Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for EAT Earnings

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q1 2028 earnings per share estimates for Brinker International in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, February 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the restaurant operator will post earnings per share of $2.39 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $2.18. Zacks Research currently has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Brinker International’s current full-year earnings is $8.30 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Brinker International’s FY2028 earnings at $13.01 EPS.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on EAT. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of Brinker International in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $192.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Brinker International from $177.00 to $187.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Brinker International from $215.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Brinker International from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Brinker International from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Brinker International currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $188.56.

Brinker International Stock Performance

Shares of EAT opened at $162.40 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.42, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.35. Brinker International has a twelve month low of $100.30 and a twelve month high of $187.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.36. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $154.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $144.42.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The restaurant operator reported $2.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.53 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $1.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. Brinker International had a return on equity of 134.92% and a net margin of 7.98%.Brinker International’s quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.80 EPS. Brinker International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.045-10.850 EPS.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Brinker International news, EVP Michaela M. Ware sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.40, for a total value of $812,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 19,923 shares in the company, valued at $3,235,495.20. This trade represents a 20.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CMO George S. Felix sold 10,431 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.00, for a total value of $1,679,391.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 8,064 shares in the company, valued at $1,298,304. This trade represents a 56.40% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 97,678 shares of company stock valued at $15,700,372 in the last quarter. 1.43% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brinker International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EAT. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Brinker International during the third quarter worth $25,000. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in shares of Brinker International by 105.8% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in shares of Brinker International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Brinker International during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Brinker International by 52.1% during the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 219 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter.

Trending Headlines about Brinker International

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised several near‑ and long‑term earnings estimates (including FY2026, FY2027 and FY2028) and issued a “Strong‑Buy” on EAT — this is the main bullish catalyst, as higher analyst EPS targets and a Strong‑Buy label tend to lift investor sentiment. MarketBeat EAT
• Neutral Sentiment: A Seeking Alpha piece highlights solid results and traffic gains but notes there’s still room for improvement — useful context for investors evaluating operational momentum but not a direct catalyst. Article
• Neutral Sentiment: Chili’s launched a marketing push — the “Margarita of the Month Club” and limited‑time promotions around National Margarita Day — which could modestly boost traffic and brand engagement but is unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. PR Newswire
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks made a tiny downward tweak to its Q2 2028 EPS forecast (from $3.31 to $3.30) and a small cut to a Q2 2027 estimate — immaterial in isolation but worth noting given the many simultaneous estimate changes. MarketBeat EAT
• Negative Sentiment: Director James C. Katzman sold 447 shares at ~$164.19 (SEC filing disclosed). Insider sales can be interpreted negatively by some investors, though the sale represented a small (~1.5%) reduction in his holdings. SEC Filing

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.