Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC Invests $281,000 in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,123 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock, valued at approximately $281,000.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its holdings in Brinker International by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 200 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Brinker International by 123.9% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 309 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 4th quarter valued at about $83,000. Burford Brothers Inc. purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $203,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in Brinker International in the 2nd quarter valued at about $204,000.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $140.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday. Argus upgraded shares of Brinker International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Brinker International from $97.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank Of America (Bofa) lifted their target price on Brinker International from $94.00 to $97.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Brinker International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Brinker International has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $135.48.

Brinker International Price Performance

Brinker International stock opened at $181.97 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $8.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 2.52. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $102.05. Brinker International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.50 and a 12-month high of $187.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.54.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. Equities analysts expect that Brinker International, Inc. will post 7.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Brinker International

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.