Morgan Stanley raises target for Darden Restaurants stock from USD 236.00 to USD 255.00
Published on 10/06/2026 at 10:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Darden Restaurants (ISIN US2371941053) received a Morgan Stanley price-target increase from USD 236.00 to USD 255.00 on September 14, 2026. According to MarketBeat, Morgan Stanley maintained an overweight rating on the restaurant operator.
Sales grow while earnings soften
Darden Restaurants reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter sales of USD 3.20 billion for the period ended August 30, 2026, up 5.10 percent from USD 3.04 billion a year earlier. Blended same-restaurant sales increased 3.10 percent, but net earnings from continuing operations fell to USD 234.30 million from USD 257.90 million.
The result shows the central tension in the latest quarter: Darden added sales and restaurant capacity, while profitability faced higher operating costs. The company opened 53 net new restaurants during the period, giving the sales comparison an expansion component rather than relying only on customer traffic.
Guidance stays at USD 11.35
Darden reaffirmed fiscal 2027 diluted net earnings per share guidance of USD 11.10 to USD 11.35 in the September 24, 2026 release. The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of USD 1.62 per share, payable November 2, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 9, 2026.
Capital returns added another concrete signal. Darden repurchased USD 222.30 million of common stock during fiscal 2027 first quarter and said USD 1.30 billion remained under its USD 1.50 billion authorization at the quarter end.
Analyst targets remain above consensus
MarketBeat reported that 18 analysts rated Darden Restaurants a Buy and nine rated it a Hold, producing a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of USD 231.58. Morgan Stanley's USD 255.00 target therefore sits above that average, while the latest operating figures show why analysts are weighing sales growth against softer quarterly earnings.
The company operates a portfolio of full-service restaurant brands, including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. That breadth matters in the current results because LongHorn sales increased to USD 860.90 million from USD 776.40 million, while Olive Garden sales rose to USD 1.33 billion from USD 1.30 billion in fiscal 2027 first quarter.
EUR 177.98 at Lang & Schwarz
Darden Restaurants stock was trading at EUR 177.98 at Lang & Schwarz on October 6, 2026 at 10:37 a.m. CEST, down 0.03 percent versus the prior close of EUR 178.03. The company had a market capitalization of USD 22.9 billion and a 52-week NYSE range of USD 169.00 to USD 229.76 as of October 5, 2026.
The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Darden Restaurants stock.
Darden Restaurants stock facts
- Company: Darden Restaurants, Inc.
- ISIN: US2371941053
- Ticker: DRI
- Primary exchange: NYSE
- Price Lang & Schwarz as of October 6, 2026, 10:37 a.m. CEST: EUR 177.98
- Change versus prior close: minus 0.03 percent
- Prior close Lang & Schwarz October 5, 2026: EUR 178.03
- Market capitalization: USD 22.9 billion as of October 5, 2026
- 52-week range: USD 169.00-229.76 as of October 5, 2026
- Sector / Industry: Consumer Cyclical / Restaurants
- Index membership: S&P 500
