Darden Restaurants grants equity to Olive Garden president

John W. Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden at Darden Restaurants, received equity awards consisting of 1,622 restricted stock units and 4,786 stock options with a $212.23 exercise price per share.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

John W. Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden at Darden Restaurants, received equity awards consisting of 1,622 restricted stock units and 4,786 stock options with a $212.23 exercise price per share. The options expire on July 29, 2036 and vest in two equal annual installments beginning July 29, 2029.

After these awards, Wilkerson is reported to hold 21,291.337 Darden common shares directly, including shares acquired through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its dividend reinvestment feature, plus 614.7266 shares held indirectly through a 401(k) plan.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 6,408 shares

Grant/Award 4 txns

Insider Wilkerson John W.

Role President, Olive Garden

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Restricted Stock Units (FY27 Annual Grant) F2	1,622	$0.00	$0.00
Grant/Award	Stock Option (Right to Buy) F3	4,786	$0.00	$0.00
holding	Common Stock F1	--	--	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Restricted Stock Units (FY27 Annual Grant) — 1,622 contracts (Direct); Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 4,786 contracts (Direct); Common Stock — 21,291.337 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 614.7266 shares (Indirect, By 401k)

Footnotes (3)

1. F1. Includes shares acquired pursuant to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.
2. F2. Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.
3. F3. This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2029.

Key Figures

Restricted stock units granted: 1,622 units Stock options granted: 4,786 options Option exercise price: $212.23 per share +3 more

6 metrics

Restricted stock units granted 1,622 units FY27 annual grant to John W. Wilkerson

Stock options granted 4,786 options Equity award to John W. Wilkerson

Option exercise price $212.23 per share Stock Option (Right to Buy) grant

Option expiration date July 29, 2036 Stock Option (Right to Buy) grant

Direct common stock holdings 21,291.337 shares Post-transaction direct ownership by John W. Wilkerson

Indirect 401(k) holdings 614.7266 shares Common stock held indirectly through 401(k) plan

Key Terms

Restricted Stock Units, Stock Option (Right to Buy), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, dividend reinvestment feature

4 terms

Restricted Stock Units financial

"Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis."

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

Stock Option (Right to Buy) financial

"Stock Option (Right to Buy) with an exercise price of $212.23 per share."

Employee Stock Purchase Plan financial

"Includes shares acquired pursuant to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan."

An employee stock purchase plan is a company program that lets workers buy shares through small payroll deductions, often at a discount to the market price and after a set offering period. Think of it like a workplace savings plan that turns into ownership: it encourages employees to share in the company’s success and can create predictable buying or selling of stock that investors watch because it affects supply, demand and employee incentives.

dividend reinvestment feature financial

"And dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan."

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What equity awards did John W. Wilkerson receive from Darden Restaurants (DRI)?

John W. Wilkerson received 1,622 restricted stock units and 4,786 stock options. Each restricted stock unit converts into one share of common stock, and the options relate to 4,786 shares at a $212.23 exercise price per share.

What are the terms of the new stock options reported by Darden Restaurants (DRI)?

The new stock options cover 4,786 shares of Darden common stock at an exercise price of $212.23 per share. They expire on July 29, 2036 and vest in two equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2029.

How many Darden Restaurants (DRI) shares does John W. Wilkerson now hold?

John W. Wilkerson is reported to hold 21,291.337 Darden common shares directly and 614.7266 shares indirectly through a 401(k) plan. The direct holdings include shares acquired under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its dividend reinvestment feature.

Are John W. Wilkerson’s reported Darden (DRI) transactions under a Rule 10b5-1 plan?

The transactions are not indicated as being under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, as the specific checkbox for such a plan was not affirmatively marked. The reported activity consists of equity awards rather than open-market trades.

What do the restricted stock units reported by Darden Restaurants (DRI) represent?

The filing reports 1,622 restricted stock units granted to John W. Wilkerson. A footnote states these restricted stock units convert into Darden common stock on a one-for-one basis, providing potential future ownership of 1,622 common shares upon conversion.

How are some of John W. Wilkerson’s Darden (DRI) shares accumulated?

His 21,291.337 directly held Darden shares include shares acquired through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its dividend reinvestment feature. An additional 614.7266 shares are held indirectly in a 401(k) plan.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Available on EDGAR 07/30/2026 - 05:20 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 07/30/2026 - 05:20 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Wilkerson John W.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE

(Street)

ORLANDO FLORIDA 32837

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC [ DRI ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President, Olive Garden

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
07/29/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock								21,291.337(1)	D
Common Stock								614.7266	I	By 401k

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units (FY27 Annual Grant)	(2)	07/29/2026		A		1,622		07/29/2029	07/29/2029	Common Stock	1,622	$0.0000	1,622	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$212.23	07/29/2026		A		4,786		(3)	07/29/2036	Common Stock	4,786	$0.0000	4,786	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes shares acquired pursuant to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.

2. Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.

3. This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2029.

	A. Noni Holmes-Kidd, Attorney-in-fact for Wilkerson, John W.	07/30/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)