Oppenheimer Reaffirms Buy Rating on Darden Restaurants
Oppenheimer maintains its buy rating for Darden Restaurants with a $235 target.
Key Points
- Oppenheimer reiterated its buy rating on Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) with a price target of $235 on June 18, 2026.
- Darden Restaurants has a market cap of about $24.2 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.27, with shares trading near $213.87.
- Insider activity includes sales by SVP Douglas Milanes and SVP Lindsay Koren, while analysts like Citigroup and B of A Securities also maintain positive ratings.
Oppenheimer has reiterated its buy rating on Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) with a price target of $235. This reaffirmation by analyst Brian Bittner was made on June 18, 2026, highlighting continued confidence in the restaurant operator's potential.
Other Institutional Activity in Darden Restaurants
Capital World Investors trimmed its holdings by 232,593 shares, ending with about 14.9 million shares valued at $2.93 billion. BlackRock, Inc. also reduced its position by 280,271 shares, holding roughly 9.6 million shares worth $1.89 billion. Vanguard Capital Management LLC initiated a new position with 7.47 million shares valued at $1.47 billion. Meanwhile, Wellington Management Group LLP significantly cut its stake by 1,228,575 shares, now holding 6.8 million shares valued at $1.34 billion. State Street Corp made a minor reduction of 6,595 shares, maintaining 4.86 million shares worth $953 million.
Darden Restaurants Stock Snapshot
Shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) traded near $213.87. The company has a market cap of approximately $24.2 billion, with a P/E ratio of 22.27 and a forward P/E of 18.58. Its beta is 0.587, indicating lower volatility compared to the market. The stock's 52-week range is between $169.00 and $228.27, with a 50-day moving average of $199.16 and a 200-day moving average of $195.82.
Recent Earnings
Darden Restaurants reported revenue of $12.76 billion, marking a growth of 5.9%. The company achieved an EPS of $9.49, with a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 51.54%. The next earnings release is expected on June 25, 2026.
Dividend
The company offers an annual dividend rate of $6.00, yielding 2.87%. Its dividend payout ratio stands at 62.17%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Recent insider activity includes sales by Douglas Milanes, SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer, who sold 3,620 shares on April 17, 2026, at an average price of $202.17. Lindsay Koren, SVP General Counsel, sold 300 shares on April 7, 2026, at an average price of $194.32.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On June 18, 2026, Oppenheimer reiterated its buy rating with a $235 price target. Citigroup maintained its buy rating with a $245 target on June 15, 2026, while B of A Securities kept a buy rating with a $276 target on June 5, 2026. The consensus rating is a buy, with an average target price of $226.23 based on 26 analyst opinions.
About Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. operates a variety of full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada, including popular chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and led by CEO Ricardo Cardenas, the company employs nearly 198,000 people.
Bottom Line
Oppenheimer's reiterated buy rating on Darden Restaurants underscores continued optimism for the company's performance. With a solid market cap and a positive earnings outlook, Darden remains a significant player in the restaurant industry. As always, it's important to remember that analyst ratings are projections and can change based on market conditions.
See Also
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