Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2017 Results

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 25, 2017-- Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Overview for the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016:

  • Revenue increased 28.1% to $1.07 billion
  • Comparable restaurant sales increased 17.8% (including 0.6% from recognized revenue previously deferred related to Chiptopia)
  • Restaurant level operating margin increased to 17.7% from 6.8%
  • Net income was $46.1 million, improved from a net loss of $26.4 million
  • Diluted earnings per share was $1.60, improved from a diluted net loss per share of $0.88
  • Opened 57 new restaurants

“2017 is off to a strong start, as our restaurant managers and teams are energized by our renewed focus on the customer,” said Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Chipotle. “By simplifying the focus in our restaurants to only those elements that lead to a great guest experience, our operations have improved every single month, which gives us confidence that we are on our way to achieve our mission to ensure that great food made with whole unprocessed ingredients is accessible to everyone.”

First quarter 2017 results

Revenue for the quarter was $1.07 billion, up 28.1% from the first quarter of 2016. The increase in revenue was driven by comparable restaurant sales increases and to a lesser extent by new restaurant openings. Comparable restaurant sales increased due to improved customer traffic, reduced promotional activity, and increased average check. Comparable restaurant sales increased 17.8%, which included a benefit of 0.6% due to previously deferred revenue related to Chiptopia recognized during the quarter. We opened 57 new restaurants during the quarter and closed 15 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants and one Chipotle restaurant. Our total restaurant count as of the end of the quarter was 2,291.

Food costs were 33.8% of revenue, a decrease of 150 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily driven by lower food waste and testing costs, and bringing the preparation of lettuce and bell peppers back to our restaurants. This decrease was partially offset by higher avocado prices.

Restaurant level operating margin was 17.7% in the quarter, an increase from 6.8% in the first quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily driven by sales leverage, lower marketing and promotional spend, efficiencies in labor, and lower food costs. The restaurant level operating margin also benefited by 0.15% from sales leverage related to recognizing revenue previously deferred from Chiptopia, slightly offset by free catering discounts for Chiptopia.

General and administrative expenses were 6.5% of revenue for the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of 90 basis points from the first quarter of 2016. In dollar terms, general and administrative expenses increased $7.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2016 due to increased non-cash stock based compensation and bonus expense, partially offset by lower legal and travel costs. Excluding stock based compensation, general and administrative expenses during the quarter were flat in dollar terms compared to last year. Stock compensation expense was higher during the first quarter of 2017 because the first quarter of 2016 included a reduction in expense for performance awards that were no longer expected to vest against performance criteria. Without this reduction, stock compensation expense was consistent in both years.

Net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $46.1 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $26.4 million, or a loss of $0.88 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016.

Outlook

For the full year of 2017, management is targeting the following:

  • Comparable restaurant sales increases in the high-single digits
  • 195 - 210 new restaurant openings
  • An estimated effective full year tax rate of approximately 39.0%

Definitions

The following definitions apply to these terms as used throughout this release:

Comparable restaurant sales, or sales comps, represent the change in period-over-period sales for restaurants in operation for at least 13 full calendar months.

Comparable restaurant transactions represent the change in period-over-period transactions, including transactions with no sales dollars due to promotional discounts, for restaurants in operation for at least 13 full calendar months.

Restaurant level operating margin represents total revenue less restaurant operating costs, expressed as a percent of total revenue.

Conference Call

Chipotle will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2017 financial results on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 4:30 PM Eastern time.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-877-451-6152 or for international callers by dialing 1-201-389-0879. The call will be webcast live from the company's website on the investor relations page at ir.chipotle.com. An archived webcast will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call.

About Chipotle

Steve Ells, founder, chairman and CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in an interactive style allowing people to get exactly what they want. Chipotle seeks out extraordinary ingredients that are not only fresh, but that are raised responsibly, with respect for the animals, the land, and the people who produce them. Chipotle prepares its food without the use of added colors, flavors or preservatives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and operates more than 2,300 restaurants. For more information, visit chipotle.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including statements under the heading “Outlook” of our expected comparable restaurant sales increases, number of new restaurant openings, and effective tax rate for 2017 are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions, to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date any such statements are made and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the uncertainty of our ability to achieve expected levels of comparable restaurant sales due to factors such as changes in consumers’ perceptions of our brand, including as a result of food-borne illness incidents beginning in late 2015, the impact of competition, including from sources outside the restaurant industry, decreased overall consumer spending, or our possible inability to increase menu prices or realize the benefits of menu price increases; the risk of food-borne illnesses and other health concerns about our food or dining out generally; factors that could affect our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion, such as the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites and the availability of qualified employees; the performance of new restaurants and their impact on existing restaurant sales; increases in the cost of food ingredients and other key supplies or higher food costs due to new supply chain protocols; the potential for increased labor costs or difficulty retaining qualified employees, including as a result of market pressures, enhanced food safety procedures in our restaurants, or new regulatory requirements; risks related to our marketing and advertising strategies, which may not be successful and may expose us to liabilities; security risks associated with the acceptance of electronic payment cards or electronic storage and processing of confidential customer or employee information; risks relating to our expansion into new markets; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our employees, our restaurant design, or the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; risks associated with our Food With Integrity philosophy, including supply shortages and potential liabilities from advertising claims and other marketing activities related to Food With Integrity; risks relating to litigation, including possible governmental actions related to food-borne illness incidents, as well as class action litigation regarding employment laws, advertising claims or other matters; risks relating to our insurance coverage and self-insurance; our dependence on key personnel and uncertainties arising from recent changes in our leadership; risks regarding our ability to protect our brand and reputation; risks associated with our ability to effectively manage our growth; and other risk factors described from time to time in our SEC reports, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are available on the investor relations page of our website at ir.chipotle.com.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
      Three months ended March 31,
      2017     2016
Revenue     $ 1,068,829      

