BUZZ-BofA downgrades Bloomin' Brands to 'underperform'

** Brokerage BofA downgrades casual dining restaurant chain Bloomin' Brands BLMN.O to "underperform" from "neutral", cuts PT to $13 from $18

** Notes co's steady decline in volumes and transaction counts, says while casual dining industry is notoriously slow in growth, BLMN's struggles have allowed competitors to expand in market share

** Says Chili's Grill & Bar operator Brinker International's EAT.N turnaround efforts act as a roadmap, with more spending on labor to improve service and marketing to draw customers needed

** Says that BLMN's in line to higher pricing vs competition and lack of scale advantages offers no room for reinvestment without hurting margins

** However, sees co's ability to maintain stable margins despite steadily reduced transactions to help with the reinvestment

** One out of 13 brokerages rate the stock "strong buy", 10 "hold" and two "sell", with a median PT of $15

** BLMN fell ~56% in 2024