Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Reaches New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $136.45 and last traded at $136.25, with a volume of 92522 shares. The stock had previously closed at $133.09.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EAT has been the subject of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Brinker International in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. Bank Of America (Bofa) upped their price target on shares of Brinker International from $94.00 to $97.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $76.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price objective on Brinker International from $97.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $98.53.

Brinker International Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $117.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $87.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.54. The company has a market capitalization of $6.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 2.51.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The restaurant operator reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. Brinker International had a negative return on equity of 839.19% and a net margin of 4.11%. The firm's revenue was up 12.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.28 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Brinker International, Inc. will post 5.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brinker International

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAT. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Brinker International by 33.2% in the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 986 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 246 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC lifted its position in Brinker International by 1,265.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 1,884 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $136,000 after acquiring an additional 1,746 shares during the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC bought a new stake in Brinker International during the second quarter valued at about $166,000. Xponance Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Brinker International in the second quarter valued at about $202,000. Finally, Burford Brothers Inc. bought a new position in shares of Brinker International in the third quarter worth about $203,000.

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.