100.0

%

     $ 834,459      

100.0

%
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):                            
Food, beverage and packaging       361,795       33.8         294,166       35.3  
Labor       287,851       26.9         257,681       30.9  
Occupancy       78,962       7.4         70,592       8.5  
Other operating costs       150,609       14.1         155,189       18.6  
General and administrative expenses       69,441       6.5         62,010       7.4  
Depreciation and amortization       39,279       3.7         34,788       4.2  
Pre-opening costs       4,069       0.4         4,421       0.5  
Loss on disposal and impairment of assets       3,650       0.3         2,216       0.3  
Total operating expenses       995,656       93.2         881,063       105.6  
Income (loss) from operations       73,173       6.8         (46,604 )     (5.6 )
Interest and other income, net       1,188       0.1         2,126       0.3  
Income (loss) before income taxes       74,361       7.0         (44,478 )     (5.3 )
Benefit (provision) for income taxes       (28,241 )     (2.6 )       18,046       2.2  
Net income (loss)     $ 46,120      

4.3

%

     $ (26,432 )    

(3.2

)%
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes:                            
Foreign currency translation adjustments       675               1,929        
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax benefit (expense) of $94 and ($1,182)       (182 )             1,893        
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes       493               3,822        
Comprehensive income (loss)     $ 46,613             $ (22,610 )      
Earnings (loss) per share:                            
Basic     $ 1.60             $ (0.88 )      
Diluted     $ 1.60             $ (0.88 )      
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                            
Basic       28,750               29,893        
Diluted       28,850               29,893        
                                 
                                 
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
          March 31,     December 31,
          2017     2016
          (unaudited)      
Assets                    
Current assets:                    
Cash and cash equivalents         $ 122,413       $ 87,880  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $40 and $259 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively           21,582         40,451  
Inventory           18,319         15,019  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets           47,023         44,080  
Income tax receivable           -         5,108  
Investments           454,627         329,836  
Total current assets           663,964         522,374  
Leasehold improvements, property and equipment, net           1,322,622         1,303,558  
Long term investments           -         125,055  
Other assets           53,737         53,177  
Goodwill           21,939         21,939  
Total assets         $ 2,062,262       $ 2,026,103  
Liabilities and shareholders' equity                    
Current liabilities:                    
Accounts payable         $ 83,840       $ 78,363  
Accrued payroll and benefits           96,730         76,301  
Accrued liabilities           101,114         127,129  
Income tax payable           24,639         -  
Total current liabilities           306,323         281,793  
Deferred rent           297,843         288,927  
Deferred income tax liability           15,741         18,944  
Other liabilities           34,633         33,946  
Total liabilities           654,540         623,610  
Shareholders' equity:                    
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively           -         -  
Common stock $0.01 par value, 230,000 shares authorized, and 35,838 and 35,833 shares issued as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively           358         358  
Additional paid-in capital           1,255,528         1,238,875  
Treasury stock, at cost, 7,160 and 7,019 common shares at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively           (2,107,426 )       (2,049,389 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)           (7,669 )       (8,162 )
Retained earnings           2,266,931         2,220,811  
Total shareholders' equity           1,407,722         1,402,493  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity         $ 2,062,262       $ 2,026,103  
                         
                         
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
      Three months ended March 31,
      2017     2016
Operating activities                
Net income (loss)     $ 46,120       $ (26,432 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization       39,279         34,788  
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision       (3,107 )       2,259  
Loss on disposal and impairment of assets       3,650         2,216  
Bad debt allowance       180         (40 )
Stock-based compensation expense       16,456         10,505  
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation       -         (680 )
Other       (8 )       (174 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable       18,693         14,642  
Inventory       (3,737 )       (1,833 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets       (2,928 )       (8,337 )
Other assets       (412 )       1,468  
Accounts payable       708         (8,852 )
Accrued liabilities       (3,693 )       10,397  
Income tax payable/receivable       29,751         23,796  
Deferred rent       8,882         8,569  
Other long-term liabilities       745         (613 )
Net cash provided by operating activities       150,579         61,679  
Investing activities                
Purchases of leasehold improvements, property and equipment       (57,088 )       (62,921 )
Maturities of investments       -         45,000  
Proceeds from sale of investments       -         540,648  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities       (57,088 )       522,727  
Financing activities                
Acquisition of treasury stock       (59,137 )       (583,802 )
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation       -         680  
Stock plan transactions and other financing activities       6         (10 )
Net cash used in financing activities       (59,131 )       (583,132 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents       173         1,526  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents       34,533         2,800  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       87,880         248,005  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period     $ 122,413       $ 250,805  
                     
                     
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Supplemental Financial and Other Data
(dollars in thousands)
 
      For the three months ended
      Mar. 31,   Dec. 31,   Sep. 30,   Jun. 30,   Mar. 31,
      2017   2016   2016   2016   2016
Number of restaurants opened       57       72       55       58       58  
Restaurant relocations/closures       (16 )     -       (1 )     -       (2 )
Number of restaurants at end of period       2,291       2,250       2,178       2,124       2,066  
Average restaurant sales     $ 1,931     $ 1,868     $ 1,914     $ 2,067     $ 2,230  
Comparable restaurant sales increase (decrease)       17.8 %     (4.8 %)     (21.9 %)     (23.6 %)     (29.7 %)

 

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170425006668/en/

Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Mark Alexee, 303-605-1042
malexee@chipotle.com