Darden Restaurants stock gained 1.76 percent as outlook holds

Published on 10/07/2026 at 07:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Fiscal 2027 first-quarter sales reached USD 3.2 billion on September 24, 2026, up 5.1 percent year over year. Darden Restaurants stock carries a USD 232.48 analyst target.

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Darden Restaurants stock (ISIN US2371941053) was last at USD 203.24 on the NYSE on October 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, up 1.76 percent from the prior close. The company entered October with fiscal 2027 first-quarter sales of USD 3.2 billion, a 5.1 percent year-over-year increase reported on September 24, 2026.

Sales rise as outlook holds

According to Darden Restaurants on September 24, 2026, blended same-restaurant sales increased 3.1 percent in the fiscal first quarter ended August 30, 2026. LongHorn Steakhouse led the named major brands with comparable sales growth of 6.2 percent.

The reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations was USD 2.05 for fiscal Q1 2027, while the company reaffirmed full-year diluted EPS guidance of USD 11.10 to USD 11.35. That guidance range gives investors a clearer benchmark for the next results cycle than the quarter's sales figure alone.

Analyst target stays above price

MarketBeat lists a Moderate Buy consensus from 26 analysts, including 17 Buy ratings and 9 Holds. The average twelve-month target is USD 232.48, with a high of USD 276.00 and a low of USD 200.00.

Against the USD 203.24 NYSE price on October 6, 2026, the average target lies 14.39 percent above the stock. The spread matters because the low target of USD 200.00 sits below the latest price, while the high target of USD 276.00 points to a much wider range of opinion.

MarketBeat also records BMO Capital Markets lowering its target from USD 225.00 to USD 220.00 on September 25, 2026, while maintaining a Market Perform rating. That move supplies a counterweight to the broader Moderate Buy consensus and keeps margin and consumer-demand risks relevant.

Next results date is set

Investing.com reported that Darden plans to release fiscal 2027 second-quarter results on December 18, 2026, before the market opens. The calendar shift of Thanksgiving is expected to create a 1 percent headwind to second-quarter sales, with an offsetting benefit in the third quarter.

Darden stock holds above USD 200

Darden Restaurants stock was last at USD 203.24 on the NYSE on October 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, with a market capitalization of USD 23.3 billion and a 52-week range of USD 169.00 to USD 229.76. The next test for the shares is whether sales growth and the reaffirmed EPS range can support the valuation before the December report.