Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) stock rose Thursday after the company posted solid second-quarter sales growth and reaffirmed full-year earnings guidance.The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.08, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $2.10.MetricsQuarterly sales of $3.102 billion (+7.3% year over year) outpaced the Street view of $3.071 billion.Also Read: Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Gain, Dow Flat—Accenture, Micron Technologies And FedEx In FocusThe fi ...

Core Insights - Darden Restaurants is experiencing sales growth despite rising food costs, indicating resilience in consumer spending on casual dining [2][3] - The company reported a 4.7% increase in adjusted earnings to $1.97 per share, reflecting a 12.6% year-over-year growth [2] Financial Performance - Darden's same-restaurant sales and earnings growth exceeded expectations at the start of the fiscal year [3] - The company raised its full-year total sales growth forecast, showing confidence in its new restaurant pipeline [7] Consumer Behavior - Shifts in consumer behavior are noted, with guests seeking "price certainty" and greater perceived value [3] - Olive Garden is testing smaller portions at reduced prices in about 40% of its restaurants, which has shown an encouraging initial response [3][4] Pricing Strategy - Darden is keeping menu price hikes below its own inflation rate as a strategy to navigate increasing costs [4][5] - The company projects its pricing in the second quarter to be about 100 basis points below total inflation [6] Cost Pressures - Darden raised its commodity inflation forecast for the year to 3% to 4%, attributed to significant spikes in beef and seafood costs [6][7] - Management believes current beef prices are unsustainable, having locked in prices for only a quarter of its supply over the next six months [7]