Darling Ingredients: The Recovery Is Visible

Darling Ingredients (DAR) is rated Buy, supported by a visible earnings recovery, improved margins, and a compelling forward valuation versus peers. Q1 2026 delivered sharply higher EBITDA ($406.8M), gross margin expansion to 26.1%, and a return to profitability, signaling the roughest period is likely over. Core Feed and Food Ingredients segments drove margin and EBITDA gains without major volume growth, while DGD's Q1 result was boosted by a non-recurring inventory benefit.