Go Long Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) Stock for 2,400% Returns!

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More than a few investors have exited Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) in recent days. I can’t say I’m thrilled about the latest price wars in CMG stock, but I can still use the options market to put together a high-profit trade idea.

Go Long Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) Stock for 2,400% Returns!
Source: Shutterstock

Chipotle’s shares are off by about 4% since I last wrote about the fresh fast food chain (in early May). No one said it would be easy for CMG to return to its former glory, though.

Investors can chalk up the recent weakness to persistent enough campaigns of Chipotle being a permanently tarnished brand, talk of perpetually weaker margins and in-tow worry that CMG stock is overpriced. None of that is helped by those darned expensive, but yummy and healthy avocados.

But is the short crowd — now at about 17% of the float — right in thinking Chipotle has seen its best days? Probably not, at least according to a recent note from Mizuho Securities.

I can’t help but agree with their optimism.

From where I’m standing, it might be easy to discount my digs in Portland, Oregon, as being progressive and not reflective of other restaurant markets. But it’s also true that the healthy activity I’m seeing is without the “buy one, get one free” discounts that bears regurgitate as gospel, claiming they’re the only reason customers still bother to visit Chipotle at all.

Additionally, I don’t mind pointing out that history is generally very agreeable to ignoring CMG stock naysayers. It’s not a stretch to think that these same bears had similar concerns when past scandals in other competing chains — like McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Jack In the Box Inc (NASDAQ:JACK) or maybeYum Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) — surfaced.

Don’t let them tell you this time is different. It’s not.

But these kinds of shakeouts do take time. Even then, bullish repricing doesn’t come in a linear nature. So while I’m optimistic that CMG stock will eventually make new highs, for now, let’s focus on the value disguised as diseased fat.

Chipotle’s Chart

CMG stock chart
Click to Enlarge
Source: Charts by TradingView

That was on May 8. As is apparent on the provided daily chart, CMG stock failed to comply.

Over the past few sessions, conditions have become increasingly grave for shorter-term traders as shares  broke below a fairly decent-looking hammer candlestick. More important in our view is the $425-$430 area — a critical support area for the current uptrend, and one that remains intact.

From the notations on the provided daily chart, this price zone holds a couple key merging trend lines, as well as the 50% retracement level. Because Chipotle shares could also retreat into this area while still establishing a new higher low pivot within the uptrend, my technical focus lays there.

How to Trade CMG Stock

After reviewing Chipotle’s options menu, I’ve located a tasty idea that aligns nicely with our bullish outlook, but won’t make us pay dearly if we’re wrong. The spread I’m looking at is a modified bullish fence.

With CMG stock near $451, this spread combination sells the Sep $430/$425 put vertical and buys the Sep $500/$510 bull call spread as a package for a debit of 40 cents. What does this combo meal offer traders?

First, down to $430 and during the next three months, risk is contained to just the 40-cent debit (or similar action on the five-minute chart). Nice.

Below $430, risk is ultimately defined by the debit and the $5-wide vertical, or $5.40. That’s also a fairly insignificant amount of risk at 1.2% of CMG’s current price.

This modified spread also allows the trader to be in a decent position to take on eventual ownership of Chipotle shares at a healthy discount to today’s price, with protection during the life of the spread. For instance, let’s say July comps or earnings send CMG stock reeling to $370. If you really wanted to finally pull the trigger, your effective buy-in price would be $375.40. Compared to $451, this sounds pretty good, right?

But what if Chipotle reverses and climbs higher over the next couple months? Our outlook is bullish after all.

Here too, this spread is quite attractive. If CMG stock simply begins to rally sooner rather than later, the position should start accruing profits before ever going in-the-money. However, if shares just narrowly reach new highs at expiration, the $500/$510 vertical spread can expand to $10 and offer a healthy whopper of a return of 2,400%!

Investment accounts under Christopher Tyler’s management do not currently own positions in any of the securities or their derivatives mentioned in this article. The information offered is based upon Christopher Tyler’s observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only; the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. For additional market insights and related musings, follow Chris on Twitter @Options_CAT and StockTwits.

The information offered is based upon Christopher Tyler’s observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only; the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. For additional market insights and related musings, follow Chris on Twitter @Options_CAT and StockTwits.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2017/06/go-long-chipotle-mexican-grill-inc-cmg-stock-for-2400-returns/.

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