7 Best Future Food Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

5. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)

Potential Upside: 23.90%

Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 83

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the top companies in the fast-casual dining industry. The company focuses on fresh ingredients, digital expansion, and operation efficiency.

Chipotle reported a 15% annual sales growth, hitting the $11.3 billion mark for the year ended December 31, 2024. The company also reported a 7.4% improvement in comparable sales and above 5% transaction growth. Accounting for 35% of total revenue, digital sales generated $3.9 billion, and restaurant-level margins increased to 26.7%.

On the other hand, for Q4, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) saw an increase of 13% in sales, up to $2.8 billion, driven by a 5.4% increase in comparable sales. Although the company observed some turbulence around the holiday season, it sustained positive transaction growth through operational improvements as well as strong brand engagement. Furthermore, Chipotle maintained its aggressive expansion strategy and opened 304 new locations in 2024, including 257 Chipotlanes, elevating its drive-thru and digital ordering capabilities.

Furthermore, the company is hyper-focused on improved restaurant efficiency through improvement in throughput and deployment of new kitchen equipment, adding to enhanced service times and order accuracy. In line with this, the company is expecting to streamline food preparation while upholding quality through the introduction of produce slicers at all its locations. Moreover, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) introduced a limited-time menu offering, Chipotle Honey Chicken, after successful market testing.

Although the company did face cost pressures due to labor inflation and ingredient pricing, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.’s (NYSE:CMG) focus on operational excellence, digital growth, and expansion of its restaurants positions it for long-term growth, putting in a strong position among the Best Future Food Stocks to Buy.