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

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its price objective increased by investment analysts at Citigroup from $176.00 to $187.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the restaurant operator’s stock. Citigroup’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 17.06% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on EAT. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Brinker International in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen raised Brinker International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Mizuho began coverage on Brinker International in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $155.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Brinker International from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Brinker International presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $175.76.

Brinker International Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:EAT opened at $159.75 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.10 billion, a PE ratio of 16.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.34. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $137.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $145.50. Brinker International has a 1 year low of $100.30 and a 1 year high of $192.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.35 and a quick ratio of 0.29.

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new stake in Brinker International during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Brinker International by 105.8% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc acquired a new position in Brinker International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Brinker International during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in Brinker International in the third quarter worth about $25,000.

Brinker International News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup raised its price target to $187 and maintained a “buy” rating, implying material upside vs. the current price; Citi’s call reinforces buy-side momentum. Citigroup PT Raise
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho bumped its target to $175 and moved to “outperform,” signaling additional analyst conviction and near-term upside from multiple brokerages. Mizuho PT Raise
• Positive Sentiment: Seeking Alpha published a bullish piece with a $188 target, citing strong Chili’s comparable-sales gains and margin expansion as drivers of free-cash-flow and valuation support. Seeking Alpha Buy Case
• Positive Sentiment: UBS upgraded the stock (coverage note via American Banking News), adding to the tape of broker upgrades and contributing to consensus target increases. UBS Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets raised its price target to $170, another institutional endorsement that supports the broader analyst median target near $170. BMO PT Raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple media/aggregator pieces (MSN, Yahoo, InsiderMonkey) highlight growing analyst attention and a median analyst target around $170 — positive for sentiment but mostly reiterative coverage. Analyst Attention Coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks included EAT among retail/restaurant names up >10% recently and still worth watching — highlights momentum but is not a new catalyst. Zacks Momentum Note
• Neutral Sentiment: A contrasting Seeking Alpha article rated EAT a “hold” citing mixed growth patterns — a reminder there are differing views on sustainability of the outperformance. Seeking Alpha Hold View

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.