Darden Restaurants (DRI) Buy, Sell or Hold

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Darden Restaurants (DRI)

221.60

+3.65 (1.67%)

as of Aug 21, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.

39 watching

Investor Insights

Aug 23, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 3 opinions in the last 12 months.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) faces mixed sentiments in the wake of recent earnings reports. While same-store sales increased by 4.7%, inflation pressures have adversely impacted profit margins, leading to a decline in share prices. Experts believe that higher beef prices and tariffs have compounded the challenges posed by food inflation. Nevertheless, management's decision to maintain earnings guidance and a commitment to keeping prices below inflation rates are viewed positively. The company is also capitalizing on delivery partnerships with Uber Direct to enhance customer reach, especially among younger demographics. Despite the current challenges, some analysts suggest that the downturn in restaurant stocks may represent a temporary setback, providing a potential entry point for investors.

Consensus

Positive

Valuation

Fair Value

Similar

Brinker, EAT

BUY

It reports Thursday. It's had a good run and he expects good numbers, given the scarcity value of this stock and the Last Man Standing thesis during the upheaval that all restos have faced during Covid.

COMMENT

Trade this medium-term as a reopening play, but after that is downside: food and labour costs will rise and there will be a labour shortage. As the economy reopens, people will dine-in and not take-out as they did during Covid.

BUY

Last summer, Bogota Chow steakhouse sold 1,300 steaks a week way past their normal 500 after the first stimulus cheques were issued. Darden controls costs well and have a good, diverse range of brands. The valuation makes sense.

COMMENT

New York will soon ban indoor dining and he expects the rest of the country to follow, which will impact Darden. But long term it will survive. He expects good guidance when they report next week, but the stock has run up lately.

BUY

The parent company of Olive Garden and other restaurants. Restos in general have been ground zero for Covid. DRI has thrived because they've put tables outside and invested heavily in safety. They've cut their dividend. They've returned to this year's high. DRI limited dine-in service to 50% (dine-in still happens in the U.S. despite the pandemic). A year from now, this stock will hit the moon.

COMMENT

It keeps getting analyst upgrades, because sadly mom and pop restaurants closing during this pandemic.

BUY

Owns The Olive Garden. Was up another 5% today, a miraculous rise in recent weeks. Many customers keep buying take-out, and the company has deep enough pockets to ride out the pandemic. Strong in the restaurant space.

COMMENT

The quick serve trendy kind of restaurants is really where the consumer money has been flowing, so investor money has been flowing there. This company has done some work in righting the ship. There is some opportunity here, but getting the format right will be important.

COMMENT

Has grown nicely over the past 10 years. One of the problems is that the company has gone from a deep discount to its FMV of $72. At this juncture, it doesn’t look like there is an awful lot left in the short term, and all you are going to get is the dividend. You will be lucky if the price holds here.

COMMENT

Have some good brands, including Olive Gardens. Shorter-term, there will be issues on the US consumer. Overall, a reasonable company and one worth looking at.

TOP PICK

Good brand name restaurants. Over the last several months had negative same-store sales as well as disappointing earnings but this has turned around. Technically has a nice support around $18/19.

PAST TOP PICK

(Was a top pick on Sept 20. Down 11.6%.) Still likes. It has been oversold.

TOP PICK

15% earning growth. Good management.

PAST TOP PICK

(Was a top pick on Apr 30. Up 88%) Still likes.

TOP PICK

Good brand recognition. Tremendous free cash flow generation. Excellent balance sheet.

Showing 31 to 45 of 45 entries

Most Recent Experts

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Darden Restaurants (DRI)