Darden Restaurants stock gains as Stephens lifts target to USD 220
Published on 09/11/2026 at 23:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Darden Restaurants Inc. (ISIN US2371941053) stock drew fresh attention on September 11, 2026, after Stephens & Co. kept an Equal-Weight rating and lifted its price target to USD 220 from USD 216. The move is small in percentage terms, but it keeps the restaurant group close to the next earnings date on September 24, 2026.
Target reset above the tape
According to GuruFocus on September 11, 2026, Stephens & Co. raised the target by 1.85 percent to USD 220 from USD 216. The same report values Darden Restaurants at about USD 23.56 billion in market capitalization and says the company operated 2,159 company-owned stores at the end of fiscal 2025.
That target still sits only modestly above the last close, which makes the next trading reaction more important than the headline move itself. On September 10, 2026, Darden Restaurants stock closed at USD 207.80 on the NYSE, down 0.8 percent, with volume of 1.58 million shares and a session range of USD 207.35 to USD 210.32.
Quarterly numbers stay central
MarketBeat said on September 11, 2026, that Darden reported quarterly EPS of USD 3.66, topping the consensus estimate by USD 0.03, while revenue rose 13.7 percent year over year to USD 3.72 billion. The same report put net margin at 9.13 percent and return on equity at 57.44 percent, two figures that show how much the market still leans on profitability, not only sales growth.
Investing.com added on September 11, 2026, that UBS reiterated a Buy rating and a USD 240 price target ahead of the first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings report scheduled for September 24, 2026. The outlet also cited fiscal 2027 guidance of USD 13.6 billion to USD 13.75 billion in sales and adjusted EPS of USD 11.10 to USD 11.35.
September 24 matters
The next reporting date gives the stock its clearest catalyst. Zacks noted on September 11, 2026, that Darden is expected to report results for the quarter ended August 2026 on September 24, with consensus EPS of USD 2.06 and revenue of USD 3.2 billion.
For investors, the key question is whether same-store sales and guidance can stay firm enough to justify valuations near the recent range. Darden Restaurants stock closed at USD 207.80 on September 10, 2026, after trading between USD 207.35 and USD 210.32.
Darden Restaurants stock at a glance
- Company: Darden Restaurants Inc.
- ISIN: US2371941053
- Ticker: DRI
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 10, 2026): USD 207.80
- Market capitalization: USD 23.56 billion (as of September 11, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants
- Index membership: S&P 500
- Next earnings date: September 24, 2026
