Chipotle's same-store sales fell 1.7% in 2025 with restaurant traffic down 3.2%, leading to a flat sales growth forecast for 2026, disappointing investors.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. reported fourth-quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, with adjusted EPS of 25 cents and net sales up 4.9% to $2.98 billion.
Customer traffic and transactions drove the quarter's sales weakness, with Chipotle restaurant traffic falling 3.2% and comparable restaurant sales declining 2.5% in the quarter.
New openings and gift-card activity helped lift reported revenue as Chipotle opened 132 company-owned restaurants and seven international partner-operated restaurants, with gift card breakage at $27.0 million.
Management expects to open 350 to 370 restaurants in 2026, projects flat full-year comparable sales, while Chipotle shares lost roughly a third of their value over the past year, trimming market value to about $51 billion.
Deploying technology and Chipotlanes is central to the company's growth plan, with around 80% of company-owned restaurants expected to have a Chipotlane, as part of its 'Recipe for Growth' strategy.