Wells Fargo & Company Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Stock

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its price target upped by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $175.00 to $200.00 in a report released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the restaurant operator’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price suggests a potential upside of 20.01% from the company’s previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Brinker International in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Bank of America upgraded Brinker International from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $190.00 to $192.00 in a report on Monday, October 6th. TD Cowen started coverage on Brinker International in a research report on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $192.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Brinker International from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $160.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $176.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $181.05.

Brinker International Price Performance

Shares of Brinker International stock traded up $5.75 on Thursday, hitting $166.65. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 123,049 shares, compared to its average volume of 944,212. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $146.76 and a 200-day moving average price of $144.47. Brinker International has a 52-week low of $100.30 and a 52-week high of $192.21. The company has a market capitalization of $7.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.34.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The restaurant operator reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.17. Brinker International had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 164.66%. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.95 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 18.5% on a year-over-year basis. Brinker International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.900-10.50 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Brinker International will post 8.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Brinker International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new stake in Brinker International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Brinker International in the third quarter worth $25,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in Brinker International by 105.8% in the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new position in Brinker International during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc bought a new stake in Brinker International in the second quarter valued at about $33,000.

More Brinker International News

Here are the key news stories impacting Brinker International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised EAT to “Overweight,” signaling stronger conviction from a major sell‑side shop and increasing upside expectations. Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Raised to “Overweight” at Morgan Stanley
• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen initiated coverage with a buy recommendation (coverage initiation often brings fresh institutional interest and incremental flows). TD Cowen initiates coverage of Brinker International (EAT) with buy recommendation
• Positive Sentiment: Raymond James upgraded EAT (part of a sector re‑rating) and set a $195 target, implying notable upside vs. current levels and supporting a re‑rating thesis for casual dining names. EAT raised, CAKE and DRI downgraded as Raymond James adjusts restaurant ratings
• Positive Sentiment: Benzinga and other outlets are highlighting Brinker as an “undervalued casual dining growth story,” reinforcing the view that sales momentum and customer perception improvements can drive multi‑year upside. Brinker International Is An ‘Undervalued Casual Dining Growth Story’: Analyst
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks published bullish pieces (momentum/growth-focused) arguing Brinker has attractive growth attributes and momentum for longer‑term investors — these writeups can boost retail attention and sentiment. 3 Reasons Why Growth Investors Shouldn’t Overlook Brinker International (EAT)
• Positive Sentiment: Additional Zacks coverage highlights EAT as a top momentum name for the long term, supporting the case that both growth and momentum investors may increase exposure. Why Brinker International (EAT) is a Top Momentum Stock for the Long-Term

Brinker International Company Profile

Brinker International, Inc (NYSE: EAT) is a leading global operator of casual dining restaurants. The company’s portfolio is anchored by its flagship Chili’s® Grill & Bar concept and Maggiano’s® Little Italy full‐service restaurants, offering a range of American‐style menu items, handcrafted cocktails and family‐friendly dining experiences. Through dine‐in, takeout, delivery and catering services, Brinker seeks to meet consumer preferences across multiple channels.

The Chili’s brand features signature items such as baby back ribs, burgers and fajitas alongside a rotating selection of limited‐time offerings and seasonal beverages.