Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Hits New 12-Month High - What's Next?

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $149.51 and last traded at $148.84, with a volume of 93043 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $144.12.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Argus upgraded Brinker International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Brinker International from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their target price for the company from $95.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank Of America (Bofa) boosted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $94.00 to $97.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $83.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Brinker International from $69.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $108.29.

Brinker International Trading Up 6.6 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.54, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.46, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 2.52. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $132.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $97.06.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The restaurant operator reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.10 billion. Brinker International had a net margin of 4.11% and a negative return on equity of 839.19%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.28 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Brinker International, Inc. will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Michaela M. Ware sold 3,753 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.02, for a total value of $386,634.06. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 23,071 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,376,774.42. The trade was a 13.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.72% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Brinker International

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAT. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC grew its position in shares of Brinker International by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 200 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in Brinker International by 123.9% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 309 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. bought a new position in Brinker International during the second quarter valued at $202,000. Burford Brothers Inc. bought a new position in Brinker International during the third quarter valued at $203,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the second quarter worth $204,000.

Brinker International Company Profile

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.