About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Brinker International’s Price Dip is an Appetizing Entry Point

By: MarketBeat

chilis restaurant exterior logo sign

Brinker International’s (NYSE: EAT) stock price fell 15% following its Q4 release, which presented an appetizing dip for investors to snack on. Weaker-than-expected earnings and softer-than-expected guidance caused the dip, but that is the worst news to be found. The remaining details prove the company’s strategy is working. Brinker International is growing, improving margins and shareholder value, and setting itself up for longer-term success. Among the details impacting the earnings are increased operational quality and customer satisfaction costs, which will help sustain growth over time and diminish in future quarters. 

Brinker International operates and franchises the Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands. Additionally, the company runs the virtual brand It's Just Wings.

Brinker International Had a Good Quarter, But the Market Wanted More

Brinker International had a good quarter despite missing earnings estimates. The company’s revenue grew by 11.1% to $1.2 billion and beat the consensus reported by MarketBeat by 350 basis points. The strength is due to a 13.5% increase in comps at Chili’s offset by slower 2.5% growth at Maggiano’s. Chili’s growth is attributed to a 5.9% increase in traffic compounded by increased menu pricing. The launch of the Big Smasher burger was also cited as a traffic driver. Growth in the core business would have been stronger without the strategic decision to deemphasize virtual brands like It’s Just Wings, which operate out of Chili’s locations. 

Margin and profits are why the stock price fell. The company reported $1.61 in adjusted earnings to miss the consensus by $0.11 or 625 basis points. However, as bad as the miss is, it is offset by the fact that the restaurant-level operating margin and the system-wide operating income margin rose, resulting in a leveraged gain on the bottom line. The GAAP and adjusted earnings are up compared to last year, adjusted by nearly 16%, and margin improvements are expected to stick. 

Guidance echoes the Q4 results in that revenue is expected to grow at an above-consensus pace, but margins will not expand as much as forecasted. The company is targeting $4.55 in adjusted earnings compared to the consensus of $4.78, which is not good for market sentiment.

Brinker International Reached an Inflection Point in Q4 F2024

The real takeaway is that the company reached an inflection point in Q4. The company’s efforts to improve operations and operational quality improved cash flow to the point that cash is building on the balance sheet while it pays down debt and reinvests in the business. The net result is that the shareholder deficit dwindled to zero and turned positive and is expected to continue improving in F2025. Leverage remains high at 20x equity but is also expected to fall dramatically over the coming quarters. 

MarketBeat did not track any analysts' revisions within the first few hours of the release, but the trends are positive. Sixteen analysts have pegged the stock at a consensus of Hold, showing a relatively high conviction in the $57.60 consensus price target. The consensus price target lags the market even with the double-digit price implosion but is rising and up 55% from last year, providing substantial support in alignment with the critical 150-day EMA. 

Brinker Falls Into the Buy-Zone: Institutions Are Scooping Up This Stock

Institutional activity in this stock has been robust for the last year. The institutions have bought on balance for four consecutive quarters and own more than 90% of the shares. Their activity aligns with the rise in share prices and will likely continue to support the stock at current levels. The early indications are that the market is buying the price dip and giving a strong buy signal. The signal strength is indicated by the spike in volume, confirming support above the recent low. Brinker International stock may consolidate at these levels for the next few months, but a move below $57.50 is not expected, and a new all-time high is likely sometime in 2025. 

Brinker International EAT stock chart

More News

View More
Datavault AI: The New AI Contender Backed by Big Funding
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers DVLT IBM SCLX
CoreWeave: Why the New King of AI Infrastructure Has Room to Run
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers CORZ CRWV META NVDA
Top 3 Dividend Achievers for October: High Yields, Growth Ahead
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers FDX PFE UPS VZ
Etsy Partners With OpenAI—What It Means for Investors Now
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers ETSY
3 Solid Consumer Brands Offering Stability in Volatile Markets
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AOUT JAKK KO PG SN
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.