DARDEN RESTAURANTS (DRI) Company Report

Total sales of $3.1 billion (+7% YoY) driven by same-restaurant sales growth of 4.3%; adjusted EPS was $2.08, up 2.5%.
Olive Garden delivered +4.7% comp sales and a segment margin of 21.8%; LongHorn Steakhouse comps +5.9% with a 16.2% margin; fine dining comps grew 0.8% with a 14.8% margin.
Elevated beef costs led to commodities inflation of ~5.5%; Darden priced ~130 bps below inflation, resulting in restaurant-level EBITDA of 18.7%.
Fiscal 2026 guidance updated: total sales growth of 8.5%–9.3%, comp sales of 3.5%–4.3%, 65–70 new restaurants, capex of $750–775 million, and EPS of $10.50–$10.70.

Dec 18, 2025, 1:30 PM

Transcript

Darden Restaurants reports Q2 FY2026 results

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Darden generated $3.1 billion in Q2 sales, up 7% YoY, driven by 4.3% same-restaurant sales; adjusted EPS was $2.08, and the company returned $396 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
Olive Garden delivered 4.7% same-restaurant sales growth with a 21.8% segment profit margin, aided by the Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion and first-party delivery (4% of sales, ~50% incremental).
Elevated commodity inflation of 5.5%—primarily from beef—pressed margins, resulting in an 18.7% restaurant-level EBITDA margin while pricing remained ~130 bps below inflation to support value.
Fiscal 2026 guidance updated: total sales growth of 8.5–9.3%, same-restaurant sales 3.5–4.3%, 65–70 net new restaurants, $750–775 million in capex, and adjusted EPS of $10.50–10.70.

Dec 18, 2025, 1:30 PM

Transcript

Darden Restaurants reports Q2 2026 results

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Share Buyback

Darden delivered $3.1 billion total sales, up 7.3%, with 4.3% same-restaurant sales growth.
Q2 adjusted EBITDA was $466 million, and adjusted diluted net EPS was $2.08.
The company returned $396 million in cash via dividends and share repurchases.
Fiscal 2026 outlook revised: 8.5%–9.3% total sales growth, 3.5%–4.3% same-restaurant growth, $10.50–$10.70 EPS, and $750–$775 million capital spending.

Dec 18, 2025, 1:30 PM

Presentation

Darden Restaurants posts Q2 FY26 results

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Share Buyback

Q2 total sales $3.1 B (+7% YoY) driven by 4.3% same-restaurant sales growth, 30 net new units and the Chuy’s acquisition.
Adjusted diluted EPS $2.08 (+2.5% YoY); generated $466 M of Adjusted EBITDA; returned $396 M to shareholders via $174 M of dividends and $222 M of share repurchases.
Restaurant-level EBITDA margin was 18.7%, as food & beverage costs rose 90 bps and labor costs rose 10 bps versus prior year.
Olive Garden delivered a 21.8% segment profit margin (+30 bps YoY) alongside top-decile same-restaurant sales performance.
FY26 guidance updated: total sales growth 8.5%–9.3%, same-restaurant sales 3.5%–4.3%, 65–70 new restaurant openings, $750 M–$775 M in capex, and EPS $10.50–$10.70.

Dec 18, 2025, 1:30 PM

Transcript

Darden Restaurants reports Q2 fiscal 2026 results and updates outlook

DRI

Earnings

Dividends

Guidance Update

Darden’s Q2 fiscal 2026 total sales rose 7.3% year-over-year to $3.1 billion, driven by a 4.3% blended same-restaurant sales increase
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.03, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.08, up 2.5% year-over-year
The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable February 2, 2026, to shareholders of record January 9, 2026
The Company repurchased $222 million of common stock in the quarter, with $643 million remaining under its $1 billion authorization
Fiscal 2026 outlook updated to 8.5–9.3% total sales growth (including the 53rd week), 3.5–4.3% same-restaurant sales growth, and $10.50–$10.70 adjusted diluted EPS

Dec 18, 2025, 12:00 PM

Press Release

Darden Restaurants reports Q1 FY2026 earnings

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Share Buyback

Same-restaurant sales grew 4.7%, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.97, adjusted EBITDA reached $439 million, and $358 million was returned to shareholders via $175 million in dividends and $183 million in share repurchases.
Olive Garden comps +5.9% (Traffic +2.8%, Pricing +1.9%), with 20.6% segment margin, driven by menu innovation and delivery growth; LongHorn Steakhouse comps +5.5%, segment margin 17.4% despite beef cost pressures.
Fiscal 2026 guidance was raised: Total sales +7.5–8.5%, same-restaurant sales +2.5–3.5%, ~65 new restaurants, 3–3.5% total inflation (commodities 3–4%), and EPS guidance $10.50–$10.70.

