Brinker International, Inc.
- Open
- 229.72
- Day high
- 234.69
- Day low
- 225.38
- Prev close
- 230.19
- Volume
- 847K
- Mkt cap
- $9.5B
- P/E (TTM)
- 20.5
- EPS (TTM)
- $11.16
- P/B
- 21.5
- P/S
- 1.6
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
- ▼Insiders net selling -$41.1M over the last 3 months (0 open-market buys, 14 sales)
- 🏛Institutions accumulating (13F)
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) is a Consumer Cyclical company listed on NYSE. The stock is up 46% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 14 sales (SEC Form 4).
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 14 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
EAT earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | $3.09 | $3.07 | -0.6% | $1.5B | +0.2% |
| Apr 29, 2026 | $2.85 | $2.90 | +1.8% | $1.5B | -0.2% |
| Jan 28, 2026 | $2.53 | $2.87 | +13.4% | $1.5B | -1.6% |
| Oct 29, 2025 | $1.76 | $1.93 | +9.7% | $1.3B | -3.6% |
| Aug 13, 2025 | $2.43 | $2.49 | +2.5% | $1.5B | +11.7% |
| Jan 29, 2025 | $1.37 | $2.80 | +104.5% | $1.4B | +9.2% |
| Oct 30, 2024 | $0.69 | $0.95 | +37.7% | $1.1B | +3.5% |
| Aug 14, 2024 | $1.72 | $1.61 | -6.4% | $1.2B | +4.0% |
| Apr 30, 2024 | $1.15 | $1.24 | +7.8% | $1.1B | -2.4% |
| Jan 31, 2024 | $0.95 | $0.99 | +4.2% | $1.1B | -0.7% |
| Nov 1, 2023 | $0.06 | $0.28 | +388.5% | $1.0B | +0.2% |
| Aug 16, 2023 | $1.32 | $1.39 | +5.3% | $1.1B | -0.5% |
EAT insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2026 | Allen Frances L.director | Grant | 166 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | White Aaron Mofficer: EVP, COO and CPO | Grant | 1,543 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Ware Michaela Mofficer: EVP, Chief Financial Officer | Tax | 423 | $233.27 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | White Aaron Mofficer: EVP, COO and CPO | Tax | 884 | $233.27 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Comings Douglas N.officer: SVP & COO, Chili's | Tax | 652 | $233.27 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Felix George Sofficer: EVP, Chief Marketing Officer | Tax | 669 | $233.27 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | DePinto Joseph Michaeldirector | Sell | 25,000 | $230.39 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Butler James Mofficer: SVP Chief Supply Chain Officer | Grant | 814 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Caldwell Christopher Mofficer: SVP, Chief Information Officer | Grant | 1,029 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Hochman Kevindirector, officer: Pres. & CEO | Tax | 7,237 | $233.27 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | GILES WILLIAM Tdirector | Grant | 308 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | DePinto Joseph Michaeldirector | Grant | 460 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | JOHNSON TIMOTHY Adirector | Grant | 166 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Comings Douglas N.officer: SVP & COO, Chili's | Grant | 1,029 | — |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Felix George Sofficer: EVP, Chief Marketing Officer | Grant | 1,286 | — |
Source: EAT SEC Form 4 filings, latest Aug 31, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full EAT insider & 13F page →Brinker International, Inc. company profile
Overview
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) is a Dallas-based restaurant company that operates and franchises casual dining establishments primarily in the United States and internationally. Founded in 1975, the company has grown to become one of the largest casual dining operators in the country through its two main restaurant brands: Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. As of recent reports, Brinker operates approximately 1,648 restaurants, with the vast majority being Chili's locations. The company went public in 1984 and has since established itself as a significant player in the competitive casual dining segment of the restaurant industry.
Business
Brinker International operates in the casual dining restaurant industry, which sits between fast-casual and fine dining establishments. Casual dining restaurants typically offer full table service, alcoholic beverages, and moderately priced meals in a relaxed atmosphere. The industry serves customers who want a sit-down dining experience without the formality or expense of fine dining. The company operates through two primary business segments: 1. Chili's Grill & Bar represents approximately 97% of Brinker's restaurant portfolio with 1,594 locations. Chili's is positioned as an American casual dining chain known for its Tex-Mex and American cuisine, including signature items like burgers, fajitas, chicken crispers, and margaritas. The brand targets middle-income families and young adults seeking affordable, casual dining experiences. Chili's has undergone significant operational improvements in recent years, focusing on menu simplification, value offerings like the "3 for Me" platform, and enhanced kitchen operations. 2. Maggiano's Little Italy operates 54 upscale casual dining restaurants specializing in Italian-American cuisine. Maggiano's targets a slightly higher-income demographic and offers a more refined dining experience with larger portion sizes designed for sharing. The brand focuses on family-style dining and special occasion meals, with higher average check sizes compared to Chili's. The casual dining industry faces ongoing challenges from fast-casual competitors, delivery services, and changing consumer preferences toward convenience and value. However, it continues to serve customers seeking full-service dining experiences with alcoholic beverages and social atmospheres that cannot be replicated by fast-casual or delivery-only concepts.
