Selected stock price target news of the day - March 21st, 2025

By: Matthew Otto

Darden Restaurants Reports Q3 2025 Earnings: Sales Grow, but Same-Store Performance Misses Expectations

Darden Restaurants reported a 6.2% year-over-year increase in total sales for Q3 2025, reaching $3.2 billion. However, revenue fell short of the consensus estimate of $3.22 billion.

Same-restaurant sales rose by 0.7%, below analyst expectations of 1.7%. Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse posted same-store sales increases of 0.6% and 2.6%, respectively, missing projections of 1.5% and 5%. Fine dining saw a 0.8% decline in same-store sales, while the Other Business segment, which includes Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Yard House, dropped by 0.4%.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose 6.9% to $2.80, coming in $0.01 below the analyst estimate of $2.81. Net income increased to $323.4 million from $312.9 million a year earlier.

Darden projects fiscal 2025 revenue of approximately $12.1 billion, in line with consensus estimates, and adjusted EPS between $9.45 and $9.52, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.48. Olive Garden’s recent partnership with Uber Direct to expand delivery services contributed to a 2.5% sales increase in pilot locations.

Analysts Raise Price Targets Despite Mixed Q3 Results

BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik reiterated a Market Perform rating and lifted the price target from $175 to $190.
Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner kept an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $218 to $230.
Baird analyst David Tarantino maintained a Neutral rating while boosting the price target from $192 to $210.
Stephens & Co. analyst Jim Salera held an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $175 to $178.
Stifel analyst Chris O’Cull reaffirmed a Buy rating and adjusted the price target upward from $205 to $215.
BofA Securities analyst Sara Senatore continued with a Buy rating and lifted the price target from $230 to $238.
Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan stood by an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $220 to $235.
Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour reiterated an Overweight rating while adjusting the price target from $209 to $217.
TD Securities analyst Andrew Charles maintained a Hold rating and raised the price target from $180 to $190.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on DRI?

Analyst Andrew Strelzik (BMO) currently has the highest performing score on DRI with 21/22 (95.45%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $-11.13 (-5.98%) potential downside. Darden Restaurants stock price reaches these price targets on average within 155 days.

Nike Reports Fiscal Q3 2025 Results Amid Revenue Decline and Inventory Challenges

Nike reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $11.3 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $11.02 billion but reflecting a 9% decline on a reported basis and a 7% drop on a currency-neutral basis.

NIKE Direct revenues fell 12% to $4.7 billion, while wholesale revenues declined 7% to $6.2 billion. Revenue for the Converse brand was down 18% to $405 million. Gross margin contracted 330 basis points to 41.5%, driven by higher discounts, increased inventory obsolescence reserves, and rising product costs. Net income decreased 32% to $0.8 billion, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.54, surpassing analyst estimates of $0.30 by $0.24. Marketing expenses rose 8% to $1.1 billion, while selling and administrative expenses dropped 8% to $3.9 billion. Nike returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through $594 million in dividends and $499 million in share repurchases.

Looking ahead, Nike forecasted a mid-teens percentage revenue decline in the fourth quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of a 12.22% drop. Nike cited ongoing inventory clearance efforts and challenges in the Chinese market, where revenue fell 17% in Q3 due to economic concerns. Despite positive consumer reception to new sneaker launches such as the Pegasus Pro and Vomero 18, Nike continues to face headwinds from discounting legacy products, including Air Jordan 1 and Air Force 1.

Analysts Maintain Ratings but Lower Price Targets Amid Challenges

Truist Securities analyst Joseph Civello maintained a Buy rating but lowered the price target from $90 to $82.
Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow kept an Overweight rating while adjusting the price target from $90 to $85.
Baird analyst Jonathan Komp continued to rate as Outperform but cut the price target from $105 to $99.
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Cristina Fernandez maintained a Market Perform rating and the price target at $80.
Needham analyst Tom Nikic upheld his Buy rating yet revised the price target from $80 to $75.
Morgan Stanley analyst Alex Straton retained an Equal-Weight rating, though trimmed the price target from $72 to $70.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on NKE?

Analyst Paul Lejuez (CITI) currently has the highest performing score on NKE with 18/24 (75%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $3.32 (4.83%) potential upside. Nike stock price reaches these price targets on average within 149 days.

Academy Sports and Outdoors Misses 2025 EPS Guidance Despite Beating Q4 Estimates and Raising Dividend

Academy Sports and Outdoors reported a fourth-quarter comparable sales decline of 3.0%, marking a 190-basis-point improvement from the previous quarter. Net sales for the quarter totaled $1.68 billion, down 6.6% from the prior year’s $1.79 billion, but slightly above the consensus estimate of $1.67 billion.

Fourth-quarter diluted GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.89, while adjusted EPS came in at $1.96, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.82 by $0.14. For the full fiscal year, net sales declined 3.7% to $5.93 billion, while comparable sales fell 5.1%, improving from a 6.5% decline in the prior year. Fiscal year diluted GAAP EPS was $5.73, down from $6.70 in 2023. Academy announced an 18% increase in its quarterly dividend and repurchased $368.3 million in shares, an 80.4% increase from the prior year.

Looking ahead, Academy expects fiscal 2025 net sales between $6.09 billion and $6.27 billion, representing a 4.2% increase at the midpoint, though slightly below the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. Comparable sales are projected to range from -2.0% to +1.0%, a sequential improvement over fiscal 2024. Academy anticipates full-year GAAP net income between $375 million and $410 million, with adjusted EPS between $5.75 and $6.20, below the analyst consensus of $6.47.

Analysts Maintain Ratings but Lower Price Targets

B. Riley Securities analyst Anna Glaessgen maintained a Buy rating while lowering the price target from $70 to $65.
Baird analyst Justin Kleber kept an Outperform rating yet reduced the price target from $65 to $60.
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Cristina Fernandez upheld an Outperform rating and $60 price target.
Morgan Stanley analyst Simeon Gutman held an Equal-Weight rating but cutd the price target from $60 to $55.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on ASO?

Analyst Cristina Fernandez (TELSEY ADVISORY) currently has the highest performing score on ASO with 2/3 (66.67%) price target fulfillment ratio. Her price targets carry an average of $7.52 (14.33%) potential upside. Academy Sports and Outdoors stock price reaches these price targets on average within 19 days.