Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 1.045-10.850 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 10.410. The company issued revenue guidance of $5.8 billion-$5.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $5.7 billion.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EAT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Brinker International in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $192.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $176.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Brinker International from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $160.00 to $200.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Brinker International from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $190.00 to $192.00 in a report on Monday, October 6th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $184.72.

Brinker International Stock Performance

NYSE EAT opened at $156.09 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The company has a market capitalization of $6.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.34. Brinker International has a 12-month low of $100.30 and a 12-month high of $192.21. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $150.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.13.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The restaurant operator reported $2.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.53 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.41 billion. Brinker International had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 164.66%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.80 earnings per share. Brinker International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.045-10.850 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Brinker International will post 8.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Brinker International News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 results beat expectations — EPS $2.87 vs. $2.53 estimate and revenue $1.45B vs. $1.41B, with year‑over‑year revenue growth ~6.9%. This earnings beat is the main driver of buying interest. BRINKER INTERNATIONAL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL 2026 RESULTS AND UPDATES FISCAL 2026 GUIDANCE
• Positive Sentiment: Chili’s continues to lead growth — management reported +9% same‑store sales and cited sustained strength that produced a two‑year comp of +43%, underpinning the company’s outperformance vs. the broader restaurant sector. Brinker Boosts Outlook as Chili’s Continues to Outperform
• Positive Sentiment: Raised FY‑2026 outlook — Brinker updated full‑year guidance above Street expectations, prompting upgrades to near‑term profit estimates and contributing to early trading strength. Brinker International Stock Jumps on Earnings Beat as Chili’s Continues to Deliver
• Positive Sentiment: Technical backdrop supportive — the 50‑day moving average recently crossed above the 200‑day (a “golden cross”), which can attract momentum and technically oriented buyers. Brinker International (EAT)’s Technical Outlook is Bright After Key Golden Cross
• Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call and transcript provide color on unit economics, marketing, and margin assumptions — useful for modeling sustainability of Chili’s momentum. Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst write‑ups compare key metrics to expectations and prior periods — helpful for quantifying margin and revenue drivers but don’t materially alter the headline beat. Brinker International (EAT) Q2 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Industry and execution risks remain — some coverage flags Brinker’s competitive restaurant market and the need to sustain Chili’s exceptional comps; any slowdown in traffic or margin pressure could reverse investor enthusiasm. Brinker International: A 7.3 Rating in a Competitive Restaurant Market

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in Brinker International during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Allworth Financial LP lifted 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 worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Brinker International by 52.2% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 615 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of Brinker International by 481.6% during the 2nd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 599 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 496 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Brinker International by 271.1% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 846 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $153,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the last quarter.

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.