Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Reaches New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Shares of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $187.34 and last traded at $186.64, with a volume of 596477 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $181.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on EAT. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Brinker International from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $108.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Argus upgraded shares of Brinker International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Brinker International from $69.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Brinker International from $162.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $140.18.

Brinker International Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $141.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $104.29. The firm has a market cap of $8.34 billion, a PE ratio of 32.54, a PEG ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 2.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.96, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.33.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by $1.43. Brinker International had a return on equity of 879.47% and a net margin of 5.45%. Equities analysts predict that Brinker International, Inc. will post 8.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brinker International

In other news, Director Cindy L. Davis sold 5,802 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.86, for a total transaction of $1,089,963.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,107 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,086,561.02. This represents a 34.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.72% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brinker International

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of EAT. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC increased its stake in Brinker International by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 200 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 1.1% in the third quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 12,015 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $920,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its stake in Brinker International by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 3,274 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $433,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Brinker International by 123.9% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 309 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Optimist Retirement Group LLC boosted its position in Brinker International by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 3,256 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $249,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the period.

Brinker International Company Profile

Brinker International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchising of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.