What drove Chipotle's revenue increase in the fourth quarter?

Chipotle's fourth-quarter revenue was boosted by new restaurant openings and higher gift-card breakage revenue.

What is Chipotle's outlook for same-store sales in 2026?

Chipotle projects full-year same-store sales to be about flat for 2026.

What strategies is Chipotle using to drive future growth?

Chipotle is focusing on accelerating menu innovation, using AI, relaunching its rewards program, and scaling in existing and new markets.

Home / Business and Economy / Chipotle Revenue Rises Amidst Slower Sales Growth

Chipotle Revenue Rises Amidst Slower Sales Growth

4 Feb

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Summary

Fourth-quarter profit remained stable year-over-year.
Revenue increased by 4.9% due to new openings.
Company projects flat same-store sales for 2026.

Chipotle Revenue Rises Amidst Slower Sales Growth

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its fourth-quarter financial results, revealing a slight increase in revenue to $2.98 billion, a 4.9% rise year-over-year. This growth was substantially fueled by the opening of 132 new company-owned restaurants and seven international partner-operated locations during the quarter.

However, the company experienced a 2.5% decrease in same-store sales, attributed to a decline in customer transactions, though this was partially offset by a higher average check size. Chipotle's profit for the fourth quarter stood at $330.9 million, largely consistent with the previous year.

Looking ahead to 2026, Chipotle forecasts its full-year same-store sales to be approximately flat, a projection that falls short of the 1.7% growth anticipated by industry analysts. CEO Scott Boatwright highlighted the company's strategic focus on accelerating menu innovation, leveraging artificial intelligence, and enhancing its rewards program to drive future transactions and long-term success.