Brinker International Shares Rise After Analyst Upgrade
Shares of Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) rose nearly 4% following an upgrade from Northcoast analyst Jim Sanderson, who raised the stock's rating to 'buy' and set a price target implying over 37% upside. The move came as Chili’s, one of its key brands under new management, continues to gain market share through improved marketing and menu offerings. Chili’s reported strong performance in fiscal 2026 with 8.1% comparable sales growth company-wide and 9.2% at the brand level. However, same-store sales have slowed from earlier double-digit gains. Brinker also owns Maggiano's, which has seen negative comparable sales recently. Looking ahead, Brinker aims for annual revenue growth of 4%-6%, including unit expansion with up to 30 new restaurants per year and double-digit adjusted EPS growth through share repurchases.
Topics: Brinker International Chili's restaurant industry Wall Street analyst upgrade