Chipotle Mexican Grill misses expectations for earnings, income and same-store gross sales

Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings and income, signaling that its value hikes could lastly be alienating clients.

In October, CEO Brian Niccol stated the corporate noticed “minimal resistance” to larger costs for its burrito bowls and tacos, though transactions throughout the third-quarter declined 1%. 

Chipotle shares fell greater than 5% in prolonged buying and selling.

Here is what the corporate reported for the fourth quarter, in contrast with what Wall Road was anticipating, primarily based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:

• Earnings per share: $8.29 adjusted vs. $8.90 anticipated
• Income: $2.18 billion vs. $2.23 billion anticipated

It is the primary time since Chipotle’s third-quarter report in 2017 that the corporate has fallen in need of Wall Road’s estimates for each its quarterly earnings and income, in line with Refinitiv information.

The burrito chain reported fourth-quarter web earnings of $223.7 million, or $8.02 per share, up from $133.5 million, or $4.69 per share, a 12 months earlier. Increased menu costs helped offset rising meals prices as the corporate paid extra for dairy and tortillas throughout the interval, ended Dec. 31.

Excluding sure authorized bills, company restructuring prices and different gadgets, Chipotle earned $8.29 per share.

Internet gross sales climbed 11.2% to $2.18 billion for the fourth quarter. The corporate’s same-store gross sales rose simply 5.6%, falling in need of StreetAccount estimates of 6.9% and coming in weaker than Chipotle’s personal forecast from late October.

The corporate stated it is projecting same-store gross sales progress within the high-single digits for the primary quarter of 2023, primarily based on January same-store gross sales progress within the low double-digits. Wall Road was anticipating first-quarter same-store gross sales of 6.7%, in line with StreetAccount estimates.

A 12 months in the past, the corporate was reeling from a wave of Covid infections that induced some places to shorten hours or briefly shut on account of sick staff.

Final month, Chipotle stated it’s trying to rent 15,000 employees by this spring, forward of its busiest time of the 12 months.

The corporate plans to open between 255 and 285 new places this 12 months, together with relocating 10 to fifteen eating places so as to add a drive-thru lane.

Learn the complete Chipotle earnings report right here.