Okay, so Chipotle. Mexican Grill (CMG +0.81%). Everyone’s always raving about it. “Oh, it’s scalable!” “Oh, fast casual is the future!” Like I don’t know how restaurants work. It’s food, okay? And people eat it. Groundbreaking. But the stock is down, 41% off its high. Forty-one percent! It’s like they want to make it difficult. And now it’s trading below $45. Below. $45. It’s practically begging for attention, and you know what that means. Trouble.
But here’s the thing. I’m looking at this, and I’m thinking, maybe, just maybe, it’s not a disaster. It’s just… irritating. Like when you order a burrito, and they put the sour cream on the bottom. On the bottom! It’s a structural integrity issue, frankly. And now Chipotle is having a little trouble. A little. They’re anticipating a slight dip in same-store sales. “Low single-digit range,” they say. Like that’s comforting. It’s still a dip! Apparently, people with less money are eating less Chipotle. Who knew? It’s a complex economic landscape, I guess. It’s always the little guy, isn’t it?
But the valuation…that’s what’s bothering me. It’s actually…reasonable. A P/E ratio of 35.9. Near a five-year low. It’s like they’re trying to be modest. And that’s suspicious. They want you to think it’s a good deal. They’re luring you in. And then what? More guac for an extra charge? It’s a trap, I tell you! But a potentially profitable trap. They’re planning to almost double their footprint to 7,000 locations. 7,000! That’s a lot of burritos. And a lot of potential for structural integrity failures. But let’s focus on the growth, shall we? They’re not just staying in North America either. International expansion. More opportunities for things to go wrong. But also, potentially, more profit. It’s a risk. Everything is a risk.
Look, I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk. It’s Chipotle. Nothing is ever simple. But the brand recognition is there. People like their burritos. And they make a profit. Significant profit, apparently. So, while everyone else is panicking about a little dip in sales, maybe, just maybe, it’s a time to take a closer look. Before it goes back up and everyone starts raving about how brilliant they are. It’s a minor annoyance, a small opportunity. And frankly, I’m tired of missing out on things because I overthink them. So, yeah. Chipotle. Below $45. I might just…consider it. But don’t tell anyone I said that. It’ll ruin my reputation.
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2026-01-25 17:02