ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended August 25, 2024.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights, Comparisons Versus Same Fiscal Quarter Last Year
- Total sales increased 1.0% to $2.8 billion, driven by sales from 42 net new restaurants, partially offset by a blended same-restaurant sales* decrease of (1.1)%
- Same-restaurant sales:
|
Consolidated Darden* |
(1.1) % |
||||||
|
Olive Garden |
(2.9) % |
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|
LongHorn Steakhouse |
3.7 % |
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|
Fine Dining* |
(6.0) % |
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|
Other Business |
(1.8) % |
- Reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.74
- Excluding $0.01 of Chuy’s transaction and integration related costs, adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.75, a decrease of (1.7)%**
- The Company repurchased $172 million of its outstanding common stock
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* Will not include Ruth’s Chris Steak House until they have been owned and operated by Darden for a 16-month period (Q2 Fiscal 2025) |
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** See the “Non-GAAP Information” below for more details |
“We operate in a very dynamic, competitive industry and we have proven we can successfully navigate challenging environments due to our strategy,” said Darden President & CEO Rick Cardenas. “While we fell short of our expectations for the first quarter, I firmly believe in the strength of our business. I am confident in the actions all our brand teams are taking to address their guests’ needs, which do not compromise the long-term health of our business for short-term benefits.”
Segment Performance
Segment profit represents sales, less costs for food and beverage, restaurant labor, restaurant expenses and marketing expenses. Segment profit excludes non-cash real estate related expenses. From the date of acquisition forward, sales and profits from Ruth’s Chris company-owned restaurants are included within the Fine Dining segment. Royalties from Ruth’s Chris franchise and managed locations reside in the Other Business segment.
|
Q1 Sales |
Q1 Segment Profit |
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|
($ in millions) |
2025 |
2024 |
2025 |
2024 |
||||
|
Consolidated Darden |
$2,757.0 |
$2,730.6 |
||||||
|
Olive Garden |
$1,209.1 |
$1,227.9 |
$249.0 |
$262.3 |
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|
LongHorn Steakhouse |
$713.5 |
$669.8 |
$127.6 |
$117.4 |
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|
Fine Dining |
$278.9 |
$273.5 |
$37.6 |
$39.7 |
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|
Other Business |
$555.5 |
$559.4 |
$83.7 |
$84.3 |
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Dividend Declared
Darden’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.40 per share on the Company’s outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on November 1, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 10, 2024.
Share Repurchase Program
During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of its common stock for a total of $172 million. As of the end of the fiscal first quarter, the Company had $743 million remaining under the current $1 billion repurchase authorization.
Fiscal 2025 Financial Outlook
The Company reiterated all aspects of its full year financial outlook for fiscal 2025, culminating in diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations of $9.40 to $9.60, which does not include any impact from Chuy’s operations, transaction, financing and integration related costs associated with the pending acquisition.
“The significant step down in traffic during July, led to our first quarter earnings being lower than expected,” said Darden CFO Raj Vennam. “Following the softness in July, our sales trend has continued to improve. Considering this recovery as well as the planned initiatives to support the remainder of the fiscal year, we are reiterating our guidance for fiscal 2025.”
Investor Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and slide presentation today, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 8:30 am ET to review its recent financial performance. The call will be webcast live at: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=PaNJ6RaT. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any software required to listen to the webcast. Prior to the call, a slide presentation will be posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at: www.darden.com. For those who cannot access the Internet, please dial 1-877-407-9219. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call.
About Darden
Darden is 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, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.
Information About Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this communication regarding our expected earnings performance and all other statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning our future economic performance, are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are first made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. We wish to caution investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those anticipated in the statements. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Darden’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports. These risks and uncertainties include: a failure to address cost pressures and a failure to effectively deliver cost management activities, economic factors and their impacts on the restaurant industry and general macroeconomic factors including unemployment, energy prices and interest rates, the inability to hire, train, reward and retain restaurant team members, a failure to develop and recruit effective leaders, labor and insurance costs, health concerns including food-related pandemics or outbreaks of flu or other viruses, food safety and food-borne illness concerns, technology failures including failure to maintain a secure cyber network, compliance with privacy and data protection laws and risks of failures or breaches of our data protection systems, the inability to successfully complete our acquisition and integration of Chuy’s Holdings operations into our business, risks relating to public policy changes and federal, state and local regulation of our business, intense competition, changing consumer preferences, an inability or failure to manage the accelerated impact of social media, a failure to execute innovative marketing and guest relationship tactics, climate change, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, long-term and non-cancelable property leases, failure to execute a business continuity plan following a disaster, shortages or interruptions in the delivery of food and other products and services, failure to drive profitable sales growth, a lack of availability of suitable locations for new restaurants, higher-than-anticipated costs to open, close, relocate or remodel restaurants, risks of doing business with franchisees, licensees and vendors in foreign markets, volatility in the market value of derivatives, volatility leading to the inability to hedge equity compensation market exposure, failure to protect our intellectual property, environmental, social and governance risk, including disclosure expectations and the impacts of third party ratings, litigation, unfavorable publicity, disruptions in the financial markets, impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets, changes in tax laws or unanticipated tax liabilities, failure of our internal controls over financial reporting and other factors and uncertainties discussed from time to time in reports filed by Darden with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Non-GAAP Information
The information in this press release includes financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), such as adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company’s performance. The Company believes that the presentation of certain non-GAAP measures provides useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company’s businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in this release.
