Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) vs Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Darden Restaurants (DRI) has outperformed Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) over the past year, gaining 4.9% versus a loss of 25.2%. Over five years, DRI leads with a +34.7% price change compared with -16.4% for CMG. Chipotle Mexican Grill is the larger company by market cap ($38.94 billion vs $22.80 billion), about 1.7 times the size, while Darden Restaurants is growing revenue faster (+9.4% vs +5.4%).
On valuation, Darden Restaurants trades at a lower forward P/E (16.2x vs 22.5x for Chipotle Mexican Grill). Darden Restaurants pays a dividend yielding 3.04%, while Chipotle Mexican Grill does not currently pay one. Chipotle Mexican Grill converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% versus 9.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CMG | DRI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.77 | $201.49 |
| Market cap | $38.94B | $22.80B |
| 1-day change | -0.42% | -0.81% |
| YTD return | -17.23% | +9.15% |
| 1-year return | -25.21% | +4.86% |
| 5-year return | -16.37% | +34.66% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.23 | 19.28 |
| Forward P/E | 22.48 | 16.25 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.09 | $10.45 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.04% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $6.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.93B | $13.21B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.41% | +9.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.54B | $1.21B |
| Gross margin | — | 20.30% |
| Operating margin | 16.23% | 11.98% |
| Net margin | 12.88% | 9.13% |
| 52-week high | $42.82 | $229.76 |
| 52-week low | $28.04 | $169.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.14% | -12.30% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +42.22% | +15.86% |
| Average volume | 16.51M | 1.23M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.27B | 113.14M |
| Employees | 140,000 | 209,931 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- DRI has outperformed CMG by 30.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill trades at a higher earnings multiple (28.2x vs 19.3x trailing P/E).
- Darden Restaurants offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.04% vs 0.00%).
About Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG stock →Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company sells food and beverages, such as burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads, as well as kids' meals, chips, and sides.
Consumer Cyclical · Restaurants · 140,000 employees
About Darden Restaurants
DRI stock →Darden Restaurants, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada. The company operates under Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, Darden and Darden Restaurants brand names.
Consumer Cyclical · Restaurants · 209,931 employees
CMG vs DRI FAQ
Which is bigger, Chipotle Mexican Grill or Darden Restaurants?
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.94B compared with $22.80B for Darden Restaurants (DRI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CMG or DRI?
DRI returned +4.86% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.21% for CMG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CMG or DRI?
DRI has the lower trailing P/E at 19.3, versus 28.2 for CMG. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Chipotle Mexican Grill or Darden Restaurants?
Darden Restaurants pays a dividend yielding 3.04%, while Chipotle Mexican Grill does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Chipotle Mexican Grill and Darden Restaurants in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Cyclical sector.