Latest news with #EAT
Entrepreneur
24-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
5 Stocks to Watch: Week of 5/26/2025
Make space on your watchlist! Regal Rexnord (RRX) dipped amid tariff fear, but the outlook is good…Plus, 4 more stocks with excellent near-term potential. This story originally appeared on WallStreetZen Happy Memorial Day Weekend! The stock market isn't open tomorrow, but we started your homework so you can be prepared when the market reopens. Here's what we've got: Regal Rexnord ( RRX ) dipped amid tariff fear, but the outlook is good… dipped amid tariff fear, but the outlook is good… Vertiv Holdings ( VRT ) offers a different way to gain AI exposure offers a different way to gain AI exposure The surprising reason why BK Technologies ( BKTI ) got such a high rating from our quant ratings system got such a high rating from our quant ratings system Why Brinker International ( EAT ) is our Stock of the Week is our Stock of the Week The real reason why analysts are so bullish on KBR (KBR) P.S. Did you miss last week's picks? Get 'em here. 5 Stocks to Watch: Week of 5/26/2025 1- Regal Rexnord (NYSE: RRX) Here's a nuts-and-bolts pick that operates behind the scenes. Regal Rexnord makes industrial powertrains, transmission components, and electric motors — which it then sells either to original equipment manufacturers or end users. The April tariffs caused RRX to dip significantly — it has recovered significantly since, but is still down on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. A recent double beat had made Wall Street confident that the recovery will continue. Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis > Recent Price: $134.57 — get current quote > Max 1-year forecast: $215.00 Why we're watching: At present, the entirety of Wall Street's coverage is positive — RRX stock currently has 5 Strong Buy ratings, 2 Buy ratings, and no Hold, Sell, or Strong Sell ratings. See the ratings. Our ratings system ranks Regal Rexnord as the 5th highest rated stock in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry, which has an Industry Rating of B. Barclays equity researcher Julian Mitchell (a top 1% rated analyst) reiterated a Strong Buy rating on RRX shares on May 12, following the company's Q1 2025 earnings call. The analyst also hiked his price target from $155 to $160. (a top 1% rated analyst) reiterated a Strong Buy rating on RRX shares on May 12, following the company's Q1 2025 earnings call. The analyst also hiked his price target from $155 to $160. Mitchell said their price target hike was part of a post-print review of names in their Industrial Goods sector coverage area. After reviewing results, the analyst concluded that the risk-reward profile for short-cycle industrial shares focusing on small or medium-caps is "more attractive now than going in." RRX stock has a Zen Rating of A — and ranks in the top 5% of stocks based on a big-picture assessment of 115 proprietary factors that correlate with above-average returns . Value or Growth? How about both — Regal Rexnord stock ranks in the top 15% and top 12% in these categories, respectively. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >) 2- Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) Brinker International has managed to thrive in a challenging backdrop for the restaurant business — and while analysts expect that the rate of growth will moderate going forward, the stock ranks quite highly in terms of Growth, and is currently trading at quite the modest P/E. Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis > Recent Price: $154.30 — get current quote > Max 1-year forecast: $208.00 Why we're watching: EAT is our Stock of the Week. Our Editor-in-Chief, Steve Reitmeister, added the stock to his exclusive Zen Investor portfolio on May 7 and explained why in a Monday article. Brinker International is the restaurant company that owns Chili's. Since late 2022, earnings per share (EPS) have risen by 3x — while EAT stock has seen a sixfold increase in price . . Despite the impressive run, the consensus is that there's still plenty of room to growth — best seen in the $8.78 EPS estimate for this year which is more than twice as good as last year at only $4.10. The pace of growth is expected to moderate into 2026 yet still impressive with a $9.79 outlook. Brinker International is the top-rated stock in the Restaurant industry. EAT shares have a Zen Rating of A, and rank in the top 2% of the more than 4,600 equities that our system tracks. The stock ranks in the top 6% in terms of Financials, the top 7% when it comes to Growth, and the top 20% according to Sentiment . Lastly, we have Value — the stock is trading at an attractive price-to-earnings (P/E) of just 19.9x, and ranks in the 79th percentile in this category. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >) 3- BK Technologies (NYSEMKT: BKTI) BK is a holding company that designs, manufactures, and markets two-way communications equipment. Its products have found a wide customer base in the public sector among first responders and military organizations. BKTI stock is in a strong uptrend, and once you see its Component Grade ratings, you'll quickly understand why it's included in this list. Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis > Recent Price: $44.72 — get current quote > Max 1-year forecast: $55.00 Why we're watching: This micro-cap stock, with a market capitalization of just $168.07 million, has flown under the radar thus far. At present, BKTI has only one analyst rating — a Strong Buy. That Strong Buy was first issued by Lake Street equity analyst Jaeson Schmidt (a top 23% rated analyst), who reiterated the rating and hiked his 12-month price forecast from $51 to $55 on May 14, after the company's Q1 2025 earnings report was published. Schmidt's revised price target implies a 20.22% upside for BK Technologies shares. highlighted that the quarter beat on revenue, AEBITDA, and EPS. The analyst told readers that Lake Street remains "impressed by BK Technologies' strong execution against the challenging backdrop." Looking ahead, Schmidt continued, their firm sees a path for the stock to gain because of the durability of the company's growth trends, the "strong EPS power in its model," and the continued improvement in its balance sheet. BK Technologies is currently the highest-rated stock in the Communication Equipment industry, which has an Industry Rating of A. Speaking of 'highest-rated'.... BKTI stock has a Zen Rating of A. Stocks of this caliber have provided an average annual return of 32.52% since the early 2000s. Moreover, BK Technologies is currently the top-rated stock according to our rating system — quite literally number 1 among the more than 4,600 stocks that we track. — quite literally number 1 among the more than 4,600 stocks that we track. Each stock's Zen Rating is a composite of 7 Component Grade ratings — so it will come as little surprise that the highest-rated stock of them all ranks highly in multiple categories. BKTI ranks in the top 1% according to Financials and Sentiment, the top 4% according to Momentum, the top 11% in terms of Value, and the top 17% when it comes to Growth. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >) KBR is a government contractor (the 44th largest one, fun fact) that provides a very expansive suite of services to the public sector — including but not limited to astronaut training, satellite control systems, data analytics, and operational intelligence. The proposed Pentagon budget cuts caused the stock to dip — but Wall Street remains optimistic, and a recent earnings beat suggests that this trust is not unfounded. Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis > Recent Price: $51.46 — get current quote > Max 1-year forecast: $84.00 Why we're watching: Analyst coverage of KBR is almost unanimously bullish — the stock currently has 5 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Hold rating. See the ratings KeyBanc researcher Sangita Jain (a top 14% rated analyst) doubled down on a Strong Buy rating following the company's Q1 2025 earnings call, and increased her price target from $59 to $63. Jain attributed the quarter's beat to "margins in both MTS and STS." The analyst noted that management reaffirmed its FY 2025 guidance in spite of the beat, "likely prudent ahead of the impending HomeSafe ramp and continued EUCOM uncertainty." KBR is also currently the 4th highest rated stock in the Engineering & Construction industry, which has an Industry Rating (what's that?) of A. KBR shares have a Zen Rating of A, and rank in the 96th percentile of equities based on a holistic analysis of 115 factors that correlate with outsized returns. Stocks with a Zen Rating of A have historically provided an average annual return of 32.52%. In the last 365 days, however, KBR stock has lost 14.79% in value. However, this only means that it is now trading at an attractive valuation — in fact, the stock ranks in the top 4% according to Value. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >) 5- Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT ) VRT stock offers a unique way to gain exposure to artificial intelligence. Vertiv Holdings does everything from installation and maintenance to repair when it comes to data centers. On top of that, it is one of the leading power management and, more importantly, cooling providers in the industry. With an already strong tailwind from Project Stargate, as well as record-breaking AI CAPEX, the business is well-positioned to capture a lot of growth from a dynamic narrative. Zen Rating: B (Buy) — see full analysis > Recent Price: $104.76 — get current quote > Max 1-year forecast: $145.00 Why we're watching: VRT stock currently has 5 Strong Buy ratings, 4 Buy ratings, and 2 Hold ratings. See the ratings Stephen Tusa of JP Morgan (a top 15% rated analyst) recently doubled down on a Strong Buy rating, and increased his price target on Vertiv Holdings shares from $100 to $127. In a sector review note, Tusa said the Electrical Equipment & Multi-Industry sectors have re-rated because of tariff de-escalation. Stock prices for names in the groups are now expensive on an absolute basis, the analyst noted. Tusa explained that they adjusted their price targets for the sectors to account for "a higher absolute anchor multiple that reflects the move up in the S&P 500." JPMorgan prefers names that guided conservatively, "embedding the harshest tariff reality," the analyst told readers. VRT stock has a Zen Rating of B — stocks with this distinction have provided an average annual return of 19.88% since the turn of the century. Our quant rating system ranks Vertiv stock in the top 6% of equities according to Growth and Financials. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >) What to Do Next?
