Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC Takes Position in Brinker International, Inc. $EAT

Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 2,028 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock, valued at approximately $341,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Brinker International by 570.4% in the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 181 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Brinker International in the third quarter worth $25,000. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new stake in Brinker International during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in Brinker International by 58.5% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 225 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Brinker International by 33,000.0% during the 2nd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 331 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Brinker International news, SVP James M. Butler sold 10,000 shares of Brinker International stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.37, for a total transaction of $2,403,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 9,064 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,178,713.68. The trade was a 52.45% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kevin Hochman sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.15, for a total value of $9,726,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 144,090 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $35,035,483.50. This represents a 21.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 143,105 shares of company stock valued at $34,474,429 over the last 90 days. 1.43% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Brinker International News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Robert W. Baird initiated coverage with an “outperform” rating and a $325 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. The bullish view adds to a generally favorable analyst consensus, including recent target increases from Morgan Stanley and UBS. Analyst coverage report
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlighted Brinker as a strong growth stock, supported by its favorable growth characteristics and improving earnings outlook. The company’s latest quarterly revenue rose 5.1% year over year, while earnings increased from the prior-year period despite a small quarterly EPS miss. Why Brinker is a strong growth stock
• Positive Sentiment: Brinker was included among restaurant stocks positioned to benefit from strong July industry sales and continued consumer spending. Its Chili’s and Maggiano’s brands could benefit if restaurant demand remains resilient. Restaurant sales stock picks
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks also identified Brinker as having solid interest-coverage metrics, suggesting it has comparatively strong ability to service debt amid market volatility. However, the company’s current ratio and quick ratio remain below 1, indicating limited short-term liquidity. Interest coverage stock picks
• Negative Sentiment: Senior Vice President James Butler sold 10,000 shares for approximately $2.4 million, reducing his direct holdings by 52.45%. Although one insider transaction does not establish a broader trend, the sizable sale may concern investors, particularly after EAT’s sharp rally and elevated valuation. Brinker insider stock sale
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 23 times earnings and near its 52-week high, expectations for continued growth appear demanding. The broader analyst consensus price target of $242.19 is below recent trading levels, creating a potential valuation overhang despite the new $325 bullish target.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EAT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $224.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 14th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Brinker International from $210.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Brinker International from $220.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Stephens lifted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $220.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Brinker International from $207.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $242.19.

Brinker International Trading Down 2.1%

Shares of EAT opened at $248.60 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.83, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.40. Brinker International, Inc. has a 1-year low of $100.30 and a 1-year high of $254.99. The company has a 50-day moving average of $199.35 and a 200 day moving average of $164.77.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The restaurant operator reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.09 by ($0.02). Brinker International had a return on equity of 122.35% and a net margin of 8.39%.The company had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.30 earnings per share. Brinker International’s revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. Brinker International has set its FY 2027 guidance at 12.600-13.400 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Brinker International, Inc. will post 13.24 EPS for the current year.

About Brinker International

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.