Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Issues Positive Forecast for Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) Stock Price
by Kim Johansen · The Markets DailyDarden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI – Free Report) had its price target hoisted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $222.00 to $230.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the restaurant operator’s stock.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Darden Restaurants from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Barclays increased their target price on Darden Restaurants from $227.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 price target on shares of Darden Restaurants in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Darden Restaurants from $225.00 to $226.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Darden Restaurants in a report on Friday, December 19th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.24.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on DRI
Darden Restaurants Price Performance
Shares of NYSE DRI opened at $202.99 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The company has a market cap of $23.37 billion, a PE ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.61. Darden Restaurants has a twelve month low of $169.00 and a twelve month high of $228.27. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $208.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $194.66.
Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 19th. The restaurant operator reported $2.95 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.94 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $3.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.33 billion. Darden Restaurants had a return on equity of 53.54% and a net margin of 8.66%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.80 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Darden Restaurants will post 9.52 EPS for the current year.
Darden Restaurants Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 10th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 10th. Darden Restaurants’s dividend payout ratio is currently 63.49%.
Insider Transactions at Darden Restaurants
In other news, insider John W. Wilkerson sold 2,258 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.00, for a total value of $480,954.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 17,784 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,787,992. This represents a 11.27% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Susan M. Connelly sold 2,635 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.36, for a total value of $546,393.60. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 4,098 shares in the company, valued at $849,761.28. This trade represents a 39.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 18,770 shares of company stock worth $3,948,970. Company insiders own 0.49% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Trading of Darden Restaurants
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DRI. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Darden Restaurants in the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Darden Restaurants during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Darden Restaurants during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Darden Restaurants by 926.7% in the 4th quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 154 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Union Savings Bank bought a new stake in shares of Darden Restaurants in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors own 93.64% of the company’s stock.
Key Darden Restaurants News
Here are the key news stories impacting Darden Restaurants this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q3 results and guidance lift — Darden reported $2.95 EPS (in line/just above consensus), revenue of $3.35B (+5.9% YoY) and raised its full‑year outlook for sales and adjusted EPS, citing strength at LongHorn and unit growth. Management’s guidance lift is the primary catalyst for optimism. PR Newswire: Q3 Results & Outlook
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts lift targets and ratings — A wave of firms raised targets (Citigroup to $238, Deutsche Bank to $230, Barclays to $232, KeyCorp, BTIG, others), with several reaffirming Buy/Overweight ratings. That collective upward revision signals stronger Street momentum behind the stock. Benzinga: Analysts Increase Forecasts
- Positive Sentiment: Dividend declared & capital returns — Darden announced a quarterly dividend (covers April record / May pay date) and continues significant buybacks; MarketBeat highlights strong cash flow and share‑count reduction as supportive of future returns. That makes the stock more attractive to income and valuation‑focused investors. MarketBeat: Growth & Cash Flow
- Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call / transcripts available — Management held the Q3 call and released transcripts/slides (useful for digging into LFLs, unit‑economics, weather impacts and cadence of buybacks). Investors should review the call for color on margins and FY26 assumptions. MSN: Q3 Earnings Call Transcript
- Negative Sentiment: One‑time charges and brand exit — Darden took impairments and other one‑offs tied to the Bahama Breeze review and planned closures/conversions; GAAP results look weaker as a result. These items compress near‑term margins and add uncertainty around restructuring costs. MarketBeat: One‑offs & Impairments
- Negative Sentiment: Risks flagged by some commentary — A few writeups note building risks (weather, commodity/labor pressure, and noise from restructuring) that could press margins even as revenue growth remains healthy. Seeking Alpha: Risks Building
Darden Restaurants Company Profile
Darden Restaurants, Inc is a multi-brand, full-service restaurant company headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company owns and operates a portfolio of casual and fine-dining concepts that together serve millions of guests through company-owned and franchised locations. Its well-known brands include Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, alongside other dining concepts that span Italian, American, steakhouse and upscale casual formats.
Darden’s restaurants provide a range of guest-facing services including dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering, and feature menus tailored to each brand’s positioning—Italian-American fare at Olive Garden, steaks and grilled items at LongHorn, and more premium steakhouse and chef-driven offerings at its upscale concepts.