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Investing.com - UBS has maintained its Buy rating and $245.00 price target on Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) ahead of the company’s fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings report scheduled for September 18. The stock, which has delivered an impressive 39% return over the past year, currently trades at $214.86. InvestingPro data shows analyst targets ranging from $157 to $255, with a consensus recommendation of "Buy."
UBS expects sustained same-store sales momentum across Darden’s key brands, with earnings likely to exceed expectations driven by sales leverage. The firm anticipates Olive Garden’s same-store sales to outperform the consensus estimate of 5.9%, potentially reaching closer to 7%.
For LongHorn Steakhouse, UBS projects same-store sales in the mid-6% range, above the consensus estimate of 5.3%, while adjusted earnings per share are expected to surpass the consensus of $1.99.
UBS believes Darden will likely reiterate most of its fiscal year 2026 guidance, including sales growth of 7-8% (including approximately 2% benefit from an extra week), blended same-store sales of 2-3.5%, 60-65 new restaurant openings, and adjusted earnings per share of $10.50-10.70.
Trading at approximately 20 times fiscal year 2026 estimated earnings, UBS suggests Darden shares remain positioned for further upside over time, supported by multiple growth drivers for Olive Garden, solid profitability, and an intact long-term total shareholder return algorithm of 10-15%.
In other recent news, Darden Restaurants is gearing up for its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings report, with several analyst firms weighing in on the company’s prospects. Truist Securities has maintained a Buy rating and a price target of $252, anticipating solid results that may lead to increased guidance for the fiscal year. The firm also noted that Olive Garden could exceed same-store sales expectations. Meanwhile, BMO Capital has reiterated its Market Perform rating with a price target of $215, expecting results to align with market expectations.
Stephens has raised its price target to $215 from $212, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, and highlighted steady foot traffic across Darden’s core brands. KeyBanc has lowered its price target to $240 from $245, citing rising cost pressures, particularly in beef prices, despite strong top-line momentum. Evercore ISI also reduced its price target to $245 from $250, attributing the change to higher food cost inflation and adjusting its earnings per share forecast. These developments reflect a mix of optimism and caution among analysts as Darden navigates an uncertain economic environment.
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