Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) COO Douglas Comings Sells 5,000 Shares

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) COO Douglas Comings sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.29, for a total transaction of $1,181,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 17,527 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,141,454.83. The trade was a 22.20% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Brinker International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EAT traded up $4.96 during trading on Monday, hitting $242.11. 924,214 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,172,871. The company has a market capitalization of $10.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.23. Brinker International, Inc. has a 1-year low of $100.30 and a 1-year high of $253.71. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $186.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $160.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a current ratio of 0.45.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The restaurant operator reported $3.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.09 by ($0.02). Brinker International had a return on equity of 122.35% and a net margin of 8.39%.The business had revenue of $1.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.30 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Brinker International has set its FY 2027 guidance at 12.600-13.400 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Brinker International, Inc. will post 13.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on EAT shares. DA Davidson boosted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $160.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Brinker International from $220.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $227.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $190.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Brinker International from $175.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $238.05.

Key Headlines Impacting Brinker International

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

• Positive Sentiment: Momentum remains a key support: EAT rose 5.31% over the past week, and Zacks highlighted the stock as attractive for momentum-focused investors. Brinker International Is Up 5.31% in One Week
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also cited Brinker’s growth characteristics as reasons the company could outperform the broader market, providing a favorable fundamental narrative for investors. Is Brinker International a Solid Growth Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Piper Sandler raised its price target from $166 to $240 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The higher target reflects improved expectations, but it implies limited upside relative to recent trading levels. Piper Sandler Raises Brinker Price Target
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains a focus for investors, with coverage discussing broker ratings and whether Wall Street expectations justify the stock’s valuation. Brinker International Broker Ratings
• Negative Sentiment: Northcoast Research cut Brinker to Neutral, adding to concerns that the sharp rally may have outpaced near-term fundamental support. Brinker Cut to Neutral at Northcoast Research
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple insiders sold shares, including CEO Kevin Hochman, who sold 40,000 shares worth approximately $9.7 million; EVP sales totaled more than $7.2 million, while the COO, SVP and a director also reduced their holdings. The transactions do not necessarily indicate deteriorating operations, but the breadth and size of the selling may weigh on sentiment.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brinker International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Brinker International during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Brinker International by 570.4% during the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 181 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of Brinker International by 58.5% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 225 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Kilter Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its holdings in Brinker International by 45.1% in the fourth quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 299 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter.

About Brinker International

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.