Intech Investment Management LLC Boosts Stake in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)

Intech Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT - Free Report) by 327.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 103,019 shares of the restaurant operator's stock after purchasing an additional 78,917 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC owned 0.23% of Brinker International worth $13,628,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EAT. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Brinker International in the 4th quarter valued at about $410,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Brinker International by 23.5% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 272,822 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $20,879,000 after acquiring an additional 51,927 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR acquired a new stake in Brinker International in the 4th quarter valued at about $661,000. Ifrah Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Brinker International in the 4th quarter valued at about $280,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in Brinker International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $5,330,000.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO Douglas N. Comings sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.10, for a total value of $1,253,250.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 26,752 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,470,259.20. This trade represents a 21.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Cindy L. Davis sold 5,802 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,107 shares in the company, valued at $2,086,561.02. The trade was a 34.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 20,802 shares of company stock worth $3,752,464. 1.72% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Brinker International from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $70.00 to $115.00 in a report on Friday, December 20th. Northcoast Research raised shares of Brinker International from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $215.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. StockNews.com raised shares of Brinker International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $108.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $140.18.

Brinker International Stock Down 0.3 %

Brinker International stock traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $144.93. 1,265,456 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,400,934. The company has a market cap of $6.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 2.56. Brinker International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $43.37 and a twelve month high of $192.22. 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 company has a fifty day moving average of $155.57 and a 200-day moving average of $123.79.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 net margin of 5.45% and a return on equity of 879.47%. Sell-side analysts expect that Brinker International, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current year.

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.