Darden Restaurants stock climbs after Baird lifts its target
Published on 08/24/2026 at 21:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Darden Restaurants stock is drawing fresh analyst attention after Baird raised its price target to $250 from $220 on August 24, 2026. The same update said Darden earned $3.66 per share in the quarter and generated $3.72 billion in revenue, both key figures for the casual-dining operator.
Analyst sentiment turns higher
The brokerage call pushed the average target higher across the analyst set, with 27 analysts assigning a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target of $228.88. That sits below Baird's new $250 target, while the stock also opened at $221.81 and traded near its 52-week high of $229.76.
The comparison matters because the quarter was not just a beat on earnings. Darden topped the $3.63 consensus EPS estimate by $0.03, while revenue rose 13.7% from the prior year quarter and came in slightly below the $3.73 billion revenue estimate.
Dividend and valuation cues
MarketBeat's same-day coverage also said the quarterly dividend was lifted to $1.62 per share, equal to $6.48 annualized and a 2.9% yield. The stock was also shown with a market capitalization of $25.30 billion, a 50-day moving average of $208.30, and a 200-day moving average of $204.47.
That puts the shares at a premium to the recent moving-average base, while the analyst note keeps attention on whether stronger sales can sustain the recent margin and earnings profile. Institutional investors owned 93.64% of the stock in the same update, and insiders sold 70,185 shares worth $14.64 million over the past 90 days.
What the business sells
Darden's restaurant portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, a mix that gives the company exposure to both casual dining and value-oriented traffic. The latest quarter's revenue growth and the raised dividend show why the name remains a core consumer holding for many analysts.
Price and level
As of August 24, 2026, the shares opened at $221.81 and sat close to the 52-week high of $229.76. The market cap stood at $25.30 billion in the same update.
Fact box
Company: Darden Restaurants, Inc.
ISIN: US2371941053
Ticker: DRI
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 24, 2026): $221.81 USD
Market cap: $25.30 billion (as of August 24, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Consumer Discretionary / Restaurants
Index membership: S&P 500
