O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC Has $3.77 Million Stock Holdings in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) by 44.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 28,495 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,796 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Brinker International were worth $3,770,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EAT. Horrell Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Brinker International by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Horrell Capital Management Inc. now owns 26,657 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $3,526,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC grew its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 200 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Brinker International by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 3,274 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Brinker International by 123.9% during 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. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in Brinker International by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 12,989 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $1,718,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the last quarter.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Douglas N. Comings sold 7,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.90, for a total value of $1,409,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 34,252 shares in the company, valued at $6,435,950.80. This trade represents a 17.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Cindy L. Davis sold 5,802 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.86, for a total value of $1,089,963.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,107 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,086,561.02. The trade was a 34.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,802 shares of company stock worth $3,752,464. 1.72% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Brinker International Trading Up 2.9 %

NYSE EAT opened at $155.25 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 2.20. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $156.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.96, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Brinker International, Inc. has a one year low of $43.37 and a one year high of $192.22.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The restaurant operator reported $2.80 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 879.47%. Research analysts expect that Brinker International, Inc. will post 8.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on EAT. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Brinker International from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Brinker International from $140.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Brinker International from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Northcoast Research raised Brinker International from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $215.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, KeyCorp downgraded shares of Brinker International from an “overweight” rating to a “sector weight” rating and set a $115.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $140.18.

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.