

CMG (Post-Call): Same-Store Sales Trends Improve; Tax Rate Helps Q1 EPS
After today’s market close, Chipotle reported adjusted Q1E EPS of $5.70. This was slightly below our $5.75 estimate, but slightly above sell-side consensus (according to Consensus Metrix) of $5.66. However, the adjusted Q1 tax rate came to 16.7%. This was meaningfully more favorable than our 25.0% forecast and consensus of 25.0%. We calculate that this difference between the actual adjusted tax rate and our 25.0% forecast helped Q1 EPS by about +59 cents.