Chipotle Mexican Grill announced an upgraded outlook for same-store sales growth during 2026, revising its projection upward from a previous forecast of flat performance for the full year. The adjustment came after the restaurant chain delivered better-than-expected results in its latest quarterly earnings report.
The company reported second-quarter net income of $403.5 million, or 32 cents per share on a generally accepted accounting principles basis, compared with $436.1 million, or 32 cents per share, in the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis excluding impairment and restructuring costs and other items, earnings reached 33 cents per share. Revenue increased 9.3% to $3.35 billion during the quarter.
Same-store sales climbed 2.2% in the quarter, driven in part by a 1% rise in customer traffic to existing locations. The average check size grew 1.2% versus the prior-year quarter. The company also expanded its footprint, opening 100 new domestic locations and one international restaurant operated through a partner arrangement during the period.
Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright attributed the performance turnaround to focused execution on key initiatives. These included introducing new menu items, expanding the Chipotle Rewards loyalty program to deepen customer engagement, emphasizing service quality across restaurant locations, and pursuing opportunities to capture group dining occasions. The chain had faced headwinds in the previous year but demonstrated the ability to attract diners even amid challenging economic conditions marked by rising fuel costs and other inflationary pressures on consumer spending.
Market investors responded positively to the results and guidance, with the company’s stock gaining approximately 6% during extended trading following the announcement.
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