12:05 AM EDT, 05/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We keep our 12-month target price at $44, 35x our 2026 EPS estimate, a discount to shares' 50x five-year average, reflecting a lower comparable sales growth profile. We raise our 2026 EPS estimate to $1.26 (from $1.25) and lower 2027's to $1.45 (from $1.46). Following encouraging Q1 results, we reiterate our Buy opinion. CMG posted comparable sales growth of 0.5%, including transaction growth of 0.6%, which highlights the company's focus on value perception with U.S. consumers. We are encouraged by comparable sales growth stabilization following declines in 2025, suggesting the company's structural growth profile remains intact. Further evidence of structural growth catalysts includes new store growth (+49 in Q1) and a pipeline of limited-time offerings and incremental add-ons (such as its cilantro lime sauce) gaining traction and boosting revenue without increasing menu prices. Though this strategy will pressure restaurant margins (-250 bps in Q1), we think this is beneficial for long-term growth.