Sep 18, 2025, 12:30 PM

Transcript

Darden Restaurants announces fiscal Q1 2026 results

DRI

Earnings

Dividends

Share Buyback

Total sales up 10.4% to $3.0 billion in Q1 FY2026; blended same-restaurant sales grew 4.7% (Olive Garden +5.9%, LongHorn +5.5%)
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations of $2.19; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.97, a 12.6% increase
Repurchased $183 million of common stock, with $865 million remaining under the current authorization
Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable November 3, 2025
Updated FY 2026 outlook: total sales growth of 7.5%–8.5%, same-restaurant sales growth of 2.5%–3.5%, and adjusted diluted EPS of $10.50–$10.70

Sep 18, 2025, 11:00 AM

Press Release

Darden Restaurants Q4 2025 & FY2025 Results, Dividend Increase, $1B Buyback, and Strategic Updates

DRI

Earnings

Share Buyback

Guidance Update

Dividends

Q4 2025: Total sales reached $3.3B (+10.6% YoY) with same-restaurant sales up 4.6%, delivering diluted EPS of $2.58 and adjusted EPS of $2.98.
FY2025: Total sales increased 6.0% to $12.1B, with reported diluted EPS of $8.88 and adjusted EPS of $9.55.
Restaurant performance was strong with an EBITDA margin of 21.6% (+50 bps YoY) and F&B margin of 30.1%; key segments like Olive Garden ($1,381M, +8.1% YoY, margin 23.8%) and Longhorn Steakhouse ($834M, +9.3% YoY, margin 20.1%) drove results.
Shares rose over 2% to an all-time high as the Board raised the quarterly dividend 7.1% to $1.50/share, repurchased $51M in Q4, and authorized a new $1B share repurchase program.
Strategic moves include exploring alternatives for the Bahama Breeze brand and forecasting annual same-store sales above estimates, despite an EPS forecast below analyst expectations.
Fiscal 2026 outlook: Guidance calls for 7–8% total sales growth (including ~2% from a 53rd week), 2–3.5% same-restaurant sales growth, EPS in the range $10.50–10.70, and plans to open 60–65 new restaurants.

Jun 20, 2025, 8:19 PM

Reuters Presentation Press Release 8-K

Darden Restaurants Inc Reports Q3 2025 Earnings

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Total sales of $3.2 billion were reported in Q3 2025, with same-restaurant sales growing 0.7% despite weather and holiday shifts, and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.8, reflecting strong operational execution.
Menu innovations and promotions played a key role, as seen with Olive Garden’s updated menu items and the return of the Buy One, Take One offer, which boosted base traffic and social engagement, while segments like LongHorn and Fine Dining recorded improved profit margins.
The company updated its guidance for Q4 fiscal 2025 to expect total sales between $3.23 and $3.26 billion, same-restaurant sales growth above 3%, and adjusted diluted EPS between $2.88 and $2.95, alongside plans for new restaurant openings in fiscal 2026.

Mar 20, 2025, 12:31 PM

Transcript

Darden Restaurants Announces Q3 2025 Earnings Results

DRI

Earnings

Guidance Update

Total sales reached $3.2 billion with a 6.2% sales growth and 0.7% same-restaurant sales growth, alongside an adjusted EBITDA of $559 million and adjusted diluted net EPS of $2.80 from continuing operations.
The margin analysis showed an increase in operating income and improvements in segment profit margins, with key figures aligning favorably compared to Q3 2024.
The company also updated its fiscal 2025 outlook, projecting total annual sales around $12.1 billion, continued restaurant development with 50 to 55 new openings, and provided commodity and capital spending guidance.

Mar 20, 2025, 12:30 PM

Presentation

Earnings Transcripts

Quarterly earnings call transcripts for DARDEN RESTAURANTS.

Q2 2026

Dec 18, 2025

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Q1 2026

Sep 18, 2025

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Q4 2025

Jun 20, 2025

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DARDEN RESTAURANTS (DRI)

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