Entrepreneur
19-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Brinker International (EAT): My Best Stock for May 2025
Brinker International (EAT) is the owner of Chili's which is offering up a delicious combination of growth and value for investors making it my Stock of the Week selection. This story originally appeared on WallStreetZen I added Brinker International (EAT) to my Zen Investor portfolio on May 7th. Since then it has provided a rocket ride higher for investors. The best part is that today traders are taking some profits off the table providing a well timed pullback allowing new investors to get on board at a better price. Here is the rest of the story… You know them better as the restaurant company that owns Chili's. They are on a hell of an earnings momentum run since late 2022 where EPS has risen 3X and the share price has rallied 6X from valley to recent peak. Just like most stocks, they hit the skids earlier this year. But the continued sell off after their most recent beat and raise is a bit of a head scratcher. From what I see their only concern with tariffs is the cost of avocados. If that is your biggest you don't really have a problem as the growth prospects for the Chili's brand should remain quite robust. This is best seen in the $8.78 EPS estimate for this year which is more than twice as good as last year at only $4.10. The pace of growth is expected to moderate into 2026 yet still impressive with a $9.79 outlook. The Zen Ratings are picking up on the fundamental attractiveness of shares with an A rating overall. Even better than that it is in the top 2% of all stocks analyzed plus; Top 20% Value Top 7% Growth Top 6% Financials In my book Growth and Financials are the most important components of the Zen Ratings to increase the odds of more earnings beats ahead to propel shares higher. Top analysts are also picking up what EAT is putting down. Like the $170 target from John Tower of Citigroup. Even better is the $208 street high target from the analyst at Goldman Sachs. With shares trading under $150, and such a bright earnings outlook, then you should be happy to EAT up these shares on the fortunate dip given their stellar upside prospects. What To Do Next? Brinker International (EAT) is just one of the stellar 18 stocks found in my Zen Investor portfolio. I pick these stocks based upon their attractiveness in our proven Zen Ratings model. Plus keying in on lessons learned over my 45 year investing career. Over that time I have seen 7 bear markets, 8 bull markets, and just about everything between. Analyzing this current investment landscape led me to add new 3 stocks earlier in May that are perfectly suited for this market environment. The only way to see these top picks is to become a Zen Investor member. Gladly that is a very simple process. And right now comes with the ability to save up to 50% on your membership. Discover the Zen Investor & My Top Stocks Now > Wishing you a world of investment success! Steve Reitmeister…but everyone calls me Reity (pronounced 'Righty') Editor of the Zen Investor What to Do Next?
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why Brinker International (EAT) is a Strong Momentum Stock
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Many investors also have a go-to methodology that helps guide their buy and sell decisions. One way to find winning stocks based on your preferred way of investing is to use the Zacks Style Scores, which are indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing types: value, growth, and momentum. Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks. Based in Dallas, TX, Brinker International owns, operates, develops and franchises various restaurants under Chili's Grill & Bar (Chili's) and Maggiano's Little Italy (Maggiano's) brands. The company took over Chili's, Inc., a Texas-based corporation, in September 1983 and completed the acquisition of Maggiano's in August 1995. EAT boasts a Momentum Style Score of A and VGM Score of A, and holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating. Shares of Brinker International has seen some interesting price action recently; the stock is up 13.3% over the past one week and up 0.5% over the past four weeks. And in the last one-year period, EAT has gained 143.3%. As for the stock's trading volume, 1,923,841.75 shares on average were traded over the last 20 days. Momentum investors also pay close attention to a company's earnings. For EAT, seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.37 to $8.67 per share for 2025. EAT boasts an average earnings surprise of 24.5%. EAT should be on investors' short list because of its impressive earnings fundamentals, a good Zacks Rank, and strong Momentum and VGM Style Scores. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EAT Q1 Earnings Call: Brinker International Raises Guidance After Outperforming Sales and Margin Expectations
