Starbucks Loosens CEO Private Jet Usage Rules
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1d ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Security Upgrade: Following a board-ordered security review, Starbucks has lifted restrictions on CEO Brian Niccol's use of the company’s private jet, mandating that he fly exclusively on corporate aircraft for all travel, including personal trips, in response to the presence of 'credible threat actors.'
- Rising Costs: Niccol's private jet usage cost Starbucks nearly $1 million in fiscal 2025, while total security expenses exceeded $1.1 million, alongside over $370,000 in temporary housing costs, highlighting the significant financial burden of executive protection.
- Performance Outlook: Starbucks anticipates global and U.S. comparable store sales growth of over 3% for fiscal year 2026, with adjusted EPS projected between $2.15 and $2.40, despite reporting Q1 adjusted EPS of 56 cents, falling short of Wall Street's 59 cents expectation.
- Stock Fluctuations: While Starbucks shares rose 5.81% to $101.28 in premarket trading on Wednesday, the stock has declined 7.7% over the past year, indicating challenges faced under Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' turnaround plan.
Discover Tomorrow's Bullish Stocks Today
Receive free daily stock recommendations and professional analysis to optimize your portfolio's potential.
Sign up now to unlock expert insights and stay one step ahead of the market trends.
Analyst Views on CMG
Wall Street analysts forecast CMG stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CMG is 45.95 USD with a low forecast of 35.00 USD and a high forecast of 56.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
25 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 39.160
Low
35.00
Averages
45.95
High
56.00
Current: 39.160
Low
35.00
Averages
45.95
High
56.00
About CMG
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a restaurant company. The Company develops and operates restaurants that serve a menu of burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads, made using fresh ingredients. The Company operates approximately 3839 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates. It owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. The Company is focused in serving sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Its menu includes Burrito, Burrito Bowl, Lifestyle Bowl, Quesadilla, Salad, Tacos, Kid’s Meal, Chips and Sides, and Build your Own (digital only). It also includes Raymonte’s Chicken Bowl, The Mr. Fantasy Burrito, Carne Asada, Build-Your-Own Chipotle, catering and group order. Its subsidiaries include Chipotle Mexican Grill Canada Corp., Chipotle Mexican Grill France SAS, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Why Buffett Would Favor Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Economic Moat: Chipotle has established a strong economic moat in the competitive restaurant industry, with 40 million rewards members by mid-2024, indicating widespread brand recognition and strong consumer preference.
- Customer Value Proposition: By offering high-quality meals made with fresh ingredients at attractive prices, Chipotle successfully attracts consumers looking to upgrade from fast food, continuously innovating its menu to cater to changing preferences.
- Financial Strength: As of Q3 2025, Chipotle operates 3,916 company-owned stores, generating $3 billion in revenue for the quarter, allowing significant investments in marketing and technology, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Operational Efficiency: Chipotle typically maintains a restaurant-level operating margin above 20%, with an average quarterly net income margin of 15.3% over the past five years, and no debt, ensuring robust financial performance in the industry.
Continue Reading
SoundHound AI's Rapid Growth and Challenges
- Significant Revenue Growth: SoundHound AI's revenue grew at a 60% CAGR from 2020 to 2024, with projections of a 49% CAGR to $283 million from 2024 to 2027, indicating strong performance in the AI voice services market.
- Acquisition Strategy Expansion: The company has enhanced its market share in the restaurant and AI chatbot industries through acquisitions of SYNQ3, Allset, Amelia, and Interactions, although this increases its reliance on acquisitions.
- High Market Valuation: With a market capitalization of $4.18 billion, SoundHound trades at 18 times its 2026 sales, despite remaining unprofitable until 2027, reflecting high market expectations for its future growth.
- Comparison with Apple: In contrast to SoundHound, Apple's business model is more sustainable, with expected revenue and EPS growth rates of 7% and 11% from 2025 to 2028, demonstrating its robustness in the voice AI market.
Continue Reading