Chipotle keeps growing

Article Excerpt

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL $138.9 (New York symbol CMG; SI Rating: Speculative) (303-595-4000; www.chipotle.com; Shares outstanding: 31.5 million; Market cap: $4.4 billion; No dividends paid) reports that its earnings per share climbed 51.9%, to $1.20 from $0.79, in the three months ended March 31, 2010. Sales rose 15.6%, to $409.7 million from $354.5 million. The company opened 20 new restaurants during the quarter. It also saw a 4.3% rise in same-restaurant sales and more customer visits. Chipotle is a Denver-based Mexican-restaurant chain that uses premium ingredients, such as naturally raised meat, in the meals it sells. The company has just opened a restaurant in London, England. It’s the company’s second outlet outside the U.S., after Toronto. Chipotle now has 977 restaurants. Chipotle trades at over 28 times its forecast 2010 earnings of $4.84 a share. However, the company plans to keep increasing its sales by opening 120 to 130 new restaurants this year. A continued economic recovery and rising consumer confidence would add to…