Why Chipotle Stock Plummeted 18.2% Today

Group 1 - Chipotle Mexican Grill's shares fell by 18.2% following disappointing third-quarter earnings, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also experienced declines of 1% and 1.6% respectively [1] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) of $0.29 met expectations, but total revenue narrowly missed consensus estimates, leading to a third consecutive cut in sales projections [2] - Chipotle's same-store sales are expected to decline for the full year, contrasting with previous growth projections, indicating challenges in attracting customers [6] Group 2 - CEO Scott Boatwright highlighted "consistent macroeconomic pressures" affecting the company, particularly noting that younger customers are visiting less frequently due to tightening budgets [3] - Although top-line sales grew nearly 7.5% during the quarter, this growth was primarily driven by new location openings, with only a modest 0.3% increase in same-store sales attributed to higher average ticket costs rather than increased customer traffic [3] - The Motley Fool Stock Advisor has identified ten stocks they believe are better investment opportunities than Chipotle Mexican Grill, suggesting a lack of confidence in the company's current market position [4][6]