants as of March 31, 2026, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. With over 135,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, in the April 29, 2026, conference call and in the supplemental slides for the call are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements under "Outlook" and "Recipe for Growth Strategy," and about our anticipated full year 2026 comparable restaurant sales growth, number of new company-owned and international partner-owned restaurant openings in 2026, expected number of restaurants with Chipotlanes, and estimated underlying effective 2026 full year tax rate, as well as statements about the expected success of our "Recipe for Growth" strategy, our future food, beverage, packaging, labor, general and administrative and other costs, future estimated tax rates and future long-term prospects. We use words such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "should", "may", "approximately", "estimate", "confident", "assuming", "expect", "intend", "project", "target", "goal" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions, to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information available to us as of the date of this release and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements, including but not limited to: wage inflation and state or local regulations mandating higher minimum wages; the competitive labor market, which impacts our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; the impact of any union organizing efforts and our responses to such efforts; increases in ingredient and other operating costs due to inflation, global conflicts, severe weather, our Food with Integrity philosophy, tariffs or trade restrictions; intermittent supply shortages relating to our Food with Integrity philosophy, rapid expansion and supply chain disruptions; risks of food safety incidents and food-borne illnesses; our reliance on certain information technology systems and potential material failures, interruptions or outages; risks that our investments in new technology and technological innovations may not generate returns; privacy and cyber security risks, including breaches, unauthorized access, theft, modification, destruction or ransom of guest or employee personal or confidential information stored on our network or the network of third party providers; the impact of competition, including from sources outside the restaurant industry; the impact of government regulations relating to our employees, employment practices, restaurant design and construction, and the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; our ability to achieve our planned growth, such as the costs and availability of suitable new restaurant sites, construction materials and contractors and restaurant equipment; the expected costs and risks related to our international expansion, including through partner-operated restaurants in the Middle East, Asia and Mexico; our ability to achieve expected levels of comparable restaurant sales due to factors such as changes in guests' perceptions of our brand, including as a result of negative publicity or social media posts and decreased consumer spending, or the inability to increase menu prices or realize the benefits of menu price increases; failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance or any announced guidance and the impact thereof; the potential impact of activist shareholder actions or tactics; failure to attract or retain key executive talent; the impact of our brand, marketing, promotional, advertising and pricing strategies, digital platform and menu innovations; our reliance on third party delivery services and the IT infrastructure; litigation risks, including possible governmental actions and potential class action litigation related to food safety incidents, cybersecurity incidents, employment or privacy laws, advertising claims, contract disputes or other matters. In addition, many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties are, or could be, exacerbated by any worsening of the global business and macroeconomic environment. These statements also are subject to other risk factors described from time to time in our SEC reports, including our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are available on the investor relations page of our website at ir.Chipotle.com.
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended March 31,
2026
2025
Food and beverage revenue
$ 3,072,730
99.5 %
$ 2,859,831
99.5 %
Delivery service revenue
15,512
0.5
15,422
0.5
Total revenue
3,088,242
100.0
2,875,253
100.0
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Food, beverage and packaging
913,346
29.6
838,403
29.2
Labor
805,411
26.1
718,226
25.0
Occupancy
169,881
5.5
149,841
5.2
Other operating costs
480,643
15.6
415,161
14.4
General and administrative expenses
203,720
6.6
172,783
6.0
Depreciation and amortization
96,718
3.1
87,211
3.0
Pre-opening costs
11,641
0.4
8,210
0.3
Impairment, closure costs, and asset disposals
9,819
0.3
6,168
0.2
Total operating expenses
2,691,179
87.1
2,396,003
83.3
Income from operations
397,063
12.9
479,250
16.7
Interest and other income, net
8,742
0.3
22,253
0.8
Income before income taxes
405,805
13.1
501,503
17.4
Provision for income taxes
102,981
3.3
114,904
4.0
Net income
$ 302,824
9.8 %
$ 386,599
13.4 %
Earnings per share:
Basic
$ 0.23
