Goldman Sachs Upgrades Enphase Energy to Buy, Raises Target to $45
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EAT?
Source: Benzinga
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee upgraded Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $29 to $45, reflecting confidence in its future growth potential.
- Intel Rating Adjustment: HSBC analyst Frank Lee upgraded Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) from Reduce to Hold and increased the price target from $26 to $50, indicating expectations for improved market performance.
- Progyny Market Performance Improvement: Citizens analyst Constantine Davides upgraded Progyny (NASDAQ:PGNY) from Market Perform to Market Outperform and set a price target of $30, suggesting optimism about its business growth.
- Brinker International Rating Upgrade: Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass upgraded Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised the price target from $160 to $200, reflecting a positive outlook on its future profitability.
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Analyst Views on EAT
Wall Street analysts forecast EAT stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 158.310
Low
155.00
Averages
188.00
High
210.00
Current: 158.310
Low
155.00
Averages
188.00
High
210.00
About EAT
Brinker International, Inc. is a casual dining restaurant company. The Company owns, develops, operates and franchises the Chili’s Grill & Bar (Chili’s) and Maggiano’s Little Italy (Maggiano’s) restaurant brands. The Company operates through two segments: Chili’s and Maggiano’s. The Chili’s segment includes its Company-owned Chili’s restaurants, which are principally located in the United States, within the full-service casual dining segment of the industry. The Chili’s segment also includes its Canadian Company-owned restaurants and royalties from its franchised locations in the United States, 27 other countries and two United States territories. The Maggiano’s segment includes its Company-owned Maggiano's restaurants in the United States as well as royalties from its domestic franchise business. It owns, operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in the United States and 27 other countries and two United States territories.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Restaurant Industry Traffic Rotation and Market Dynamics
- Fast-Food Challenges: The restaurant industry is witnessing a shift as households rethink spending habits, with fast-food and fast-casual chains losing their traditional cost advantage due to price hikes, prompting consumers to opt for sit-down meals, indicating a significant change in competitive dynamics.
- Texas Roadhouse Performance: Texas Roadhouse reported a 6.1% increase in same-store sales and a 4.3% rise in guest counts in the latest quarter, maintaining steady performance through a disciplined strategy that avoids aggressive short-term discounting, despite pressures from rising beef prices and labor costs.
- Darden's Scale Advantage: Darden Restaurants leverages its scale with over 2,100 locations to maintain competitive pricing, achieving 4.7% and 5.9% same-store sales growth at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse respectively, showcasing its ability to capture market share during a time when customers prioritize value.
- Chili's Continued Growth: Brinker International's Chili's achieved an 8.6% same-store sales growth in the second quarter, marking its 19th consecutive quarter of growth, driven by its budget-friendly “3 for Me” platform, which attracts cost-conscious diners and solidifies its market position.
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Texas Roadhouse Reports Strong Quarter with 6.1% Sales Growth
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Texas Roadhouse achieved a 6.1% increase in same-store sales in the latest quarter, with guest counts rising by 4.3%, a performance attributed to its disciplined strategy that avoids aggressive short-term discounting, thereby maintaining steady traffic in a competitive market.
- Profit Pressure Easing Expectations: Although restaurant-level margins declined by nearly 170 basis points due to rising beef prices and labor cost inflation, expectations of easing inflationary pressures in the second half of the year could support margin recovery, enhancing investor confidence.
- Digital Kitchen Transformation: The company has completed its system-wide transition to digital kitchens, aimed at maximizing throughput and improving order accuracy at high-volume locations, which will lay the groundwork for future business growth.
- Expansion Plans: Texas Roadhouse plans to open 35 company-owned locations in 2026, demonstrating its proactive expansion intentions in the market, while the current valuation at 28 times forward earnings reflects market expectations for margin recovery.
See More
Texas Roadhouse Misses Q4 Estimates Amid High Beef Prices
- Revenue and Profit Decline: Texas Roadhouse's Q4 revenue increased by 3.1% year-over-year to $1.48 billion, falling short of Wall Street's $1.496 billion estimate, indicating pressure on profits from high beef prices.
- Same-Store Sales Slowdown: Although comparable sales surged to 8.2% in the first three weeks, the overall quarterly growth dropped to 4.2%, missing analyst expectations of 5.2%, reflecting weakened consumer demand and seasonal impacts.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: The company repurchased $50 million worth of stock in Q4 and raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to $0.75 per share, demonstrating a commitment to shareholders despite cost pressures.