(Analysts) Courtney Aquilla, (407) 245-5054; (Media) Rich Jeffers, (407) 245-4189
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Fiscal Q1 Reported to Adjusted Earnings Reconciliation |
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|
Q1 2025 |
Q1 2024 |
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|
$ in millions, except per share amounts |
Earnings Before |
Income Tax |
Net Earnings |
Diluted Net |
Earnings Before |
Income Tax |
Net Earnings |
Diluted Net |
|
|
Reported Earnings from Continuing Operations |
$ 232.1 |
$ 24.5 |
$ 207.6 |
$ 1.74 |
$ 223.2 |
$ 28.4 |
$ 194.8 |
$ 1.60 |
|
|
% Change vs Prior Year |
8.7 % |
2.6 % |
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Adjustments: |
|||||||||
|
Acquisition transaction and integration related costs |
1.5 |
0.3 |
1.2 |
0.01 |
24.8 |
2.6 |
22.2 |
0.18 |
|
|
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations |
$ 233.6 |
$ 24.8 |
$ 208.8 |
$ 1.75 |
$ 248.0 |
$ 31.0 |
$ 217.0 |
$ 1.78 |
|
|
% Change vs Prior Year |
(1.7) % |
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DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. NUMBER OF COMPANY-OWNED RESTAURANTS
|
||
|
8/25/24 |
8/27/23 |
|
|
Olive Garden |
923 |
906 |
|
LongHorn Steakhouse |
577 |
562 |
|
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen |
181 |
183 |
|
Yard House |
88 |
86 |
|
Ruth’s Chris Steak House |
82 |
77 |
|
The Capital Grille |
68 |
64 |
|
Seasons 52 |
44 |
44 |
|
Bahama Breeze |
44 |
42 |
|
Eddie V’s |
29 |
30 |
|
The Capital Burger |
4 |
4 |
|
Darden Continuing Operations |
2,040 |
1,998 |
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DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) |
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Three Months Ended |
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8/25/2024 |
8/27/2023 |
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|
Sales |
$ 2,757.0 |
$ 2,730.6 |
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|||
|
Food and beverage |
846.7 |
851.0 |
|
|
Restaurant labor |
889.3 |
875.3 |
|
|
Restaurant expenses |
458.2 |
446.6 |
|
|
Marketing expenses |
44.7 |
38.6 |
|
|
General and administrative expenses |
126.4 |
153.3 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
121.5 |
109.8 |
|
|
Impairments and disposal of assets, net |
1.0 |
3.1 |
|
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
$ 2,487.8 |
$ 2,477.7 |
|
|
Operating income |
269.2 |
252.9 |
|
|
Interest, net |
37.1 |
29.7 |
|
|
Earnings before income taxes |
232.1 |
223.2 |
|
|
Income tax expense |
24.5 |
28.4 |
|
|
Earnings from continuing operations |
$ 207.6 |
$ 194.8 |
|
|
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0.4 and $0.1 respectively |
(0.4) |
(0.3) |
|
|
Net earnings |
$ 207.2 |
$ 194.5 |
|
|
Basic net earnings per share: |
|||
|
Earnings from continuing operations |
$ 1.75 |
$ 1.61 |
|
|
Losses from discontinued operations |
— |
— |
|
|
Net earnings |
$ 1.75 |
$ 1.61 |
|
|
Diluted net earnings per share: |
|||
|
Earnings from continuing operations |
$ 1.74 |
$ 1.60 |
|
|
Losses from discontinued operations |
— |
(0.01) |
|
|
Net earnings |
$ 1.74 |
$ 1.59 |
|
|
Average number of common shares outstanding: |
|||
|
Basic |
118.5 |
120.9 |
|
|
Diluted |
119.2 |
122.0 |
|
|
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions)
|
|||
|
8/25/2024 |
5/26/2024 |
||
|
(Unaudited) |
|||
|
ASSETS |
|||
|
Current assets: |
|||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 192.5 |
$ 194.8 |
|
|
Receivables, net |
63.8 |
79.1 |
|
|
Inventories |
297.7 |
290.5 |
|
|
Prepaid income taxes |
103.6 |
121.7 |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
162.0 |
136.7 |
|
|
Total current assets |
$ 819.6 |
$ 822.8 |
|
|
Land, buildings and equipment, net |
4,272.8 |
4,184.3 |
|
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
3,365.5 |
3,429.3 |
|
|
Goodwill |
1,391.0 |
1,391.0 |
|
|
Trademarks |
1,148.0 |
1,148.0 |
|
|
