Darden price target raised to $168 from $148 at Barclays

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein raised the firm’s price target on Darden to $168 from $148 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. To start 2023, the analyst expect discretionary restaurants to outperform, with sales resilient, pricing outsized and inflation easing. But as we move through the year, defensive restaurants that are franchised and quick service will outperform, assuming a recession leads to trade-down, Bernstein tells investors in a research note. In addition, he believes distributors are well positioned in either scenario.