Chipotle hikes same-store sales forecast, says cyclospora fears hit sales in late July
Get the Finance newsletter
Daily finance — markets, central banks, M&A, the prints that move money. Free.
- Chipotle raised its 2026 same-store sales growth forecast to a low single-digit percentage, up from a previously flat outlook, after beating Q2 earnings and revenue estimates.
- Chipotle posted Q2 revenue of $3.35 billion (up 9.3% year-over-year) and adjusted EPS of 33 cents versus the 32 cents analysts expected, with same-store sales up 2.2% on a 1% traffic increase.
- The broader cyclospora outbreak shaved about 2 percentage points off Chipotle's sales in the second half of July, a hit already baked into guidance; executives stressed Chipotle's lettuce is California-sourced and unaffected.
- Chipotle shares climbed roughly 6% in extended trading following the report.
- CEO Scott Boatwright credited Chipotle Honey Chicken, the new cilantro lime sauce, and the Chipotle Rewards program for drawing younger and lower-income diners, calling the chain's value proposition one of the industry's strongest.
- Chipotle opened 100 new locations plus one international restaurant operated by a partner during the quarter.
Why it matters: Chipotle's stock surged 6% after the chain beat EPS by a penny ($0.33 vs. $0.32 expected) and upgraded its full-year sales outlook from flat to low-single-digit growth, signaling that menu innovation and traffic gains are offsetting consumer budget pressure. The cyclospora outbreak clipped 2 percentage points off late-July sales, but because Chipotle sources its lettuce from California rather than the outbreak's supply chain, the chain sidestepped the food-safety fallout now pressuring competitors selling fresh lettuce.