Revenue model
Brinker International generates revenue primarily through restaurant sales from both company-owned and franchised locations. The company operates under a mixed ownership model, with the majority of restaurants being company-owned and operated, while a smaller portion operates under franchise agreements. For company-owned restaurants, Brinker earns revenue directly from food and beverage sales to customers. The average unit volume (AUV) for Chili's has grown to approximately $3.6 million annually, while Maggiano's locations generate higher per-unit sales due to their upscale positioning and larger check sizes. The company's revenue streams include dine-in sales, takeout orders, delivery through third-party platforms, and catering services. For franchised locations, Brinker receives franchise fees and royalties based on a percentage of franchisee sales, though this represents a smaller portion of total revenue compared to company-operated restaurants. Several factors significantly impact Brinker's profitability margins. Commodity costs, particularly for proteins, dairy, and produce, directly affect food costs and can create margin pressure during inflationary periods. Labor costs represent another major expense, with wage inflation and staffing challenges impacting restaurant-level margins. The company has invested heavily in operational improvements and technology to enhance labor efficiency. Competition from fast-casual chains, delivery services, and other casual dining concepts pressures pricing power and customer traffic. However, Brinker has successfully differentiated through value propositions like the "3 for Me" platform at Chili's and operational excellence initiatives. Consumer spending patterns tied to economic conditions significantly influence traffic and average check sizes, as casual dining is considered discretionary spending. The company's focus on value messaging and operational improvements has helped drive traffic growth even during challenging economic periods.
Competitive moat
Brinker International's competitive moat is moderate but improving, primarily built around operational excellence, brand recognition, and scale advantages rather than insurmountable barriers to entry. The company's strongest moat elements include its established brand equity, particularly with Chili's, which has achieved significant consumer recognition and loyalty over decades of operation. The recent operational turnaround has strengthened this position, with Chili's achieving the number one casual dining chain status in 2024 through improved food quality, value propositions, and service execution. Scale advantages provide meaningful benefits in purchasing power for commodities, marketing efficiency, and technology investments. Brinker's size allows it to negotiate better supplier terms and spread fixed costs across a large restaurant base. The company's investment in kitchen technology, point-of-sale systems, and operational standardization creates efficiency advantages that smaller competitors struggle to match. However, the casual dining industry has relatively low barriers to entry compared to other sectors. New restaurant concepts can emerge quickly, and consumer preferences can shift rapidly. The industry faces ongoing disruption from fast-casual chains offering similar food quality with faster service and lower prices, as well as delivery platforms that change how consumers access restaurant food. Potential competitive threats include continued growth of fast-casual concepts, ghost kitchens and delivery-only brands, and economic pressures that drive consumers toward lower-cost dining options. Additionally, labor shortages and rising wages affect all restaurant operators, potentially eroding any operational advantages. Brinker's moat strength ultimately depends on its ability to continuously innovate operationally, maintain value propositions that resonate with consumers, and leverage its scale advantages to outperform smaller competitors in efficiency and marketing reach.
Risks & safety
Brinker International presents moderate financial risk with some concerning leverage metrics but strong operational cash generation. • Debt and Solvency: High debt-to-equity ratio of 6.6x indicates significant leverage. Total liabilities of $2.3 billion against total assets of $2.6 billion shows limited equity cushion. However, strong EBITDA of $212 million and operating cash flow of $212 million demonstrate ability to service debt obligations. • Liquidity: Current ratio of 0.28 is very low, indicating potential short-term liquidity challenges. Quick ratio of 0.23 shows limited liquid assets relative to current liabilities. Minimal cash position requires strong operational cash generation to meet obligations. • Valuation Metrics: P/E ratio of 14.4x appears reasonable for current earnings growth. EV/EBITDA of 10.1x is moderate for the restaurant industry. Price-to-book ratio of 26.4x reflects the asset-light nature of the business but indicates limited tangible book value protection. • Cash Generation: Free cash flow of $132 million demonstrates strong cash conversion from operations after capital expenditures. Return on equity of 46% reflects efficient capital utilization despite high leverage. • Other Considerations: Restaurant industry cyclicality, commodity price volatility, and labor cost inflation create ongoing operational risks. High fixed costs from lease obligations provide limited flexibility during downturns.
Recent development
Over the past few years, Brinker International has executed a comprehensive operational turnaround strategy that has dramatically improved performance, particularly at Chili's. The transformation began with fundamental changes to restaurant operations, including significant menu simplification where the company removed numerous menu items and pantry SKUs to streamline kitchen operations and improve food quality consistency. Menu and food quality improvements have been central to the strategy. Chili's upgraded core ingredients including chicken breast, guacamole, wings, and bacon while focusing on mastering execution of signature items like burgers, fajitas, and chicken crispers. The company launched the highly successful "3 for Me" value platform, which now represents approximately 17% of total sales and has been instrumental in driving traffic growth. Technology investments have enhanced operational efficiency through kitchen display systems, TurboChef oven conversions across restaurants, and improved point-of-sale systems. These investments have reduced service times and improved order accuracy while enabling better labor productivity. The company's marketing strategy has evolved significantly, with successful campaigns like "Better than Fast Food" and viral social media initiatives around the Triple Dipper appetizer program. This marketing approach has particularly resonated with younger demographics and driven substantial traffic increases, with some quarters showing traffic growth exceeding 20%. Maggiano's transformation has followed a similar playbook with the "Bring the Magic Back" initiative, focusing on menu simplification, operational improvements, and enhanced guest experience. While progress has been slower than at Chili's, the brand has shown steady improvement in operational metrics. Recent strategic initiatives include plans for restaurant reimaging with approximately 100 locations annually, continued investment in labor models and kitchen equipment, and exploration of new food platforms including planned upgrades to ribs, queso, and potential steak and salad programs.
EAT company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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