Activist buys into Chipotle

Article Excerpt

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL $399.75 (New York symbol CMG; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (303-595-4000; www.chipotle.com; Shares outstanding: 29.1 million; Market cap: $11.7 billion; No dividends paid) is now 9.9% owned by activist investor Bill Ackman through Pershing Square Capital. The company’s shares are down 42% from their 2015 high in the wake food-safety concerns at its restaurants last year. They include a case of salmonella in Minnesota, E. coli in several other states, and the norovirus in California and Boston. The involvement of Bill Ackman, and Pershing Square, should be a plus for Chipotle: the activist investor has a long history of making undervalued companies, including large restaurant chains, more profitable. Whatever the outcome, Pershing’s interest should draw attention to Chipotle’s longterm growth prospects. While the company should be able to eventually win back its customers and improve sales, a turnaround will likely take time. Chipotle is still a hold. hold…