Brinker International
EATMarket price data through November 12, 2026.
Performance
Nov 2021 – Nov 2026
Track record
How this pick has done since Benson first called it.
- Benson Return
- +38%
- How much this stock is up since Benson first picked it — measured from the price at the time of that first pick, not from today.
- First pick price
- ~$144
- Roughly what one share cost when Benson first picked this stock. This is the starting line for the Benson Return.
- Tracking since
- January 2025
- The month this stock first became a Benson pick.
- Tracking duration
- 21 months
- How long Benson has been tracking this pick.
About Brinker International
Brinker International owns and operates Chili's Grill and Bar plus Maggiano's Little Italy, with more than 1,600 restaurants in the US, 28 other countries, and two US territories. Chili's is the engine, bringing in about 94% of revenue with its Triple Dipper, everyday value deals, and its hit Big Crispy chicken sandwich. Maggiano's is the smaller, pricier Italian sister brand.
The case for and against
Both sides of the story, in plain English.
- Sizzling Streak
Chili's just posted its 22nd straight quarter of rising sales at existing restaurants, up 10.1% on top of a 21% jump a year ago. That adds up to 52% growth over three years. More guests walking in and menu price increases both drove it. Total company revenue climbed 9% to 1.48 billion dollars.
- Profits Pop
Profit per share, leaving out one-time items, jumped 44% to 2.77 dollars from 1.93 a year ago, and free cash flow rose about 70% to 105.7 million dollars. Management raised its full year profit forecast to 13.30 to 13.90 dollars per share. It also bought back 125 million dollars of stock and replaced 350 million dollars of 8.25% interest debt with cheaper borrowing.
- Pasta Problem
Maggiano's sales at existing restaurants fell 3.4% as fewer guests showed up, and its quarterly sales slid to 94.7 million dollars from 99.2 million. The brand lost 3.6 million dollars on an operating basis. It is only about 6% of revenue, but it shows how quickly diners pull back from pricier menus.
- High Bar Ahead
Chili's now has to beat its own record every quarter after stacking a 10% gain on top of a 21% gain. Food, hourly labor, insurance, and delivery costs are all rising, and about 70 cents of this year's profit forecast comes from a bonus 53rd week on the calendar. If diners start spending less, it would show up fast.
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How to read this page
This automated research summary uses Financial Modeling Prep market data through 2026-11-12. Model signals, scores, and risk labels can change and may be incomplete or wrong.
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