Financial Performance - Total sales increased by 7.3% to $3.1 billion, driven by a blended same-restaurant sales increase of 4.3% and sales from 30 net new restaurants[5] - Reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.03, while adjusted diluted net earnings per share increased by 2.5% to $2.08[5][16] - Year-to-date consolidated sales for fiscal 2026 reached $6.1 billion, up from $5.6 billion in fiscal 2025[6] - Olive Garden's sales increased to $1.36 billion in Q2 2026, up from $1.29 billion in Q2 2025[4] - LongHorn Steakhouse reported Q2 2026 sales of $775.9 million, an increase from $710.1 million in Q2 2025[4] - Operating income for the six months ended November 23, 2025, was $659.6 million, up 17.5% from $561.3 million in the prior year[19] - Net earnings for the six months ended November 23, 2025, reached $495.0 million, representing a 17.2% increase compared to $422.3 million for the same period last year[24] - Basic net earnings per share for the three months ended November 23, 2025, were $2.05, an increase of 11.4% from $1.84 in the same quarter last year[19] Shareholder Returns - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable on February 2, 2026[7] - The company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock for a total of $222 million, with $643 million remaining under the current $1 billion repurchase authorization[8] - The company repurchased common stock totaling $407.1 million during the six months ended November 23, 2025[24] Future Outlook - Fiscal 2026 financial outlook includes total sales growth of 8.5% to 9.3%, with same-restaurant sales growth of 3.5% to 4.3%[11] - New restaurant openings are projected to be between 65 to 70, with total capital spending estimated at $750 to $775 million[11] Assets and Liabilities - Total current assets increased to $1,043.4 million as of November 23, 2025, compared to $937.7 million on May 25, 2025[21] - Total liabilities rose to $10,859.8 million as of November 23, 2025, up from $10,275.7 million on May 25, 2025[21] - The company reported a decrease in cash and cash equivalents to $224.1 million as of November 23, 2025, from $240.0 million on May 25, 2025[21] Share Statistics - The average number of diluted shares outstanding was 116.7 million for the three months ended November 23, 2025, compared to 118.3 million in the same period last year[19] - Cash flows from operating activities for the six months ended November 23, 2025, were $663.2 million, slightly up from $661.8 million in the prior year[24]

Core Viewpoint - Darden Restaurants, Inc. is experiencing a cautious outlook from analysts, reflected in the declining price targets and mixed recommendations despite expectations of revenue growth from its popular brands [2][4][5]. Price Target Trends - The consensus price target for Darden's stock has decreased from $218.76 to $213.5 over the past year, indicating a cautious outlook from analysts [2][6]. - Credit Suisse analyst Lauren Siberman has set a conservative price target of $152, which aligns with the average 1-year target price reported by MarketBeat [3][6]. Analyst Recommendations - Darden has received an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from thirty brokerages, with eleven analysts rating the stock as a hold and nineteen giving it a buy rating, reflecting uncertainty surrounding the company's future performance [4][6]. Revenue Growth Expectations - The company's well-known brands, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, are expected to drive revenue growth despite facing cost pressures, which investors should consider when evaluating Darden's stock [5].

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) will release earnings results for its second quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, Dec. 18.Analysts expect the Orlando, Florida-based company to report quarterly earnings at $2.1 per share, up from $2.03 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Darden's quarterly revenue is $3.07 billion, compared to $2.89 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.On Sept. 18, Darden Restaurants reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financ ...

Group 1 - Darden Restaurants, Inc. is set to release its second-quarter earnings results on December 18, with expected earnings of $2.1 per share, an increase from $2.03 per share in the same period last year [1] - The consensus estimate for Darden's quarterly revenue is projected at $3.07 billion, compared to $2.89 billion a year earlier [1] Group 2 - On September 18, Darden reported first-quarter financial results that were worse than expected, leading to a 0.5% decline in share price, closing at $185.53 [2] - Analysts have provided various ratings and price targets for Darden, with Citigroup maintaining a Buy rating and lowering the price target from $239 to $232 [3] - Mizuho maintained a Neutral rating and reduced the price target from $190 to $185, while JP Morgan kept an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $240 to $230 [3] - Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $239 to $220, and Raymond James maintained an Outperform rating with a price target reduction from $230 to $210 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Darden Restaurants, Inc. is a leading full-service restaurant company with a market cap of $21.6 billion, operating well-known brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse [1] Financial Performance - Darden is expected to announce its fiscal Q2 2026 results on December 18, with analysts predicting an adjusted EPS of $2.09, a nearly 3% increase from $2.03 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2026, analysts forecast an adjusted EPS of $10.59, representing a 10.9% increase from $9.55 in fiscal 2025 [3] Stock Performance - Darden's shares have increased by 10.7% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's nearly 12% gain but outperforming the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's 2.2% return [4] - On September 18, shares fell by 7.7% after reporting Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.97, which missed Wall Street estimates despite quarterly sales of $3.04 billion meeting forecasts [5] Analyst Sentiment - The consensus view on DRI stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating from 30 analysts; 17 recommend "Strong Buy," 2 suggest "Moderate Buy," and 11 indicate "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for Darden Restaurants is $220.45, indicating a potential upside of 18.8% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - Darden Restaurants, Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings on December 18, 2025, with analysts predicting earnings per share (EPS) of $2.10 and revenue of approximately $3.07 billion [1]. Group 1: Performance Expectations - Darden's performance is anticipated to be driven by strong revenue growth from its Olive Garden and LongHorn brands, despite facing cost pressures from increased beef and labor expenses [2]. - The market is closely watching to see if Darden's actual results will surpass expectations, which could positively influence the stock price [4]. Group 2: Recent Financial Performance - In the previous quarter, Darden's earnings fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%, although they grew by 12.6% compared to the previous year [3]. - Revenues slightly exceeded expectations by 0.2%, marking a 10.4% year-over-year increase [3]. - Over the last four quarters, Darden has beaten the earnings estimate once and missed it three times, with an average surprise of negative 0.5% [3]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - Darden's financial metrics include a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 19.68 and a price-to-sales ratio of about 1.76, reflecting the market's valuation of its earnings and revenue [5]. - The company's debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 2.77, indicating its leverage level [5]. - The current ratio of around 0.40 suggests its ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets [5].

