Darden Restaurants (DRI) management remains upbeat on its core consumer, with flexibility across the business to drive reliable earnings growth and a "solid setup" into fiscal 2027, Oppenheimer said.

The firm said in note Wednesday that a strong fiscal Q4 same-store sales outlook of 3.5% to 5.0% could help offset concerns about tougher comparisons and highlight underlying demand. Darden Restaurants' customer base remains healthy, with the higher-income cohort showing the fastest growth.

For Olive Garden, Oppenheimer said near-term support includes an extended buy-one-take-one promotion and a larger delivery mix.

For LongHorn, the firm pointed to more than 6% average same-store sales growth over the last four quarters and said the brand's above-average momentum is sustainable.

Oppenheimer maintained its outperform rating on Darden Restaurants, with a $235 price target.

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