Darden Restaurants Stock Price, News & Analysis

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) is a restaurant company in the accommodation and food services sector, classified within the food service contractors industry. According to its public disclosures, Darden operates a portfolio of full-service restaurant brands in the United States and generates sales primarily through company-owned locations. The company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DRI.

Darden describes itself as a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy's, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze. In its fiscal 2025 results, the company also reported on The Capital Burger as part of its continuing operations. These brands are organized for reporting purposes into segments such as Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fine Dining and Other Business, reflecting how Darden evaluates sales and segment profit.

Based on its fiscal 2025 disclosures, Darden reported total sales of $12.1 billion, describing itself as having a portfolio of 11 restaurant brands and operating 2,159 company-owned restaurants at the end of that fiscal year. Subsequent quarterly updates for fiscal 2026 show that the number of company-owned restaurants in continuing operations increased to 2,165 by August 24, 2025 and 2,182 by November 23, 2025, illustrating ongoing unit growth across its brands.

Darden’s segment reporting highlights how the business is structured. The Olive Garden segment includes company-owned Olive Garden restaurants. The LongHorn Steakhouse segment includes LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants. The Fine Dining segment includes brands such as Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52 and Eddie V's. The Other Business segment includes Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger and, from the date of acquisition forward, Chuy's restaurants. Segment profit is defined in Darden’s releases as sales less food and beverage, restaurant labor, restaurant expenses and marketing expenses, and excludes certain non-cash real estate related expenses.

Darden’s public filings and news releases emphasize a focus on same-restaurant sales performance and new restaurant openings as key operating metrics. The company regularly reports blended same-restaurant sales growth for Consolidated Darden and for each segment, along with the contribution from net new restaurants and acquisitions such as Chuy's. These metrics are used to explain changes in total sales across fiscal quarters and years.

In addition to organic growth, Darden has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions. Its fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 communications reference the acquisition of 103 Chuy's Tex Mex restaurants, with sales and profits from Chuy's included within the Other Business segment from the date of acquisition. Earlier disclosures also refer to Ruth's Chris restaurants being included within the Fine Dining segment from the date of acquisition. These acquisitions have contributed to increases in total sales and the number of company-owned restaurants.

Darden’s capital allocation approach, as described in its earnings releases, includes quarterly cash dividends on its common stock and an ongoing share repurchase program. For example, in its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter release, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share and authorization of a new $1 billion share repurchase program, replacing a prior authorization. Subsequent fiscal 2026 quarterly updates note additional share repurchases and remaining authorization under that program.

The company also uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, to supplement its GAAP results. In multiple releases, Darden explains that management uses these non-GAAP measures in analyzing performance and provides reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures. Adjustments commonly include transaction and integration related costs associated with acquisitions, closed restaurant costs, and in some cases gains on asset sales.

Darden is incorporated in Florida and identifies its principal executive offices in Orlando, Florida, as disclosed in its Form 8-K and proxy statement filings. Its proxy materials describe a board of directors elected annually by shareholders, with committees that oversee areas such as audit, compensation and governance. The company’s definitive proxy statement outlines its corporate governance guidelines, director independence standards and approach to executive compensation, including the use of performance-based equity awards.

Shareholder communications also highlight Darden’s use of virtual annual meetings, allowing shareholders of record to vote and ask questions online. The 2025 proxy statement specifies that the annual meeting was held via the internet and provides details on how shareholders can access proxy materials, vote by internet, mail, telephone or during the meeting.

Darden’s filings and news releases include extensive risk factor discussions and cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information. The company cites uncertainties related to cost pressures, labor availability, food safety, technology and cybersecurity, regulatory changes, competition, changing consumer preferences, climate and weather, supply chain, real estate, and other macroeconomic and operational risks. These risks are described as potentially affecting its restaurant operations, financial performance and outlook.

Operationally, Darden’s financial statements show that its primary costs and expenses include food and beverage, restaurant labor, restaurant expenses, marketing expenses, pre-opening costs, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, and impairments and gains or losses on disposal of assets. The company reports operating income, interest expense, earnings before income taxes, income tax expense and earnings from continuing operations, along with basic and diluted net earnings per share.

For investors researching DRI stock, Darden’s public disclosures provide a detailed view of a multi-brand, full-service restaurant operator whose results are driven by same-restaurant sales trends, restaurant development, acquisitions, cost management and capital allocation decisions. The company’s regular earnings releases, Form 8-K filings, annual proxy statement and Form 10-K and 10-Q reports together form the primary source of information on its business, governance and financial performance.