Zacks Investment Research·Oct 26, 2026
Here's Why Brinker International (EAT) is a Strong Value StockWondering how to pick strong, market-beating stocks for your investment portfolio? Look no further than the Zacks Style Scores.
Brinker's revenue growth has decelerated from 27.2% in 2025Q3 to 9.4% in 2027Q1, while gross margin compressed roughly 510 basis points to 14.5%, suggesting input cost and labor pressure are outpacing pricing.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue growth has been volatile, falling from 27.2% in 2025Q3 to 3.2% in 2026Q3 before recovering to 9.4% in 2027Q1, while gross margin compressed from about 19.6% to 14.5% and operating margin held in a narrow 8.7% to 11.7% band.
Chili's current sales momentum is reinforced by recent analyst upgrades, particularly from UBS, indicating positive performance in the casual dining space.
Brinker's strong fourth quarter and full-year results highlight its ability to deliver consistent financial performance, supporting investor confidence.
The company's ambitious fiscal 2026 guidance suggests optimism about future growth and operational efficiency, serving as a key bullish driver.
Trailing total returns as of 11/8/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Oct 28, 2026 | $2.77+13.1% vs $2.45 | $1.5B+1.3% vs $1.5B |
Q3 2026 Aug 12, 2026 | $3.07-0.6% vs $3.09 | $1.5B+0.2% vs $1.5B |
Q2 2026 Apr 29, 2026 | $2.90+1.8% vs $2.85 | $1.5B-0.2% vs $1.5B |
Q1 2026 Jan 28, 2026 | $2.87+13.4% vs $2.53 | $1.5B+2.6% vs $1.4B |
Wondering how to pick strong, market-beating stocks for your investment portfolio? Look no further than the Zacks Style Scores.
Beyond analysts' top-and-bottom-line estimates for Brinker International (EAT), evaluate projections for some of its key metrics to gain a better insight into how the business might have performed for the quarter ended September 2026.
Shares of companies with multiple restaurant brands like Brinker and Darden are outperforming single-chain stocks like McDonald's and Chipotle. Major restaurant companies will start to report their quarterly earnings next week and offer a glimpse at how those trends are playing out.
Brinker International (EAT) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Benchmark EAT against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Brinker International, Inc. (EAT)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $206.57 | $8.86B | 17.74 | 7.86% | 8.44% | 122.98% | — | |
| $226.35 | $25.92B | 21.90 | 9.39% | 8.85% | 55.9% | 2.66% | |
| $183.88 | $12.09B | 28.85 | 9.39% | 6.59% | 27.01% | 1.47% | |
| $9.75 | $834.74M | 11.70 | 0.14% | 1.79% | 17.78% | 4.6% | |
| $106.76 | $5.3B | 26.42 | 4.75% | 5.2% | 41.84% | 1.01% | |
| $55.67 | $1.17B | 27.46 | 3.08% | 3.13% | 11.84% | — |
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Oct 28, 2026·SEC
Aug 12, 2026·SEC
Jun 17, 2026·SEC
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Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) reported $5.93B in revenue over the trailing twelve months. Revenue was $5.81B in fiscal year 2026. That is 335% more than the $1.34B of fiscal year 1997.
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) grew revenue by 6.1% over the trailing twelve months, compared with the twelve months before.
Yes. Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) earned $500.8M in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 8.4% net margin).
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) had a return on equity (ROE) of 123.0% over the trailing twelve months. That is well above the market's typical 10-15%.
Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) generated $601.0M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
