Loop Capital analyst Lynne Collier raised her price target on Brinker to $49 but kept her Hold rating after its Q1 results. The analyst notes that the company saw strong performance in the key markets of California, Texas, and the Northeast, with indications of October tracking at a similar pace, but retains a cautious view on Brinker longer term in light of the "casual dining headwinds".

Evercore ISI raised the firm's price target on Brinker to $50 from $48 and keeps an In Line rating on the shares. After a weather impaired January and February, the firm had hoped for a mid-quarter acceleration in restaurant industry same-store sales growth, but "trends remained lackluster," the analyst tells investors in a Q1 preview for the group. The firm estimates fast food industry same-store sales growth of 1.5% in Q1 and a casual dining segment same-store sales decline of 1%, noting that it recently lowered top-line forecasts for much of its coverage because of the sluggish trends lately.