EAT's Fiscal 2027 Guidance Gets a Boost From the 53rd Operating Week

Brinker International, Inc. EAT expects another year of revenue and earnings growth in fiscal 2027, helped by an unusual 53rd operating week. The calendar benefit is meaningful, but it is only one part of the outlook.

Investors still have to weigh Chili's traffic assumptions, restaurant reinvestment and cost pressures to judge how much of the projected growth reflects underlying operating progress.

Brinker's Fiscal 2027 Guidance Extends Momentum

Brinker expects fiscal 2027 revenues of $6.15-$6.27 billion and adjusted earnings of $12.60-$13.40 per share. Management built the outlook around mid-single-digit Chili's same-store sales growth and positive traffic for the remainder of the year.

Brinker International, Inc. Price and Consensus

Brinker International, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Brinker International, Inc. Quote

That keeps Chili's execution at the center of the forecast. Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI, with brands including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, provides another large full-service dining benchmark. Texas Roadhouse, Inc. TXRH operates predominantly in casual dining, making traffic and restaurant-level execution important points of comparison across the category.

EAT Gets a 53rd-Week Earnings Tailwind

The extra operating week is expected to add about 2% to fiscal 2027 revenues and 70 cents to adjusted earnings per share. Because that contribution comes from the calendar, it should be separated from the company's underlying sales and margin progress.

The distinction matters when comparing fiscal 2027 with fiscal 2026. Growth supported by a 53rd week is real for the reported year, but Chili's comparable sales, traffic and restaurant economics will provide a cleaner read on operating momentum.

Brinker's Reimage Plan Adds a Longer Growth Lever

Brinker completed 11 Chili's reimages in fiscal 2026 and plans another 60-80 in fiscal 2027. The program expands a growth lever that is separate from near-term comparable-sales gains and is intended to refresh more of the restaurant base.

Fiscal 2027 guidance also assumes three net new company-owned restaurant openings. Brinker plans to acquire 12 franchised Chili's restaurants in Alabama and Mississippi, while management expects a larger new-unit development ramp beginning in later fiscal years.

EAT Still Has to Manage Inflation and Pricing

Commodity inflation is expected to ease through fiscal 2027, from about 4% in the first quarter to 3% in the second, 2% in the third and 1% in the fourth. Beef remains the main commodity pressure after contributing to higher food costs in the most recent quarter.

Brinker also plans to keep pricing near the lower end of its 3-5% range to protect Chili's value proposition. That approach supports traffic goals but reduces the pricing cushion available if commodity or other restaurant costs prove more persistent.

Brinker's Maggiano's Turnaround Remains a Drag

Maggiano's recovery remains slower than planned. Management has incorporated that slower turnaround into fiscal 2027 guidance and modeled roughly flat revenues and profits for the brand.

The brand's smaller contribution limits its effect on consolidated results, but execution still matters. Fiscal 2026 comparable sales fell 3.9%, traffic declined 9.3% and restaurant operating margin dropped to 10.1% from 16.3%, leaving little room for further deterioration.

EAT's Growth Scores Back the Outlook With Caveats

The bottom line is that the 53rd week gives fiscal 2027 a clear earnings and revenue lift, while Chili's traffic, reimages and unit actions provide the more durable operating tests. Inflation, pricing discipline and Maggiano's weakness remain offsets.

EAT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), along with a Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of A. Its Value Score is C. The Style Scores point to favorable growth and momentum characteristics, but they are designed to complement the Zacks Rank. With a #3 Rank rather than a #1 or #2, the combination supports a measured stance instead of an unqualified buy signal. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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