Chipotle earnings miss estimates, but same-store sales increase for third straight quarter

Chipotle Mexican Grill sign outside the chain's restaurant in the Mission Rock development, San Francisco, California, October 15, 2026. (Smith Collection/gado | Archive Photos | Getty ImagesChipotle Mexican Grill on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results as its restaurant-level operating margin shrank.Here's what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:Earnings per share: 27 cents adjusted vs. 29 cents expectedRevenue: $3.29 billion vs. $3.29 billion expectedChipotle reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $339.9 million, or 27 cents per share, down from $382.1 million, or 29 cents per share, a year earlier. The company's restaurant-level operating margin fell from 24.5% to 23.3%.Excluding restaurant asset impairment charges and stock-based compensation, the company earned 27 cents per share.Net sales rose 9.6% to $3.29 billion, fueled by the chain's new restaurants. During the quarter, Chipotle opened 84 company-owned restaurants and five international locations run by licensees. In the second half of July, Chipotle said it started to see sales pull back as diners grew concerned about consuming raw lettuce d...