CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:
We lift our 12-month target to $3,700 from $2,930, 66.0x our 2024 EPS, a premium to CMG’s five-year average forward P/E, reflecting CMG’s outsized growth relative to peers. We raise our 2024 EPS to $56.04 from $54.12 and 2025’s to $66.35 from $65.10. CMG posted Q1 adj-EPS of $13.37, $1.69 above consensus. Revenue of $2,702M (+14.1% Y/Y) was $31M above consensus. Operating income rose 20.0% Y/Y to $441M vs. the $412M consensus, with the margin widening 80 bps Y/Y to 16.3%. Comp sales rose 7.0% vs. the 5.3% consensus, driven by transactions growth (~5.5%) and higher menu pricing (~2.8%), partially offset by negative mix and check. CMG raised its 2024 comp sales guidance to the mid- to high-single-digit range as staffing, scheduling, and execution of its “four pillars” of great throughput also led to an improved outlook. We note that throughput improved by nearly two entrees during CMG’s peak 15 minutes vs. 2023. Despite CMG’s high valuation, we believe that recent operational efficiencies justify the premium.