Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Jefferies Financial Group Analyst Says

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its target price boosted by equities researchers at Jefferies Financial Group from $155.00 to $175.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “hold” rating on the restaurant operator’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price objective points to a potential upside of 8.71% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $177.00 to $187.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James Financial upgraded Brinker International from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $195.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup lifted their target price on Brinker International from $187.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Brinker International from $215.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 24th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Brinker International has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $189.83.

Brinker International Price Performance

NYSE EAT traded up $4.34 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $160.98. 1,744,201 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,198,635. The company has a market capitalization of $7.15 billion, a PE ratio of 16.70, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.35 and a quick ratio of 0.29. Brinker International has a 52-week low of $100.30 and a 52-week high of $192.21. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $150.66 and its 200-day moving average is $144.13.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brinker International

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Brinker International by 105.8% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Brinker International by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,462 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $264,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its position in Brinker International by 0.7% in the second quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 13,043 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $2,352,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Brinker International by 0.7% during the second quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 12,097 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $2,181,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period.

More Brinker International News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 beat and stronger guidance — Brinker reported $2.87 EPS vs. $2.53 expected and $1.45B revenue vs. $1.41B, and raised FY‑2026 guidance after Chili’s delivered standout comp growth, which supports upside to earnings estimates. PR Newswire: Brinker Reports Q2 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Broad analyst price‑target upgrades — Several firms raised targets and/or ratings today, including Morgan Stanley to $205 (overweight), Goldman Sachs to $200 (buy), UBS to $190 (buy), Citi to $190 (buy) and JPMorgan to $187 (overweight). These raises signal increased conviction and add buying interest. Benzinga: Analyst Moves
• Neutral Sentiment: Some firms remain cautious or neutral — Barclays raised its target to $170 but kept an equal‑weight rating, and Piper Sandler lifted its target to $166 while maintaining a neutral view, which could temper momentum. Benzinga: Mixed Analyst Views
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical picture supportive — a recent “golden cross” (50‑day SMA crossing above 200‑day SMA) suggests positive technical momentum that may attract trend traders. Zacks: Technical Outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Not all signals are uniformly bullish — while many shops raised targets, a few kept neutral/equal‑weight calls and some upside is already priced in after the earnings pop; this could limit the near‑term rally if execution or margins slip. Benzinga: Analyst Notes

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.