Brokerages Set BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) PT at $42.13

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the ten analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $42.1250.

A number of research analysts have commented on BJRI shares. Benchmark upped their price objective on BJ’s Restaurants from $44.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on BJ’s Restaurants from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of BJ’s Restaurants in a report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays upped their price objective on BJ’s Restaurants from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on BJ’s Restaurants from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th.

Insider Buying and Selling at BJ’s Restaurants

In other news, EVP Brian S. Krakower sold 2,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.03, for a total transaction of $91,078.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,062 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $177,321.86. This represents a 33.93% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director C Bradford Richmond bought 1,000 shares of BJ’s Restaurants stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $34.05 per share, for a total transaction of $34,050.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 18,700 shares in the company, valued at $636,735. This represents a 5.65% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 3,200 shares of company stock worth $110,670. 4.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of BJ’s Restaurants

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BJ’s Restaurants during the 4th quarter worth $3,942,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in BJ’s Restaurants by 394.5% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 309,269 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $12,185,000 after purchasing an additional 246,733 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new stake in BJ’s Restaurants during the fourth quarter worth $211,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in BJ’s Restaurants during the fourth quarter worth $10,863,000. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in BJ’s Restaurants during the fourth quarter worth $5,912,000. 99.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

BJ’s Restaurants Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BJRI opened at $38.24 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.40 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $38.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $37.41. BJ’s Restaurants has a one year low of $28.46 and a one year high of $47.02. The firm has a market cap of $810.69 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.32.

BJ’s Restaurants (NASDAQ:BJRI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The restaurant operator reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.06. BJ’s Restaurants had a return on equity of 13.82% and a net margin of 3.49%.The firm had revenue of $355.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $353.71 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.47 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that BJ’s Restaurants will post 1.5 EPS for the current year.

About BJ’s Restaurants

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc is a publicly traded casual dining chain known for its deep‐dish pizzas, California‐style thin crust offerings and in‐house craft beer selections. Operating under the BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse brand, the company combines a microbrewery concept with full‐service dining, offering an extensive menu that includes appetizers, salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches and the signature Pizookie dessert.

Founded in 1978 in Orange County, California, BJ’s Restaurants began as BJ’s Chicago Pizzeria, bringing a Chicago‐style pizza experience to the West Coast.