Darden price target raised to $177 from $159 at Piper Sandler

Piper Sandler analyst Brian Mullan raised the firm’s price target on Darden to $177 from $159 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares following the fiscal Q1 report. While same-store-sales were light in the quarter, management spoke to an improved quarter-to-date trend on the earnings call and also reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says that while this was expected, the announcement that Darden will be partnering with Uber to introduce white label delivery, starting later in the year, was not expected.