2011 Top S&P Stocks: No. 9 Chipotle

Chipotle served up a nearly 55 percent increase in its share price year to date, making it the No. 9 in the “Fast Money” countdown of the top S&P stocks of 2011.

Chipotle stock traded midday Tuesday at $329 per share. Its 52-week high was $347.94 with a low of $212.58 and EPS of $6.42.

“There’s no question that the risk with a growth stock is that people are expecting growth,” said Sara Senatore, restaurant analyst at Bernstein. “So when you don’t get that growth, people have to revise their models, have to revise how they think about their stock.”

Senatore, who issued an “outperform” rating on the stock, said she liked the company’s outlook because of healthy same-store sales and the possibility of increasing margins on falling food prices.

Trader Patty Edwards said her concern was valuation — “at 38 times next year’s earnings to me seems a little hard to swallow.”

“Fast Money” pro Mike Murphy said he liked the restaurant but wasn’t a buyer.

“I don’t know that I like the stock at this levels,” he said.

“I like it here — margin expansions, the growth is there, 100 percent of its revenue domestically based here in the U.S. You can tack on Darden Restaurants,” said trader Joe Terranova. “I like the story on both.”

Darden shares traded at $43.79 midday, down 5.71 percent year to date.

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Trader disclosure: On Dec. 20, 2011, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders: Terranova is long VRTS; Terranova is long IBM; Terranova is long LQD; Terranova is long MUB; Terranova is long EMC; Terranova is long CSCO; Terranova is long AXP; Terranova is long SBUX; Terranova is long TRLG; Murphy owns AKS; Murphy owns BAC;

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