Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Reaches New 52-Week High - What's Next?

Shares of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $187.34 and last traded at $186.64, with a volume of 596477 shares. The stock had previously closed at $181.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on EAT shares. Wedbush upped their price objective on Brinker International from $140.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Brinker International from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised 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 research note on Friday, December 20th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brinker International currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $140.18.

Brinker International Stock Down 3.1 %

The company's fifty day simple moving average is $143.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $105.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.09 billion, a PE ratio of 31.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 2.54.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $1.43. Brinker International had a return on equity of 879.47% and a net margin of 5.45%. Analysts anticipate that Brinker International, Inc. will post 8.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brinker International

In other Brinker International news, Director Cindy L. Davis sold 5,802 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.86, for a total transaction of $1,089,963.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,107 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,086,561.02. This represents a 34.31 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.72% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EAT. Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brinker International in the 4th quarter worth $6,077,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Brinker International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $6,507,000. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Brinker International by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 12,989 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $1,718,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Brinker International in the fourth quarter worth approximately $10,745,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Brinker International by 22.5% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 19,983 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $2,644,000 after purchasing an additional 3,675 shares in the last quarter.

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.