- Stable Future Outlook: Management maintained a commodity inflation forecast of around 7% for 2026, despite concerns over persistent high beef prices, while planning to open 35 new restaurants in the coming year, indicating a steadfast expansion strategy.
See More
Jim Cramer's Trust Portfolio Trading Update
- Capital One Increase: Acquiring 30 shares of Capital One Financial at approximately $208 each raises the weighting in Jim Cramer's Trust to 3.05% from 2.9%, increasing total shares to 580, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential despite risks from proposed interest rate caps.
- Danaher Reduction: Selling 200 shares of Danaher at around $207 each decreases the weighting from 2.1% to 1.05%, realizing a disappointing 9% loss, reflecting concerns over its acquisition of pulse oximetry leader Masimo and a preference for biotech-focused acquisitions.
- Texas Roadhouse Sale: Offloading 200 shares of Texas Roadhouse at about $189 each reduces the weighting to 0.95% from 1.9%, achieving an 8% gain, yet concerns over persistent beef inflation suggest potential earnings misses in upcoming reports.
- Strategic Portfolio Adjustment: By reducing positions in underperforming stocks, Jim Cramer's Trust aims to sidestep potential earnings shortfalls, demonstrating a cautious approach to earnings expectations in the current market climate.
See More
Fast Casual Market Reversal: Chili's Rises
- Market Trend Reversal: As prices for fast food and fast-casual dining rise, American consumers are returning to traditional sit-down restaurants in 2026, with Chili's reporting an 8.6% same-store sales growth while Chipotle's declined by 2.5%, indicating a significant shift in consumer preferences.
- Strong Performance by Brinker: Brinker International's stock has surged nearly 300% over the past three years, reflecting the success of its Chili's brand in attracting diners, particularly against the backdrop of rising fast-food prices that have driven customers back to sit-down options.
- Challenges for Fast-Casual Brands: Fast-casual brands like Chipotle are facing pressure from discounted low-end fast food and price competition from higher-end sit-down restaurants, threatening their market share, especially as they grapple with rising prices and declining product quality.
- Investor Strategy Adjustment: In the dynamically changing restaurant market, investors should focus on the specific value propositions of individual restaurants rather than overall categories, as Chipotle struggles while Texas Roadhouse and Brinker International thrive by offering good value at reasonable prices.
See More
Chili's Launches Margarita of the Month Club
- Club Launch: Chili's® Grill & Bar introduces the Margarita of the Month Club to engage super fans who visit monthly to try new drinks, potentially boosting sales from nearly 30 million margaritas sold in 2025.
- Member Benefits: Guests can join the club for free, track their monthly margarita consumption, and purchase unique merchandise, enhancing brand loyalty and customer engagement.
- Limited Edition Merchandise: To celebrate the club's launch, Chili's releases a line of collectible items showcased in short films that highlight the brand's yacht-club aesthetic, aiming to attract younger consumers.
- Holiday Promotions: On National Margarita Day, February 22, Chili's will offer special margarita deals at participating locations for guests aged 21 and over, further enhancing the brand's market presence.
See More
Restaurant Industry Traffic Rotation and Market Dynamics
- Fast-Food Challenges: The restaurant industry is witnessing a shift as households rethink spending habits, with fast-food and fast-casual chains losing their traditional cost advantage due to price hikes, prompting consumers to opt for sit-down meals, indicating a significant change in competitive dynamics.
- Texas Roadhouse Performance: Texas Roadhouse reported a 6.1% increase in same-store sales and a 4.3% rise in guest counts in the latest quarter, maintaining steady performance through a disciplined strategy that avoids aggressive short-term discounting, despite pressures from rising beef prices and labor costs.
- Darden's Scale Advantage: Darden Restaurants leverages its scale with over 2,100 locations to maintain competitive pricing, achieving 4.7% and 5.9% same-store sales growth at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse respectively, showcasing its ability to capture market share during a time when customers prioritize value.
- Chili's Continued Growth: Brinker International's Chili's achieved an 8.6% same-store sales growth in the second quarter, marking its 19th consecutive quarter of growth, driven by its budget-friendly “3 for Me” platform, which attracts cost-conscious diners and solidifies its market position.
See More
Texas Roadhouse Reports Strong Quarter with 6.1% Sales Growth
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Texas Roadhouse achieved a 6.1% increase in same-store sales in the latest quarter, with guest counts rising by 4.3%, a performance attributed to its disciplined strategy that avoids aggressive short-term discounting, thereby maintaining steady traffic in a competitive market.
