Darden Restaurants

Darden can pass through modest price increases and offset inflation with mix and productivity, but its flagship brands are value‑anchored by design. In Q2 fiscal 2026 management again emphasized value and noted commodity headwinds, especially in beef, which keeps price increases measured to avoid traffic risk.

The Uber Direct partnership adds convenience but does not fundamentally change willingness to pay; it protects data control while avoiding full marketplace exposure. We see limited latent pricing power relative to near‑monopoly businesses, with upside tied more to execution and efficiency than large price moves.