Citigroup Reiterates Buy Rating on Darden Restaurants, Inc.

On June 15, 2026, Citigroup reiterated its buy rating for Darden Restaurants, Inc. with a $245 price target.

Key Points

  • On June 15, 2026, Citigroup reiterated its buy rating for Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) with a $245 price target.
  • Darden Restaurants, Inc. trades at $211.47 with a market cap of $24.2 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.26.
  • Insiders have been active, with transactions including both purchases and sales in recent months.

On June 15, 2026, Citigroup reiterated its buy rating for Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), maintaining a price target of $245. Analyst Jon Tower emphasized the continued potential for the restaurant group, which operates well-known brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Snapshot

Shares of NYSE:DRI traded around $211.47. Darden Restaurants, Inc. has a market capitalization of approximately $24.2 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.26, with a forward P/E of 18.59. The stock’s 52-week range is between $169.00 and $228.27, and it has a beta of 0.587. The company's 50-day moving average is $198.24, while the 200-day moving average is $195.78.

Recent Earnings

Darden Restaurants, Inc. reported revenue of $12.76 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 5.9%. The company achieved a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 51.54%. Earnings per share stood at $9.50. The next earnings report is expected on June 25, 2026.

Dividend

Darden Restaurants, Inc. offers an annual dividend rate of $6.00, yielding 2.84%. The dividend payout ratio is 62.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Recent insider activity at Darden Restaurants includes various transactions. On May 31, 2026, Daryl Kenningham engaged in multiple transactions, both buying and selling 159 shares each. On April 17, 2026, Douglas Milanes, the SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer, sold 3,620 shares at an average price of $202.17. Lindsay Koren, SVP General Counsel, sold 300 shares on April 7, 2026, at $194.32.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On June 15, 2026, Citigroup maintained its buy rating with a $245 price target. Earlier, on June 5, 2026, B of A Securities reiterated a buy rating with a target of $276. Keybanc also maintained a buy rating with a $228 target on May 27, 2026. The consensus recommendation is a buy, with a mean target price of $226.23 based on 26 analyst opinions.

About Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., based in Orlando, Florida, operates a range of full-service restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Its portfolio includes popular brands such as Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille. With nearly 198,000 employees, the company is led by CEO Ricardo Cardenas.

Bottom Line

Investors closely watch analyst ratings, and Citigroup's reiteration of a buy rating with a $245 target for Darden Restaurants reflects continued confidence. Darden's diverse restaurant portfolio and strong financial performance make it a significant player in the consumer cyclical sector. As always, it's important to remember that analyst ratings and 13F filings are backward-looking and may not reflect the most current market conditions.

See Also

This instant news alert was generated by automated narrative technology and financial data from EarningsIQ and public regulatory filings. It is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.