JPMorgan Chase & Co. Raises Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) Price Target to $160.00

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) had its target price hoisted by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $140.00 to $160.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “neutral” rating on the restaurant operator’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s target price would suggest a potential downside of 12.07% from the company’s previous close.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. 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 research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Brinker International from $83.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Northcoast Research raised shares of Brinker International from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $215.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $135.48.

Brinker International Stock Down 0.3 %

NYSE:EAT opened at $181.97 on Thursday. Brinker International has a 1-year low of $40.50 and a 1-year high of $187.08. The company has a 50-day moving average of $139.29 and a 200 day moving average of $102.05. The firm has a market cap of $8.08 billion, a PE ratio of 31.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 2.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.54, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.26.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $1.43. Brinker International had a net margin of 5.45% and a return on equity of 16,722.22%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Brinker International will post 7.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brinker International

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EAT. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC boosted its position in Brinker International by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 200 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Brinker International by 123.9% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 309 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $83,000. Xponance Inc. purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $202,000. Finally, Burford Brothers Inc. purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $203,000.

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.