Casual restaurant chain Brinker International (NYSE:EAT) reported Q1 CY2025 results exceeding the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 27.2% year on year to $1.43 billion. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $5.34 billion at the midpoint came in 1.8% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.66 per share was 3.5% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy EAT? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.43 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.39 billion (27.2% year-on-year growth, 2.6% beat) Adjusted EPS: $2.66 vs analyst estimates of $2.57 (3.5% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $220.6 million vs analyst estimates of $203.4 million (15.5% margin, 8.5% beat) The company lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $5.34 billion at the midpoint from $5.2 billion, a 2.7% increase Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $8.63 at the midpoint, a 11.3% increase Operating Margin: 11%, up from 6.2% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 9.3%, up from 7% in the same quarter last year Locations: 1,626 at quarter end, up from 1,618 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales rose 25.9% year on year (3% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $6.47 billion Brinker International's first-quarter results reflected significant momentum in its core brands, with management attributing outperformance to operational improvements and disciplined execution on menu simplification and marketing. CEO Kevin Hochman highlighted the impact of menu streamlining, improved kitchen processes, and a focus on guest experience, noting, 'Our continued focus on the fundamentals of casual dining, food, service and atmosphere is accelerating performance.' The company's initiatives, including targeted digital marketing and operational changes, drove traffic gains and enhanced restaurant-level economics. Looking ahead, management raised full-year guidance, citing confidence in sustainable traffic growth and continued margin expansion. CFO Mika Ware emphasized that investments in labor, kitchen equipment, and guest experience are expected to support ongoing profitability, while maintaining pricing discipline. Ware explained, 'We're excited by the opportunities ahead to grow the base business,' and noted that Brinker is prepared to adjust its strategy as needed to address inflation and supply chain pressures. The leadership reiterated their commitment to reinvesting in core operations while evaluating future capital allocation and potential shareholder returns. Brinker International's management credited the strong quarter to targeted initiatives across operations, marketing, and menu innovation. They identified streamlined processes and brand differentiation as primary factors in both recent performance and the positive outlook for the rest of the year. Menu and Kitchen Simplification: Leadership emphasized the removal of low-performing menu items and sauces, allowing kitchen staff to operate more efficiently and focus on delivering consistent quality. This included adjustments to fry station workflows and new kitchen display features to reduce ticket times. Marketing and Brand Positioning: The company's marketing strategy centered on value-driven campaigns, including the launch of the Big QP burger and pop-culture promotions like the Chili's Scranton branch, which generated substantial brand impressions and reinforced Chili's value proposition in a crowded market. Operational Investments: Investments in labor, staff training, and new kitchen equipment, such as TurboChef ovens, were highlighted as supporting elevated guest volumes and driving improved restaurant operating margins. Management also stressed the importance of making team member roles more manageable to reduce turnover and maintain service quality. Maggiano's Turnaround Efforts: The Maggiano's brand followed a similar playbook, focusing on menu upgrades, reducing discounting, and simplifying operations. Management acknowledged near-term traffic volatility but expects these changes to drive long-term brand loyalty and profitability. Competitive Environment and Value: Management noted increasing promotional intensity across the industry but maintained that Brinker's focus on guest experience and perceived value differentiated its brands, enabling them to gain market share despite macroeconomic headwinds and heightened competition. Management's outlook for the next several quarters centers on sustaining traffic gains through continued operational enhancements and menu innovation, while navigating inflationary pressures and a competitive value environment. Focus on Menu Upgrades: Planned launches in ribs, appetizers, and other core items are expected to attract customers and improve pricing power, with management expressing optimism about the potential to expand sales from underpenetrated menu categories. Operational Productivity Investments: Ongoing investments in kitchen technology and staff training are intended to support higher guest volumes and improve four-wall economics, with anticipated productivity gains as teams adapt to increased traffic. Managing Cost Headwinds: Management highlighted the need to monitor commodity inflation, wage pressures, and potential tariffs, noting that a largely domestic supply chain and disciplined pricing strategy should help mitigate cost volatility. Flexibility in pricing and supply chain adjustments remain key priorities. David Palmer (Evercore ISI): Asked about the sustainability of same-store sales growth as comps become more challenging. CEO Kevin Hochman stressed ongoing improvements in food, service, and atmosphere as the foundation for future growth, stating, 'If we're better this year versus last year, we have confidence we'll continue to grow the comp.' Dennis Geiger (UBS): Inquired about shifts in drivers behind recent momentum, particularly regarding value platforms and marketing. CFO Mika Ware noted continued strong traffic and said momentum has not slowed, even as certain product mix benefits are expected to moderate. Chris O'Cull (Stifel): Sought clarification on capital expenditure increases and the rationale. Ware attributed the step-up to accelerated investments in new ovens and asset maintenance to sustain elevated sales levels, emphasizing the focus on