Chipotle's stock surged 8% after the Financial Times reported that Starbucks has explored acquiring the fast-casual chain in what would be one of the largest restaurant deals ever. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who previously led Chipotle before joining Starbucks in September 2024, was reportedly involved in seeking counsel on the potential $41 billion deal, though neither company confirmed the report and Wall Street analysts view the likelihood as low.