Avanza Fonder AB Acquires Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)

Avanza Fonder AB has recently made a significant investment by purchasing shares in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) during the fourth quarter, as disclosed in its latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 92,632 shares of the popular restaurant chain, with the total value of this transaction estimated at around $5,586,000.

Changes in CMG Holdings by Other Investors

In addition to Avanza Fonder AB, numerous other hedge funds and institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Chipotle Mexican Grill. For instance, Shellback Capital LP made a noteworthy change, increasing its stake in the company by an astounding 4,900.0% in the second quarter. Following this significant addition, Shellback now holds 125,000 shares of Chipotle, valued at approximately $7,831,000.

Furthermore, Hantz Financial Services Inc. also saw a dramatic rise in its holdings, boosting its shares in Chipotle by 5,897.8% during the third quarter, bringing its total to 48,942 shares valued at $2,820,000. Another player in the market, L & S Advisors Inc, took advantage of the opportunity to establish a new position in the third quarter with an investment worth $3,256,000.

Optas LLC increased its holdings in Chipotle by 318.5%, owning 17,160 shares after buying an additional 13,060 shares, bringing its value to $989,000. Lastly, Savvy Advisors Inc. made a new investment in Chipotle also during the third quarter with a total value of $758,000. Altogether, institutional investors now own a significant 91.31% of Chipotle’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Chipotle

In related news, insider Laurie Schalow recently sold 4,404 shares of Chipotle on December 10th, at an average price of $65.01 per share, resulting in a total transaction value of $286,304.04. After this sale, Schalow’s direct ownership in the company decreased to 185,792 shares, valued at approximately $12,078,337.92, which represents a 2.32% decrease in her position. This sale was documented in a filing with the SEC, accessible for review.

Market Analysts’ Perspectives

Several analysts from leading equity research firms have weighed in on Chipotle’s stock. BMO Capital Markets has raised its price target from $55.00 to $56.00 and assigned a "market perform" rating. Additionally, Stephens reiterated an "equal weight" rating, setting a target price of $65.00 for the stock, while TD Cowen increased its price estimate from $65.00 to $68.00 and assigned a "buy" rating. Royal Bank of Canada also adjusted its target, raising it from $70.00 to $75.00 with an "outperform" rating, while Jefferies Financial Group raised its target from $56.00 to $62.00 with a "hold" recommendation. Overall, analysts offer a mixed view with ten giving the stock a hold rating while eighteen recommend a buy, resulting in an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $66.81, based on data from MarketBeat.

Chipotle's Stock Performance Overview

On Friday, Chipotle's stock opened at $58.60. The company's 50-day simple moving average stands at $60.93, while the 200-day simple moving average is at $57.91. Over the past year, Chipotle has traded as low as $46.01 and reached a high of $69.26. The firm currently has a market capitalization of $79.85 billion, a PE ratio of 54.54, and a price-to-earnings-grow ratio of 1.91.

Recently, Chipotle announced its quarterly earnings on October 29th, reporting an EPS of $0.27, which surpassed analysts' expectations by a slight margin. The company reported revenue of $2.79 billion, showing a 13% increase year over year, although it slightly fell short of consensus estimates.

Understanding Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants offering various food and beverage choices, including burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and salads. The company has expanded its operations beyond the United States, with locations in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom and also offers delivery services through its app and website.

Investment, Shares, Chipotle