maintaining updated restaurant assets. Christine Cho (Goldman Sachs): Questioned the impact of tariffs and inflation on food costs and pricing flexibility. Ware explained that over 80% of the supply chain is domestic and that current pricing strategies can absorb modest tariff impacts without significant margin risk. Jon Tower (Citi): Asked about the sources of Chili's traffic growth and whether it reflects new guests or increased frequency. Ware responded that the growth comes from all guest segments, including both new and returning customers, attributing it to enhanced guest experience and operational improvements. In tracking Brinker International's execution, our analysts will focus on (1) the success of upcoming menu innovations, especially the revamped ribs and appetizer offerings; (2) evidence that operational investments continue to support higher guest volumes without eroding margins; and (3) Maggiano's progress in driving sustainable traffic and profitability through its turnaround strategy. We will also monitor how the company manages industry-wide cost pressures and whether marketing initiatives sustain consumer engagement. Brinker International currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15.7×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? Find out in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisville eating disorder clinic loses $300,000 to Trump's anti-diversity push
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A bronze cast of The Thinker sits outside Grawemeyer Hall on the University of Louisville's campus. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, you can get help through the National Eating Disorder Association by calling 800-931-2237 or chatting online at The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988. The University of Louisville's Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab, which treats and researches eating disorders, has lost nearly $300,000 in federal funding, money that covered salaries for two scientists, among other things. Termination notices from the National Institutes of Health, housed in the Department of Health and Human Services, were sent to the lab over the last two weeks and shared with the Lantern. The funding cutoff appears to be part of President Donald Trump's sweeping efforts to root out and end support for diversity, equity and inclusion activities. The notices say the research projects in question are 'antithetical to the scientific inquiry, do nothing to expand our knowledge of living systems, provide low returns on investment, and ultimately do not enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness.' 'Worse, so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion ('DEI') studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans,' the notices say. Cheri Levinson is director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab. (Photo provided) The two staff members whose jobs were defunded through this action — a post-doctoral fellow and Ph.D. student in clinical psychology — are non-white, but their research wasn't related to DEI, said Cheri Levinson, the director of the EAT Lab and an associate professor with the University of Louisville. One project was focused on identifying who is most likely to develop eating disorders and learning how to prevent them. The second was learning how to most effectively treat eating disorders. Cutting the work sends the message that government officials holding the purse 'want people to continue to suffer from mental health problems,' Levinson said. The NIH has not yet responded to a Lantern request for comment. Trump has issued executive orders gutting DEI programs and activities across the federal government. The Trump administration also has reduced funding for medical and scientific research at universities, including the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, although federal courts have temporarily blocked those cuts. ' … if being a woman is a DEI issue' Eating disorders are widespread and can be deadly. The COVID-19 pandemic increased their prevalence in Kentucky. About 9% of Americans live with eating disorders, which can lead to a 'preoccupation' with food intake, weight, calories and more, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Girls are more likely to have disordered eating, according to research that the Lantern has previously reported. Luis Sandoval-Araujo, the doctoral student, said he's mostly researched how eating disorders developed in young girls. He studied a group of girls aged 6-8 and 10-12, following them over the course of two years to see what factors contribute to eating disorder development. 'The research doesn't really have anything to do with DEI,' Sandoval-Araujo said. 'I guess there's an argument to be made that the research is focused particularly on women, for example, because we're looking at 6- to 8-year-old girls, 10- to 12-year-old girls, and their mothers. So … if being a woman is a DEI issue, then that could be the arguments. But … that doesn't really make sense.' Before its termination, the federal 'diversity supplement' was a way to ensure scientific fields were open to people of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds, former foster care youth, first generation students and other marginalized groups. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in February that the diversity awards being eliminated by the Trump administration 'are fundamentally identical to the non-diversity equivalents' but helped scientists from diverse backgrounds have equal access to funding. 