Blueshift Asset Management LLC Lowers Holdings in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)

Blueshift Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT - Free Report) by 41.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,691 shares of the restaurant operator's stock after selling 9,083 shares during the quarter. Brinker International makes up approximately 0.6% of Blueshift Asset Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Blueshift Asset Management LLC's holdings in Brinker International were worth $1,679,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of EAT. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Brinker International in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $410,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brinker International by 23.5% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 272,822 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $20,879,000 after acquiring an additional 51,927 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR acquired a new position in shares of Brinker International in the fourth quarter worth $661,000. Ifrah Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the fourth quarter worth $280,000. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Brinker International by 399.9% in the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 24,102 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $1,845,000 after acquiring an additional 19,281 shares in the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EAT has been the topic of several recent research reports. Argus upgraded Brinker International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Brinker International from $108.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Brinker International from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $70.00 to $115.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Brinker International from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $140.18.

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Brinker International Price Performance

NYSE:EAT traded up $9.97 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $154.78. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,229,182 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,401,252. The company has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 26.82, a PEG ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 2.56. Brinker International, Inc. has a 52-week low of $43.37 and a 52-week high of $192.22. The business's 50-day moving average is $155.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $125.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.96, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.33.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $1.43. Brinker International had a net margin of 5.45% and a return on equity of 879.47%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Brinker International, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Douglas N. Comings sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.90, for a total value of $1,409,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 34,252 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,435,950.80. The trade was a 17.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Cindy L. Davis sold 5,802 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.86, for a total transaction of $1,089,963.72. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,107 shares in the company, valued at $2,086,561.02. This represents a 34.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 20,802 shares of company stock worth $3,752,464 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.72% of the company's stock.

About Brinker International

Brinker International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchising of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.