Core Viewpoint - Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is set to report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on December 18, 2025, with expectations of improved earnings and revenue compared to the previous year [1][3]. Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, DRI's earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5% but showed a year-over-year growth of 12.6%. Revenues slightly exceeded the consensus by 0.2%, increasing 10.4% year over year [1]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the upcoming quarter's earnings per share (EPS) is $2.10, reflecting a 3.5% improvement from $2.03 in the same quarter last year. Revenue is projected at $3.08 billion, indicating a 6.7% rise from the previous year [3]. Factors Influencing Performance - Darden's second-quarter performance is anticipated to benefit from menu innovation, targeted value initiatives, and enhanced digital and off-premise capabilities. Investments in prototype optimization and new restaurant formats, along with the expansion of first-party delivery through Uber Direct, are expected to support traffic and sales [4][7]. - Strong brand momentum at Olive Garden, driven by focused menu strategies and successful marketing campaigns, is likely to contribute positively to traffic. LongHorn Steakhouse is also expected to maintain strong sales momentum due to consistent food quality and disciplined execution [5][6]. Revenue Contributions - Revenue contributions from core casual dining brands, particularly Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, are projected to rise by 3.3% to $1.34 billion and 5.7% to $750.7 million, respectively. However, revenues from fine dining are expected to decline by 1.3% to $302 million [6]. Cost Pressures - Darden is likely to face margin pressures due to inflationary headwinds, primarily from higher commodity costs, especially beef. The management has updated its inflation outlook to 3%-3.5%, with commodity inflation at 3%-4% [8][9]. Earnings Prediction - The model indicates that Darden does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the upcoming quarter, with an Earnings ESP of -1.58% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [10][11].

Micron Technology - Micron is set to report earnings on Wednesday, following Broadcom and Oracle, amidst ongoing discussions about the AI bubble and its impact on tech stocks [1][2] - The stock has shown a significant upward trajectory, with a year-to-date increase of over 188% [11] - Despite recent dips, Micron's chart has held up better than many peers, with key support levels identified around 238 and 210.41 [6][10] - Technical indicators suggest a potential trend change, with moving averages diverging and RSI showing mixed signals of bearish divergence and overbought conditions [7][8][9] Darden Restaurants - Darden will report earnings on Thursday, with its stock showing choppy performance and notable gaps in its chart [12][13] - Key resistance levels are identified around 190 and 195, with a significant support level at 180 [16][19] - Analyst coverage is mixed, with bullish calls from several firms and bearish calls citing higher food costs and smaller portion offerings [22] - The average price target for Darden is approximately $220, indicating potential upside from current trading levels [22] Nike - Nike is expected to report earnings with analysts anticipating a decline in EPS of over 50% and a revenue drop of about 1.5% [23][24] - The stock has faced challenges due to tariff news affecting the apparel sector, with significant support levels identified around 59 to 60 [25][26] - Technical analysis shows a falling wedge pattern, with potential resistance around 69 and 70 [27][30] - Year-to-date, Nike is down nearly 11%, although it has seen a recovery of 7.5% over the last six months [33]

Core Insights - Darden Restaurants, Inc. operates multiple well-known dining brands in North America, including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, with a market capitalization of $20.83 billion [1] Stock Performance - Darden's stock reached a 52-week high of $228.27 in June but has since declined by 19.7%, with a 14.1% drop over the past three months, while the S&P 500 Index gained 4.8% during the same period [2] - Over the past 52 weeks, Darden's stock has gained 9.2%, but it has declined 15.8% over the past six months, contrasting with the S&P 500's gains of 13.4% and 14.6% respectively [4] Financial Results - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Darden reported sales of $3.04 billion, a 10.4% year-over-year increase, meeting market expectations, with same-restaurant sales up 4.7% [5] - The adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.97, a 12.6% increase from the previous year, but it missed the Wall Street estimate of $2, leading to a 7.7% intraday stock drop on the earnings report date [6] - The company anticipates adjusted EPS for fiscal 2026 to be between $10.50 and $10.70 [6] Competitive Comparison - Darden has outperformed Yum! Brands, Inc. over the past 52 weeks, gaining 9.2% compared to Yum's 6.9%, but has underperformed over the past six months [7]

Core Insights - Darden Restaurants, Inc. plans to release its fiscal 2026 second quarter financial results on December 18, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call will follow at 8:30 am ET, where CEO Rick Cardenas and senior management will discuss the results and answer questions [1] Company Overview - Darden Restaurants operates a diverse portfolio of restaurant brands, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth's Chris Steak House, among others [1]