'This funding mechanism, and other funding mechanisms like it, definitely, more often than not, are used by scholars of diverse identities, particularly racial and ethnic minorities,' said Sandoval-Araujo. 'So (cutting it) likely has a disproportionate effect on people of color, people from minoritized backgrounds, all that kind of stuff. Is it directly racist? I don't think so, but it's hard to ignore the impact.' Sandoval-Araujo said that losing the diversity supplement will cost him a $25,000 stipend, but the loss will not interrupt his studies. 'Even with the loss of this grant, I'm still able to support myself,' he said. 'I have another year fellowship from the university directly that I'm going to be using for my funding. But if I didn't have a fallback option, for example, I'd have to spend additional time during my studies to be a teaching assistant or do some type of other assistantship in order to get my stipend, which is really not a lot.' 'It still stings, because you make plans around having that money, having that funding,' he said. 'It pays for my tuition, my stipend, a little bit of travel money for me to attend conferences and disseminate our work, which is really important and really impactful.' The funding also covered extra training — outside of his university classes — that he needed for his work that is now going away. 'It costs a lot of money for me to attend the class on advanced machine learning techniques that I'm no longer going to be able to do because that money doesn't exist,' Sandoval-Araujo said. Lab turns to GoFundMe The lab is now trying to raise the lost funds on its own so Sandoval-Araujo and the post-doctoral fellow can maintain their work. Meanwhile, Levinson said she is working to put her staff on other projects to keep them in the lab. A GoFundMe set up by the lab to make up for the federal cuts says the staff whose jobs are affected 'are essential to the lifesaving work we do developing better treatments and preventions for eating disorders. These are researchers who are dedicated to advancing our understanding of eating disorders — complex mental health conditions that affect millions of lives but remain deeply misunderstood and underfunded.' The fundraiser also asserts: 'These grants were terminated because of the color of these trainees' skin, with no consideration to the harm that these terminations will cause on the progress of the work and the trajectory of these trainees' careers.' It's unclear what will happen to the active patients who were involved in this research, Levinson said, but she warned that the cuts could cause real harm. The decision to cut money that was promised through August 2026 'actively risks lives in an active clinical trial,' Levinson said. 'It also risks just so many more lives that we don't even know how they would be saved by the work that these young scientists are doing.' Cuts are 'infuriating' Kimberly Osborn, who graduates with her doctorate in counseling psychology this month, planned to work as a post-doctoral fellow at the EAT Lab and research a topic she's deeply passionate about: the intersection of eating disorders, trauma, suicidality and sleep. Osborn, a former foster youth who survived an eating disorder and suicidality as a teenager, saw firsthand the need for evidence-based eating disorder care and treatment. She applied for 'diversity supplement' funding but the program was cut before she could get it. That means that while she will continue to assist Levinson in research as a post-doc, she won't have the funding to do her own research, which 'delays me.' She plans to apply for other grant opportunities, but that process could take a year. She said the grant termination affecting her two colleagues demonstrates a 'lack of critical thinking.' The diversity supplement funding, she said, isn't about giving minority communities 'the upper hand.' Rather, she said, it was a way to 'balance it out for people' who are doing work and 'just need extra support.' In the termination notices for two of her colleagues who already had been promised funds, the NIH said that the award had been 'related to research programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives.' Osborn finds the allegation that the lab's research is non-scientific 'infuriating' and 'completely untrue.' 'I work with patients. I see the impacts of eating disorders,' she said. 'Dr. Levinson, along with a lot of the trainees that she supports — many of which are diversity scholars — are directly making an impact on improved outcomes and literally saving lives. To say that just because it's done by someone who is from a diverse background, or who have these kinds of supplements … is offensive and untrue.' Data published in the medical journal JAMA in 2023 showed about 1 in 5 children have disordered eating. 'This harms everyone,' Levinson said. 'Everybody knows somebody that has an eating disorder. We might not talk about it a lot, but the work that we're doing on my team is making a huge impact to stop eating disorders and these sorts of terminations are not only harmful, but they're undoing decades of work to be able to get to the point where we can make a difference and make it so that people don't have to die and suffer and lose their joy because of eating disorders.' Help is available If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, you can get help through the National Eating Disorder Association by calling 800-931-2237 or chatting online at The Louisville Center for Eating Disorders provides nonemergency services, including outpatient therapy. Visit or call 502-205-1114 for more information. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988.
