Brinker International, Inc. (EAT)

In the past six months, Brinker International's stock experienced several notable events and analyst activities. The stock price closed at $126.19 on October 27, 2025, reflecting a -0.88% fall. On October 24, 2025, shares dropped by 5% following a slight reduction in Morgan Stanley's price target. Other analyst adjustments in October 2025 include UBS, Stifel Nicolaus, and Barclays lowering their price targets, while Mizuho initiated coverage with an "Outperform" rating. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Brinker International from "neutral" to "overweight" on October 7, 2025. The company reported its Q4 FY2025 earnings on August 13, 2025, with an EPS of $2.49 and revenue of $1.46 billion, exceeding analyst estimates. For Q3 FY2025, reported on April 29, 2025, the company posted an EPS of $2.56 and revenue of $1.43 billion, surpassing estimates. Insider selling activity was reported, with COO Douglas N. Comings and CEO Kevin Hochman selling shares in September and August 2025, respectively. Brinker's stock has seen a significant increase of 43.6% in the past year and 330.2% over three years.

While specific detailed seasonality data is not explicitly provided, Chili's benefits from seasonal tailwinds due to 90% of its restaurants being in open-air locations. The broader U.S. foodservice market is driven by increasing consumer interest in convenient eating, growing demand for online food ordering platforms, and the proliferation of quick-service and upscale dining locations. Brinker's focus on value-driven dining and its traffic-driven model are considered more recession-resistant.

Brinker International, Inc. is a multinational hospitality company that operates in the casual dining restaurant sector. The company owns, develops, operates, and franchises casual dining restaurants, with major brands including Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's offers Tex-Mex-inspired dishes, while Maggiano's Little Italy serves classic Italian-American dishes. The company also operates a virtual brand called "It's Just Wings".

Brinker International has a significant global presence, with over 1,600 restaurants across 29 countries and two U.S. territories. The company has a strong presence within the United States, with Chili's being popular across all 50 states. As of June 28, 2024, the company operated 1,614 restaurants, comprising 1,171 company-owned and 443 franchised locations. International operations for Chili's include Canada and 27 other countries and two U.S. territories, while Maggiano's primarily operates company-owned restaurants in the United States.

Brinker International has focused on enhancing its brand reputation and customer experience over the past year, particularly for Chili's. The "3 For Me" value promotion at Chili's has been successful in increasing average checks and attracting non-occasional guests. Chili's has leveraged social media, with a "Triple Dipper" TikTok campaign and a viral "MozzMates" costume. The company has implemented technology tools like the Ziosk pay-at-the-table system, AI-based workforce forecasting, and server tablets to improve service and reduce operating costs. Maggiano's Little Italy is also undergoing an evolution, with new initiatives such as a tableside Caesar salad, a spicy rigatoni dish, and a "smoking old-fashioned" drink. Brinker's overall strategy emphasizes "cravable great food with great service served in a clean and friendly atmosphere." The company's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility also contributes to its brand image.

Institutional investors hold a substantial portion of Brinker International's stock, with approximately 56.89% or 98.52% of shares outstanding. Individual investors and insiders own about 1.44% of the stock. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Fmr Llc, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, State Street Corp, VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares, Renaissance Technologies Llc, Westfield Capital Management Co Lp, and Alyeska Investment Group, L.P.. Blackrock Inc. is the largest individual institutional shareholder, holding 6.98 million shares, representing 15.68% of the company.