Chipotle Spends $1 Billion on Stock Buybacks

  • Share repurchases may limit cash for new restaurants, remodels
  • Cash dropped to lowest since 2010 after company bought stock

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is stocking up -- on itself.

The burrito chain has spent more than $1 billion on share buybacks in the past year, part of efforts to cope with a food-safety crisis and a flagging stock price. But the move has raised questions about whether the money would be better spent somewhere else -- say, on new technology or remodeling restaurants -- especially since the shares remain down.