NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 17:01 ET — Market closed
With U.S. markets closed on Saturday, Chipotle Mexican Grill shares (NYSE: CMG) last ended up 1.3% at $37.49. The stock traded between $36.75 and $37.67 and changed hands about 12.8 million shares. At Friday’s close, Chipotle was valued at roughly $52.5 billion and traded at about 34 times trailing earnings, a price-to-earnings ratio that compares the share price with per-share profit.
Friday’s gain snapped a four-day losing streak and came as the S&P 500 and Dow finished higher, MarketWatch data showed. Chipotle also outperformed McDonald’s, Starbucks and Yum Brands, but the stock remains about 38% below its 52-week high, underscoring how closely investors are watching for a demand rebound in 2026. MarketWatch
On the analyst front, Mizuho raised its price target on Chipotle to $36 from $34 and kept a Neutral rating, according to a report carried by Investing.com. The bank pointed to pricing strategy and transaction trends — the number of customer orders — alongside restaurant-level margins, or profit at the store level before corporate costs. A price target is an analyst’s estimate of where a stock could trade over the next 12 months. Investing
Chipotle last warned in October that households earning under $100,000 were pulling back and that it would take a “slow and measured” approach to price hikes in 2026. “While the move will pressure margins, we think it’s the right thing to do,” Chief Financial Officer Adam Rymer said on the call. Reuters
Investors now turn to Chipotle’s fourth-quarter and full-year results due Feb. 3. The company said it plans to issue a press release around 4:10 p.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. Comparable sales — sales at restaurants open at least a year — and traffic trends are likely to take center stage. Chipotle InvestorRoom
Zacks Equity Research expects earnings of 24 cents a share, down 4% from a year earlier, on net sales of about $2.97 billion, up 4.3%, according to a note published by Finviz. EPS, or earnings per share, is a standard measure of profitability on a per-share basis. Finviz
Macro conditions remain a swing factor for restaurant stocks, which often react to shifts in interest-rate expectations and consumer confidence. Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said another rate cut could take a while as policymakers assess inflation and the economy, Reuters reported. Reuters
Before Monday’s session, investors will watch the ISM manufacturing PMI due at 10:00 a.m. ET, a survey that tracks whether factories are expanding or contracting. The data can move bond yields, which feed into equity valuations. Investing
Traders also have the December U.S. employment report on the calendar for Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the Labor Department’s release schedule. Payrolls and wage growth help shape expectations for consumer spending and Federal Reserve policy. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Fed’s next policy meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27-28, according to the central bank. For CMG, chart watchers will use Friday’s low-end of the trading range as near-term support and the session high as the first resistance. Federal Reserve
