Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is gearing up to unveil its financial performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Investors will be watching closely as the Orlando, Florida-based restaurant giant prepares to report its earnings before the market opens on Thursday, September 19th.
Analysts are optimistic, projecting that Darden will post earnings of $1.84 per share, a healthy increase from the $1.78 per share reported during the same period last year. Revenue expectations are equally strong, with analysts anticipating a quarterly revenue of $2.8 billion. This positive outlook comes on the heels of Darden’s recent announcement of its acquisition of Chuy’s Holdings Inc (CHUY), a move that reflects the company’s strategic growth ambitions.
To gain deeper insights into the market’s sentiment surrounding Darden Restaurants, let’s delve into the latest analyst ratings.
TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles maintains a Hold rating on DRI with a price target of $150. This analyst has an impressive accuracy rate of 69%. Citigroup’s Jon Tower remains bullish on Darden, reiterating a Buy rating while slightly reducing the price target from $192 to $191. Tower’s accuracy rate sits at 73%. Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan echoes the positive sentiment, reaffirming an Outperform rating with a price target of $170 and an accuracy rate of 69%.
Raymond James’ Brian Vaccaro also expresses confidence in Darden, maintaining an Outperform rating with a price target of $160. Vaccaro boasts a strong accuracy rate of 81%. Finally, Piper Sandler’s Brian Mullan adopts a more cautious stance, maintaining a Neutral rating while lowering the price target from $163 to $159. Mullan’s accuracy rate is a respectable 78%.
As Darden Restaurants prepares to release its earnings, these analyst insights provide a valuable framework for investors looking to navigate the stock’s performance. The diverse range of ratings and price targets reflects the nuances of market expectations surrounding the company’s future prospects.
