Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) vs Brinker International (EAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Brinker International (EAT) has outperformed Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) over the past year, gaining 45.8% versus a loss of 20.3%. Over five years, EAT leads with a +289.8% price change compared with -16.0% for CMG. Chipotle Mexican Grill is the larger company by market cap ($41.35 billion vs $7.97 billion), about 5.2 times the size, while Brinker International is growing revenue faster (+7.9% vs +5.4%).
On valuation, Brinker International trades at a lower forward P/E (13.1x vs 23.9x for Chipotle Mexican Grill). Chipotle Mexican Grill converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% versus 8.4%.
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 | EAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $32.68 | $190.20 |
| Market cap | $41.35B | $7.97B |
| 1-day change | +6.21% | +2.64% |
| YTD return | -11.68% | +29.12% |
| 1-year return | -20.25% | +45.76% |
| 5-year return | -15.97% | +289.80% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.98 | 17.50 |
| Forward P/E | 23.88 | 13.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.09 | $10.87 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.93B | $5.81B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.41% | +7.86% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.54B | $487.00M |
| Gross margin | — | 74.38% |
| Operating margin | 16.23% | 10.67% |
| Net margin | 12.88% | 8.39% |
| 52-week high | $42.82 | $254.99 |
| 52-week low | $28.04 | $100.30 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.68% | -25.41% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.90% | +38.06% |
| Average volume | 16.47M | 1.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.27B | 41.88M |
| Employees | 140,000 | 20,096 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| 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
- Chipotle Mexican Grill is about 5.2 times larger than Brinker International by market value ($41.35B vs $7.97B).
- EAT has outperformed CMG by 66.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill trades at a higher earnings multiple (30.0x vs 17.5x trailing P/E).
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 Discretionary · Restaurants · 140,000 employees
About Brinker International
EAT stock →Brinker International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchise of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 20,096 employees
CMG vs EAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Chipotle Mexican Grill or Brinker International?
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $41.35B compared with $7.97B for Brinker International (EAT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CMG or EAT?
EAT returned +45.76% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.25% for CMG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CMG or EAT?
EAT has the lower trailing P/E at 17.5, versus 30.0 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.
Are Chipotle Mexican Grill and Brinker International in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.