Is This the Bottom for Chipotle?

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) has taken it on the chin for a few months now after a reported outbreak of E. coli in some customers. However, the burrito giant’s troubles didn’t end there. Multiple outbreaks occurred following the initial one, causing Chipotle and its investors to go into panic mode.

The stock was punished, pushed to a new 52-week low, but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. Shares rallied in Wednesday’s session ahead of an executive presentation.

This could be the turning point for the burrito chain after the stock has dropped roughly 40% since the initial outbreak. Although, it should be noted that calling a bottom is risky business.

In response to the stock dropping this far, Chipotle announced plans for a $300 million stock buyback and unveiled revamped food-safety procedures, which include improving its supply chain and conducting DNA testing of produce. This is the perfect time for Chipotle to institute a repurchase plan to help stop the bleeding and capitalize on the lower share prices.

Analysts feel that, with the outbreak contained, an improvement to the food safety and a strong brand with consumers, traffic should turn positive in the third quarter of 2016. Investors should remember that Wall Street as a whole remains very negative and any future outbreaks could be very bad for the company.
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Chipotle’s management has worked to identify where in the supply chain the food could have become tainted, and after three months it seems plausible that the company was able to find the problem, but we fill find out for sure in the presentation.

Shares of Chipotle were trading up 6.4% at $430.26 on Wednesday, with a consensus analyst price target of $505.38 and a 52-week trading range of $399.14 to $758.61.