Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Has $70.64 Million Stake in Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLMN) by 4.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,509,269 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 104,368 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 2.89% of Bloomin’ Brands worth $70,637,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bloomin’ Brands by 221.2% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,147 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $102,000 after acquiring an additional 2,856 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Bloomin’ Brands by 683.2% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,261 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund bought a new stake in Bloomin’ Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,280,000. Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in Bloomin’ Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $759,000. Finally, Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of Bloomin’ Brands by 28.9% in the third quarter. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. now owns 67,823 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $1,668,000 after purchasing an additional 15,198 shares during the last quarter.

Bloomin’ Brands Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BLMN opened at $20.90 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.12. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.14. Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $20.64 and a 1-year high of $30.13. The firm has a market cap of $1.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.66 and a beta of 2.02.

Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 7th. The restaurant operator reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.75 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Bloomin’ Brands had a return on equity of 65.73% and a net margin of 1.56%. The firm’s revenue was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.98 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. will post 2.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Bloomin’ Brands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 20th will be issued a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.59%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 17th. Bloomin’ Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 150.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BLMN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Bloomin’ Brands from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Bloomin’ Brands from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Bloomin’ Brands from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Bloomin’ Brands from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 8th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $27.50.

About Bloomin’ Brands

Bloomin' Brands, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates casual, upscale casual, and fine dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, U.S. and International. Its restaurant portfolio has four concepts, including Outback Steakhouse, a casual steakhouse restaurant; Carrabba's Italian Grill, a casual Italian restaurant; Bonefish Grill; and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, a contemporary steakhouse.