UBS Group Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Stock

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its target price hoisted by analysts at UBS Group from $175.00 to $190.00 in a research report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the restaurant operator’s stock. UBS Group’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 17.52% from the company’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Brinker International from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Brinker International in a report on Monday, December 29th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, TD Cowen assumed coverage on Brinker International in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $192.00 price target on the stock. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $188.72.

Brinker International Stock Up 3.2%

Brinker International stock traded up $5.03 during trading on Thursday, reaching $161.67. The stock had a trading volume of 662,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,172,788. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. Brinker International has a 52-week low of $100.30 and a 52-week high of $192.21. The stock has a market cap of $7.18 billion, a PE ratio of 16.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $150.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $144.13.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The restaurant operator reported $2.87 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.53 by $0.34. Brinker International had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 164.66%. The company had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.80 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Brinker International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.045-10.850 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Brinker International will post 8.3 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brinker International

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in EAT. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Brinker International by 56.3% during the third quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 22,580 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $2,860,000 after buying an additional 8,137 shares during the period. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,112,000. Seeds Investor LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brinker International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $414,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 87.7% in the 3rd quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 23,023 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $2,917,000 after acquiring an additional 10,754 shares during the period. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its stake in Brinker International by 117.0% in the 2nd quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 4,272 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $770,000 after purchasing an additional 2,303 shares in the last quarter.

Key Brinker International News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 beat: Brinker reported EPS of $2.87 vs. consensus ~$2.53 and revenue of $1.45B vs. ~$1.41B — the core beat on both metrics is the primary catalyst for the rally. Brinker International (EAT) Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Raised FY‑2026 outlook: Management updated full‑year guidance, which exceeded prior Street expectations and supports earnings visibility for the year. See company release for details. PR Newswire: Brinker Reports Q2 Results and Updates FY2026 Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Chili’s outperformance: Company highlighted +9% comp sales this quarter and multi‑year comp strength (2‑year comps ~+43%), with Chili’s driving growth — a structural win for Brinker’s portfolio. Brinker International Q2 Results Presentation
• Positive Sentiment: Positive market/press reaction and technical setup: Coverage from Barron’s/WSJ highlighted the beat and guidance lift; Zacks notes a bullish technical signal (50‑day crossing above 200‑day). These amplify investor interest. Brinker Stock Jumps on Earnings Beat Zacks: Technical Outlook Bright After Golden Cross
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call color and strategy: Management discussed unit-level performance, marketing and margin initiatives — useful for medium‑term modeling but not an incremental catalyst beyond the beat/guidance. Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Trading context: Today’s move has occurred on below‑average volume, so monitor follow‑through for confirmation of a sustainable trend. (Background trading data referenced.)
• Negative Sentiment: Balance‑sheet and liquidity considerations: Brinker shows high leverage and low short‑term liquidity metrics (low current/quick ratios, debt/equity ~1.5) — a reminder of financial risk if consumer trends weaken.

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.