Other assets |
358.6 |
347.6 |
|
|
Total assets |
$ 11,355.5 |
$ 11,323.0 |
|
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|||
|
Current liabilities: |
|||
|
Accounts payable |
$ 401.0 |
$ 399.5 |
|
|
Short-term debt |
293.9 |
86.8 |
|
|
Accrued payroll |
161.0 |
190.1 |
|
|
Accrued income taxes |
1.7 |
6.1 |
|
|
Other accrued taxes |
81.6 |
71.0 |
|
|
Unearned revenues |
554.7 |
591.8 |
|
|
Other current liabilities |
830.8 |
847.2 |
|
|
Total current liabilities |
$ 2,324.7 |
$ 2,192.5 |
|
|
Long-term debt |
1,385.6 |
1,370.4 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
236.4 |
232.0 |
|
|
Operating lease liabilities – non-current |
3,636.8 |
3,704.7 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
1,628.3 |
1,580.9 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
$ 9,211.8 |
$ 9,080.5 |
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|||
|
Common stock and surplus |
$ 2,262.3 |
$ 2,252.4 |
|
|
Retained earnings (deficit) |
(144.5) |
(35.5) |
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
25.9 |
25.6 |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
$ 2,143.7 |
$ 2,242.5 |
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ 11,355.5 |
$ 11,323.0 |
|
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DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions) (Unaudited) |
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|
Three Months Ended |
|||
|
8/25/2024 |
8/27/2023 |
||
|
Cash flows—operating activities |
|||
|
Net earnings |
$ 207.2 |
$ 194.5 |
|
|
Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax |
0.4 |
0.3 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings from continuing operations to cash flows: |
|||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
121.5 |
109.8 |
|
|
Impairments and disposal of assets, net |
1.0 |
3.1 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
34.7 |
30.3 |
|
|
Change in current assets and liabilities and other, net |
(91.6) |
(68.9) |
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations |
$ 273.2 |
$ 269.1 |
|
|
Cash flows—investing activities |
|||
|
Purchases of land, buildings and equipment |
(145.2) |
(150.9) |
|
|
Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings and equipment |
— |
1.6 |
|
|
Cash used in business acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
— |
(699.9) |
|
|
Purchases of capitalized software and changes in other assets, net |
(4.5) |
(5.0) |
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations |
$ (149.7) |
$ (854.2) |
|
|
Cash flows—financing activities |
|||
|
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock |
9.7 |
22.3 |
|
|
Dividends paid |
(166.0) |
(158.5) |
|
|
Repurchases of common stock |
(172.4) |
(142.9) |
|
|
Proceeds from short-term debt, net |
207.1 |
95.4 |
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net |
— |
600.0 |
|
|
Principal payments on finance leases, net |
(5.1) |
(5.5) |
|
|
Payments of debt issuance costs |
— |
(1.4) |
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of continuing operations |
$ (126.7) |
$ 409.4 |
|
|
Cash flows—discontinued operations |
|||
|
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations |
— |
— |
|
|
Net cash provided by discontinued operations |
$ — |
$ — |
|
|
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
(3.2) |
(175.7) |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of period |
220.1 |
416.2 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of period |
$ 216.9 |
$ 240.5 |
|
|
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash: |
8/25/2024 |
8/27/2023 |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 192.5 |
$ 192.1 |
|
|
Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other current assets |
24.4 |
48.4 |
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows |
$ 216.9 |
$ 240.5 |
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SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.: Financial
