Darling Ingredients (DAR) traded higher on Thursday, April 2, 2026, after an analyst note raised the firm’s price target to $78 ahead of the company’s next quarterly results. The upgrade-style action is feeding optimism that 2026 estimates may be moving higher, with investors focusing on the earnings trajectory of Darling’s renewable fuels exposure and the durability of its core ingredients cash flows. (streetinsider.com)

The renewed bullishness comes after Darling’s most recent reported quarter showed stronger operating momentum and improving profitability at its Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) joint venture, which is central to the company’s renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel strategy. In its latest annual results release, Darling reported Q4 2025 net income of $56.9 million ($0.35 per diluted share) and highlighted DGD’s Q4 renewable diesel sales volume of 285.3 million gallons with average EBITDA of $0.41 per gallon. (s204.q4cdn.com)

Beyond DGD, Darling has emphasized liquidity and balance sheet progress, including monetizing production tax credit sales and maintaining significant revolver availability, which can support deleveraging and investment priorities through 2026. Management also flagged expectations that upcoming Renewable Volume Obligation developments could provide a more constructive backdrop for fat prices, a key variable for margins and feedstock economics. (s204.q4cdn.com)

Investors will be watching for any incremental commentary on DGD margins, SAF ramp economics, and how feedstock pricing and policy variables flow through to 2026 profitability. With multiple firms having recently raised targets following Q4 results, traders are likely to treat further estimate revisions or outlook changes as the next major catalyst for the shares. (tipranks.com)