Darden Restaurants Sets Up 2026 Guidance: Analyst Expects A 'Beat And Raise' Year

Shares of Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI) tanked in early trading on Monday, after the company Monday reported its fiscal fourth-quarter results.

The announcement came amid an exciting earnings season. Here are some key analyst takeaways.

Stephens analyst Jim Salera maintained an Equal-weight rating, while raising the price target from $200 to $212.

TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles reiterated a Hold rating, while lifting the price target from $215 to $235.

Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett reaffirmed a Buy rating and price target of $252.

Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner maintained an Outperform rating and price target of $250.

Check out other analyst stock ratings.

Stephens: Darden reported better-than-expected results on "all major line items," like same-store sales, margins, and adjusted earnings. Same-store sales at Olive Garden and LongHorn were ahead of expectations, "partially offset by a slower-than-expected recovery in Fine Dining," Salera said in a note.

The company also closed 22 underperforming units during the quarter.

Darden has "decent" visibility into the first half of fiscal 2026 ...