Morgan Stanley Issues Positive Forecast for Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Stock Price

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its price target boosted by Morgan Stanley from $200.00 to $205.00 in a report released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the restaurant operator’s stock.

EAT has been the topic of several other reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Brinker International from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Bank of America upgraded Brinker International from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $190.00 to $192.00 in a research report on Monday, October 6th. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Brinker International in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $192.00 target price for the company. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $166.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $188.56.

Brinker International Trading Up 2.8%

Shares of EAT stock opened at $160.98 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.34. Brinker International has a 1 year low of $100.30 and a 1 year high of $192.21. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $151.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $144.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The restaurant operator reported $2.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.53 by $0.34. Brinker International had a net margin of 7.98% and a return on equity of 134.92%. The company had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.80 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Brinker International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.045-10.850 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Brinker International will post 8.3 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Brinker International

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAT. Concord Wealth Partners bought a new position in shares of Brinker International in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in Brinker International during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Brinker International by 105.8% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new position in Brinker International in the third quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brinker International during the second quarter worth $34,000.

Trending Headlines about Brinker International

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

• Positive Sentiment: Brinker beat expectations for Q2 (EPS $2.87 vs. $2.53 est.) and raised FY2026 guidance, driven by robust Chili’s comps and revenue growth — the core operational catalyst cited by management. PR Newswire: Q2 Results & Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Media coverage highlights a turnaround at Chili’s as the primary driver of the beat and outlook — useful context for investors focused on brand-level recovery and same-store sales momentum. Yahoo Finance: Chili’s Turnaround Video
• Positive Sentiment: Several major brokers raised price targets and issued more bullish ratings after the print — notable lifts include Morgan Stanley (to $205, overweight), Goldman Sachs (to $200, buy), Citi and UBS (to $190, buy), and JPMorgan (to $187, overweight). This institutional re-rating supports further upside interest. Benzinga: Analyst Coverage Summary TickerReport: Morgan Stanley Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Some firms issued less bullish stances despite higher targets — Jefferies raised its target to $175 but kept a “hold”; Piper Sandler moved to neutral with a raised target to $166; Barclays to equal weight at $170. These temper enthusiasm among more cautious analysts. Benzinga: Coverage on Mixed Analyst Actions TickerReport: Piper Sandler Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical setup is constructive for momentum traders — a recent “golden cross” (50-day SMA > 200-day SMA) has been flagged by market commentators, which can attract technical buying. Zacks: Technical Outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Balance-sheet/liquidity metrics remain a watch item for risk-aware investors — reported debt-to-equity is elevated and current/quick ratios are low, which could limit flexibility if industry conditions weaken. No link

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.