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Daniel J. Kiernan, President of Olive Garden under Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), recently executed significant stock transactions, according to a filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. On March 25, Kiernan sold a total of 17,048 shares of Darden common stock, generating approximately $3.52 million. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $206.32 to $207.04. The transaction comes as Darden’s stock trades near its 52-week high of $210.47, with the company’s market capitalization now standing at $24.5 billion.
Additionally, Kiernan acquired 17,048 shares through the exercise of stock options at prices between $78.84 and $107.05, amounting to a total acquisition value of approximately $1.66 million. Following these transactions, Kiernan’s direct ownership stands at 27,355 shares.
These moves are part of Kiernan’s ongoing management of his holdings in the company, which operates popular restaurant chains such as Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.
In other recent news, Darden Restaurants has received a series of positive analyst assessments following its latest financial results. The company reported third-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings per share (EPS) that met expectations, with stronger-than-anticipated restaurant-level margins offsetting minor shortfalls in same-store sales growth. Analysts from KeyBanc, UBS, Stifel, Guggenheim, and BofA have all raised their price targets for Darden, reflecting confidence in its future performance. KeyBanc and Guggenheim set their targets at $220, citing improved sales trends and strategic growth opportunities. UBS increased its target to $225, highlighting Darden’s resilience in sales and strategic expansion plans, including opening new locations and leveraging an additional fiscal week. Stifel adjusted their target to $215, noting solid same-restaurant sales trends despite a challenging consumer environment. BofA raised its target to $238, emphasizing Darden’s strong execution and potential growth from partnerships like Uber (NYSE:UBER) Direct. These developments underscore analysts’ optimism about Darden’s ability to navigate market challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
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