The author claims one Chipotle location gave him and his friends food poisoning, and that similar incidents historically hurt the stock. This, combined with perceived declining foot traffic and negative customer service, leads him to expect a major earnings miss on July 29. Short 300 shares and buy $30 strike puts (9/18 expiry) based on a belief that CMG will drop sharply. Community comments indicate many locations are still busy and the brand has a loyal customer base; past food scares didn’t permanently damage the stock. If earnings beat, short squeeze pressure is high.
The author claims one Chipotle location gave him and his friends food poisoning, and that similar incidents historically hurt the stock. This, combined with perceived declining foot traffic and negative customer service, leads him to expect a major earnings miss on July 29. Short 300 shares and buy $30 strike puts (9/18 expiry) based on a belief that CMG will drop sharply. Community comments indicate many locations are still busy and the brand has a loyal customer base; past food scares didn’t permanently damage the stock. If earnings beat, short squeeze pressure is high.