- Profit Pressure Easing Expectations: Although restaurant-level margins declined by nearly 170 basis points due to rising beef prices and labor cost inflation, expectations of easing inflationary pressures in the second half of the year could support margin recovery, enhancing investor confidence.
- Digital Kitchen Transformation: The company has completed its system-wide transition to digital kitchens, aimed at maximizing throughput and improving order accuracy at high-volume locations, which will lay the groundwork for future business growth.
- Expansion Plans: Texas Roadhouse plans to open 35 company-owned locations in 2026, demonstrating its proactive expansion intentions in the market, while the current valuation at 28 times forward earnings reflects market expectations for margin recovery.
See More
Texas Roadhouse Misses Q4 Estimates Amid High Beef Prices
- Revenue and Profit Decline: Texas Roadhouse's Q4 revenue increased by 3.1% year-over-year to $1.48 billion, falling short of Wall Street's $1.496 billion estimate, indicating pressure on profits from high beef prices.
- Same-Store Sales Slowdown: Although comparable sales surged to 8.2% in the first three weeks, the overall quarterly growth dropped to 4.2%, missing analyst expectations of 5.2%, reflecting weakened consumer demand and seasonal impacts.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: The company repurchased $50 million worth of stock in Q4 and raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to $0.75 per share, demonstrating a commitment to shareholders despite cost pressures.
- Stable Future Outlook: Management maintained a commodity inflation forecast of around 7% for 2026, despite concerns over persistent high beef prices, while planning to open 35 new restaurants in the coming year, indicating a steadfast expansion strategy.
See More
Jim Cramer's Trust Portfolio Trading Update
- Capital One Increase: Acquiring 30 shares of Capital One Financial at approximately $208 each raises the weighting in Jim Cramer's Trust to 3.05% from 2.9%, increasing total shares to 580, indicating confidence in the company's growth potential despite risks from proposed interest rate caps.
- Danaher Reduction: Selling 200 shares of Danaher at around $207 each decreases the weighting from 2.1% to 1.05%, realizing a disappointing 9% loss, reflecting concerns over its acquisition of pulse oximetry leader Masimo and a preference for biotech-focused acquisitions.
- Texas Roadhouse Sale: Offloading 200 shares of Texas Roadhouse at about $189 each reduces the weighting to 0.95% from 1.9%, achieving an 8% gain, yet concerns over persistent beef inflation suggest potential earnings misses in upcoming reports.
- Strategic Portfolio Adjustment: By reducing positions in underperforming stocks, Jim Cramer's Trust aims to sidestep potential earnings shortfalls, demonstrating a cautious approach to earnings expectations in the current market climate.
See More
Fast Casual Market Reversal: Chili's Rises
- Market Trend Reversal: As prices for fast food and fast-casual dining rise, American consumers are returning to traditional sit-down restaurants in 2026, with Chili's reporting an 8.6% same-store sales growth while Chipotle's declined by 2.5%, indicating a significant shift in consumer preferences.
- Strong Performance by Brinker: Brinker International's stock has surged nearly 300% over the past three years, reflecting the success of its Chili's brand in attracting diners, particularly against the backdrop of rising fast-food prices that have driven customers back to sit-down options.
- Challenges for Fast-Casual Brands: Fast-casual brands like Chipotle are facing pressure from discounted low-end fast food and price competition from higher-end sit-down restaurants, threatening their market share, especially as they grapple with rising prices and declining product quality.
- Investor Strategy Adjustment: In the dynamically changing restaurant market, investors should focus on the specific value propositions of individual restaurants rather than overall categories, as Chipotle struggles while Texas Roadhouse and Brinker International thrive by offering good value at reasonable prices.
See More
Chili's Launches Margarita of the Month Club
- Club Launch: Chili's® Grill & Bar introduces the Margarita of the Month Club to engage super fans who visit monthly to try new drinks, potentially boosting sales from nearly 30 million margaritas sold in 2025.
- Member Benefits: Guests can join the club for free, track their monthly margarita consumption, and purchase unique merchandise, enhancing brand loyalty and customer engagement.
- Limited Edition Merchandise: To celebrate the club's launch, Chili's releases a line of collectible items showcased in short films that highlight the brand's yacht-club aesthetic, aiming to attract younger consumers.
- Holiday Promotions: On National Margarita Day, February 22, Chili's will offer special margarita deals at participating locations for guests aged 21 and over, further enhancing the brand's market presence.
See More
