Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) operates and franchises 1,689 casual dining restaurants in 49 states and 24 countries. Brinker owns approximately 75% of its restaurants and franchises the remaining 25%. The company's chains include Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill , On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina, and Maggiano's Little Italy. The company earned $3.6 billion in revenue and $79 million in net income in 2009.^[1]

Brinker's is highly leveraged to the success of its Chili's brand. Although Brinker's has 4 different brands, Chili's, its flagship chain accounts for 76% of its restaurants. The company plans to grow this number to 2000, over the next several years. The company has announced no similar plans to expand its other chains. However, growth has been stunted by a sluggish economy, which in turn has also hurt Brinker's sales. In 2009, the company's comparable store sales fell by more than 4% in all of its restaurants.^[1]

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