Guggenheim sees Darden as among ‘best managed,’ starts with a Buy

As previously reported, Guggenheim analyst Gregory Francfort initiated coverage of Darden with a Buy rating and $170 price target, calling it "one of the best managed restaurant companies. Darden’s scale advantages allow it to out-compete full-service peers on price, drive synergies and create value through M&A, the analyst tells investors. Darden should continue to take market share, supporting top-line growth despite a modestly tougher consumer backdrop, the firm added.