Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) Cash Flow Statement

NYSE: CMGOperating cash, capex, free cash flow and buybacks.

Where CMG’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$2.11B
+0.4% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$666.3M
5.6% of revenue
Free cash flow
$1.45B
12.1% margin
Returned to shareholders
$2.43B
168% of free cash flow
Change in cash
−$392.5M
cash at year-end $385.9M
Cash from operations: $2.11BCash from operations$2.11BInvestments (net): $631.3MInvestments (net)$631.3MDrawn from cash: $392.5MDrawn from cash$392.5MShare buybacks: $2.43BShare buybacks$2.43B · 77%Capital expenditures: $666.3MCapital expenditures$666.3M · 21%Other financing: $45.4MOther financing$45.4M · 1%$3.14B
Cash from operations
$2.11B
Capital expenditures
−$666.3M
Investments (net)
+$631.3M
Share buybacks (net)
−$2.43B
Other financing
−$45.4M
Change in cash
−$392.5M

Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.

CMG operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

CMG cash flow trends, 2016–2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$349.2M2016$2.11B2025+22.1%/yr
Capital expenditures$258.8M2016$666.3M2025+11.1%/yr
Free cash flow$90.4M2016$1.45B2025+36.1%/yr
Free cash flow margin2.3%201612.1%2025+9.8 pts
Operating cash flow / net income15.2320161.382025−13.85
Stock-based compensation$64.2M2016$119.5M2025+7.2%/yr
Dividends paid$02016$02017—
Share buybacks (net)$837.7M2016$2.43B2025+12.5%/yr
Capex / revenue6.6%20165.6%2025−1.0 pts

Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.

CMG cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

CMG net income vs operating cash flow

Net incomeOperating cash flow

Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).

CMG cash flow statement

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$1.54B$1.53B$1.23B$899.1M$653.0M$355.8M$350.2M$176.6M$176.3M$22.9M
Depreciation & amortization$361.4M$335.0M$319.4M$286.8M$254.7M$238.5M$212.8M$202.0M$163.3M$146.4M
Stock-based compensation$119.5M$131.7M$124.0M$98.0M$176.4M$82.6M$91.4M$69.2M$65.3M$64.2M
Change in working capital$6.5M$125.8M$95.3M$78.6M$197.4M−$338.6M−$131.5M$104.1M$66.9M$108.3M
Other non-cash items$90.7M−$21.6M$16.0M−$39.4M$623,000$325.6M$198.8M$69.8M−$4.7M$7.5M
Cash from operating activities$2.11B$2.11B$1.78B$1.32B$1.28B$663.8M$721.6M$621.6M$467.1M$349.2M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$666.3M−$593.6M−$560.7M−$479.2M−$442.5M−$373.4M−$333.9M−$287.4M−$216.8M−$258.8M
Investments (net)$631.3M−$837.5M−$977.7M−$350.9M−$83.6M−$59.4M$28.0M−$100.2M$130.2M$585.6M
Acquisitions & other investing$0$593.6M$592.4M$0$4.0M$0$14.0M$0$0$0
Cash from investing activities−$35.1M−$837.5M−$946.0M−$830.0M−$522.0M−$432.7M−$292.0M−$387.6M−$86.6M$326.8M
Financing activities
Dividends paid————————$0$0
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$2.43B−$1.00B−$592.3M−$830.1M−$466.5M−$54.4M−$190.6M−$160.9M−$285.2M−$837.7M
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
Other financing−$45.4M−$72.1M−$68.3M−$99.3M−$82.1M−$50.5M−$11.1M−$5.6M−$676,000$1.4M
Cash from financing activities−$2.47B−$1.07B−$660.7M−$929.4M−$548.6M−$104.9M−$201.7M−$166.5M−$285.9M−$836.3M
Summary
Net change in cash−$392.5M$192.2M$177.2M−$437.3M$210.4M$127.4M$228.3M$66.0M$96.7M−$160.1M
Cash at end of period$385.9M$778.4M$586.2M$409.0M$846.2M$635.8M$508.5M$280.2M$184.6M$87.9M
Free cash flow$1.45B$1.51B$1.22B$844.0M$839.6M$290.5M$387.7M$334.2M$250.3M$90.4M
Free cash flow margin12.1%13.4%12.4%9.8%11.1%4.9%6.9%6.9%5.6%2.3%
Capex / revenue5.6%5.2%5.7%5.5%5.9%6.2%6.0%5.9%4.8%6.6%
Operating cash flow / net income1.381.371.451.471.961.872.063.522.6515.23

Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.

CMG cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Chipotle generated $2.1 billion of cash from operations (up 0.4%) and spent $666.3 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $1.4 billion, 12.1% of revenue. It returned $2.4 billion to shareholders through dividends ($0) and net share buybacks ($2.4 billion). Cash and equivalents fell by $392.5 million over the year.

Related: CMG income statement, CMG balance sheet. See the CMG stock overview for the latest quote and news.

CMG cash flow FAQ

What is Chipotle's free cash flow?

Chipotle's free cash flow was $1.4 billion in fiscal 2025: $2.1 billion of operating cash flow minus $666.3 million of capital expenditures It was $1.5 billion a year earlier..

How much cash does Chipotle generate from operations?

Chipotle generated $2.1 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.38 times its net income of $1.5 billion.

How much does Chipotle spend on capital expenditures?

Chipotle spent $666.3 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 5.6% of revenue, compared with $593.6 million the year before.

How much stock does Chipotle buy back?

Chipotle spent $2.4 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

Restaurants: cash flow