James Butler Sells 10,000 Shares of Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Stock

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) SVP James Butler sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.37, for a total value of $2,403,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 9,064 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,178,713.68. This trade represents a 52.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Brinker International Trading Down 2.1%

EAT opened at $248.60 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. Brinker International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $100.30 and a twelve month high of $254.99. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $199.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $164.77.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The restaurant operator reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.09 by ($0.02). Brinker International had a net margin of 8.39% and a return on equity of 122.35%. The firm had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.30 earnings per share. Brinker International’s quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Brinker International has set its FY 2027 guidance at 12.600-13.400 EPS. Analysts predict that Brinker International, Inc. will post 13.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EAT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $175.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Bank of America raised their target price on Brinker International from $224.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Brinker International from $175.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Stephens boosted their price target on Brinker International from $220.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Brinker International from $220.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $242.19.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brinker International

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAT. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 570.4% during the fourth quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 181 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Kilter Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 58.5% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 225 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in Brinker International by 33,000.0% during the 2nd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 331 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the last quarter.

More Brinker International News

Here are the key news stories impacting Brinker International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Robert W. Baird initiated coverage with an “outperform” rating and a $325 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. The bullish view adds to a generally favorable analyst consensus, including recent target increases from Morgan Stanley and UBS. Analyst coverage report
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlighted Brinker as a strong growth stock, supported by its favorable growth characteristics and improving earnings outlook. The company’s latest quarterly revenue rose 5.1% year over year, while earnings increased from the prior-year period despite a small quarterly EPS miss. Why Brinker is a strong growth stock
• Positive Sentiment: Brinker was included among restaurant stocks positioned to benefit from strong July industry sales and continued consumer spending. Its Chili’s and Maggiano’s brands could benefit if restaurant demand remains resilient. Restaurant sales stock picks
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks also identified Brinker as having solid interest-coverage metrics, suggesting it has comparatively strong ability to service debt amid market volatility. However, the company’s current ratio and quick ratio remain below 1, indicating limited short-term liquidity. Interest coverage stock picks
• Negative Sentiment: Senior Vice President James Butler sold 10,000 shares for approximately $2.4 million, reducing his direct holdings by 52.45%. Although one insider transaction does not establish a broader trend, the sizable sale may concern investors, particularly after EAT’s sharp rally and elevated valuation. Brinker insider stock sale
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 23 times earnings and near its 52-week high, expectations for continued growth appear demanding. The broader analyst consensus price target of $242.19 is below recent trading levels, creating a potential valuation overhang despite the new $325 bullish target.

Brinker International Company Profile

Brinker International, Inc (NYSE: EAT) is a leading global operator of casual dining restaurants. The company’s portfolio is anchored by its flagship Chili’s® Grill & Bar concept and Maggiano’s® Little Italy full‐service restaurants, offering a range of American‐style menu items, handcrafted cocktails and family‐friendly dining experiences. Through dine‐in, takeout, delivery and catering services, Brinker seeks to meet consumer preferences across multiple channels.

The Chili’s brand features signature items such as baby back ribs, burgers and fajitas alongside a rotating selection of limited‐time offerings and seasonal beverages.