Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:CMG) posted its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results after Wednesday’s closing bell, missing analysts’ earnings estimates. Here’s a look at the details.
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Chipotle Q3 Details
Chipotle Mexican Grill reported quarterly earnings of 27 cents per share, which missed the analyst estimate of 29 cents, per Benzinga Pro data.
Quarterly revenue of $3.29 billion beat the Street estimate of $3.285 billion.
Chipotle reported the following quarterly highlights:
- Total revenue increased 9.6% year-over-year to $3.3 billion
- Comparable restaurant sales increased 2.1% year-over-year
- Operating margin was 13.7%, a decrease from 15.9%
- Restaurant-level operating margin was 23.3%, a decrease from 24.5%
- Opened 84 company-owned restaurants, with 53 locations including a Chipotlane.
“Three consecutive quarters of positive comparable transaction growth demonstrates that our Recipe for Growth strategy is working,” said CEO Scott Boatwright.
“We’re gaining traction with menu and digital innovation, making significant progress on our high-efficiency equipment rollout, and accelerating our global expansion with entry into three new markets this quarter,” he added.
CMG Stock Price: According to data from Benzinga Pro, Chipotle stock was up 3.38% to $29.70 in Wednesday’s extended trading.
CMG Technical Analysis
CMG is still trading below every major moving average, which keeps the longer-term trend pressure pointed down even on an up day. The stock is about 4.7% below its 20-day SMA ($30.08) and roughly 16% below its 200-day SMA ($34.14), a setup that often turns rallies into “sell-the-rip” tests until price can reclaim those levels.
The bigger-picture damage is visible in the bearish crossover structure: the 20-day SMA is below the 50-day SMA, and the Death Cross (50-day below the 200-day) has been in place since September. That aligns with the stock’s 12-month slide of 28.75% and suggests rallies may need multiple attempts before the trend meaningfully changes.
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Top Momentum Stocks
For momentum, MACD is the cleaner read right now: it’s below its signal line and the histogram is negative, which points to upside pressure fading versus the prior upswing. In plain terms, when MACD sits under its signal line, it often means buyers need a stronger follow-through push to keep a rebound from rolling back over.
From a level perspective, the stock is hovering close to the lower end of its 52-week range ($27.31 low to $41.52 high), so traders will be watching whether this bounce can build a base.
Key turning points to keep in mind: the recent swing high formed in September, the swing low and 52-week low were set in October, and RSI previously flashed oversold in October — conditions that can support choppy rebounds, but not guarantee a new uptrend.
Photo: Shutterstock
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