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Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)
:DRI
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Darden Restaurants (DRI) AI Stock Analysis

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DRI

Darden Restaurants

(NYSE:DRI)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$213.00
▲(13.23% Upside)
Darden Restaurants' overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment, indicating robust growth prospects. However, technical analysis shows current bearish momentum, and valuation metrics suggest the stock is fairly priced. The company's strategic initiatives and expansion plans support a positive long-term outlook.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Darden's strong revenue growth indicates robust market demand and effective strategic initiatives, supporting long-term business expansion.
Expansion Plans
The planned opening of new restaurants demonstrates Darden's commitment to growth and market penetration, enhancing its competitive position.
Cash Flow Performance
Strong cash flow growth underscores Darden's ability to fund operations and strategic initiatives, ensuring financial stability and flexibility.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
Significant leverage could pose financial risks, limiting Darden's ability to invest in growth and weather economic downturns.
Commodity and Labor Costs
Rising commodity and labor costs can pressure margins, potentially impacting profitability if not managed effectively.
Fine Dining Segment Challenges
Challenges in the Fine Dining segment may hinder overall growth, requiring strategic adjustments to improve performance.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Darden Restaurants Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDarden Restaurants, Inc. is a prominent American multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company operates several well-known dining chains, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and The Capital Grille, among others. Darden's portfolio spans casual dining, fine dining, and fast-casual sectors, providing a diverse range of cuisines and dining experiences to its customers. The company focuses on high-quality food and exceptional service, catering to families and dining enthusiasts alike.
How the Company Makes MoneyDarden Restaurants generates revenue primarily through the operation of its restaurant brands, which offer a variety of food and beverage options. The company earns money by selling meals and drinks directly to customers in its restaurants. Key revenue streams include dine-in service, takeout, and delivery options. Darden also benefits from its extensive supply chain and economies of scale, which help to manage costs and increase profitability. Additionally, the company engages in promotional partnerships and marketing initiatives that drive customer traffic and enhance brand visibility. Seasonal menu offerings and loyalty programs further contribute to its revenue by encouraging repeat visits and customer retention.

Darden Restaurants Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Total Company Owned Restaurants
Shows the total number of restaurants owned by the company, reflecting its market presence and potential for scaling operations.
Chart InsightsDarden Restaurants has shown a robust expansion in its total company-owned restaurants, with a notable surge in 2024, partly due to the acquisition of 103 Chuy's locations. This aligns with their strategic plan to open 60 to 65 new restaurants in fiscal 2026. Despite challenges in the Fine Dining segment, the company's focus on growth through Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, coupled with strong sales performance, underscores its commitment to enhancing shareholder returns and market presence.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Darden Restaurants Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Sep 18, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Dec 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Darden's first quarter of fiscal 2026 was marked by strong growth in sales and earnings, particularly in Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, driven by strategic initiatives and successful first-party delivery. However, challenges such as increased commodity costs and fine dining segment performance present areas to address. Overall, the company is well-positioned for continued growth with a robust development pipeline.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Start to Fiscal Year 2026
Darden's first quarter exceeded expectations with strong same-restaurant sales and earnings growth. Three out of four segments saw positive growth, driven by strategic planning and execution.
Olive Garden's Impressive Performance
Olive Garden's same-restaurant sales grew by 5.9%, driven by new menu items and first-party delivery. The Create Your Own Pasta platform and Spicy 3-Meat Sauce were particularly successful.
LongHorn Steakhouse Continued Growth
LongHorn Steakhouse saw 5.5% same-restaurant sales growth, maintaining its top decile industry ranking for food quality and value.
Significant Sales and Earnings Growth
Darden generated $3 billion in total sales, a 10% increase from last year, with an adjusted diluted net earnings per share growth of 12.6%.
Successful First-Party Delivery Initiatives
First-party delivery through Uber Direct has been successful, capturing younger, more affluent guests and resulting in a 40% increase in post-campaign delivery volume for Olive Garden.
Expansion and Development Plans
Darden is on track to open approximately 65 new restaurants, with a strong development pipeline and international franchise expansion in Canada.
Negative Updates
Fine Dining Segment Challenges
The Fine Dining segment experienced slightly negative same-restaurant sales growth, though efforts are underway to address these challenges.
Increased Commodity and Labor Costs
The quarter saw a significant increase in beef and seafood costs, with inflation outpacing pricing by 100 basis points, impacting margins.
Impact of Free Delivery Promotions
The 1 million free deliveries campaign, while successful in boosting delivery sales, impacted Olive Garden's margins.
Company Guidance
During the Darden Fiscal Year 2026 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call, guidance reflected a positive outlook with several key metrics highlighted. Darden experienced a successful first quarter with same-restaurant sales growth of 4.7% and average same-restaurant guest counts growing by 2.6%, surpassing expectations. Olive Garden led the way, achieving a 5.9% increase in same-restaurant sales, while LongHorn Steakhouse reported a 5.5% rise. The Other Business segment saw a 3.3% increase, driven by strong performances from Yard House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and Seasons 52. Despite challenges in the Fine Dining segment, strategic initiatives are expected to enhance performance. Darden's updated fiscal 2026 guidance anticipates total sales growth of 7.5% to 8.5%, same-restaurant sales growth of 2.5% to 3.5%, and the opening of approximately 65 new restaurants. The company remains committed to pricing below total inflation and investing in long-term growth strategies.

Darden Restaurants Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Darden Restaurants shows strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and solid profitability metrics. The company effectively generates cash, though high leverage poses a potential risk. The strong return on equity highlights its ability to generate returns for shareholders.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Darden Restaurants has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, with a TTM revenue growth rate of 2.38%. The company maintains strong profitability with a gross profit margin of 33.93% and a net profit margin of 8.90% in the TTM period. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also healthy at 11.24% and 15.52%, respectively, indicating efficient operations. However, the slight decline in EBIT margin compared to the previous year suggests potential cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.77, indicating significant leverage, which could pose risks if not managed carefully. However, the company has a strong return on equity of 49.94%, reflecting efficient use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio stands at 17.45%, suggesting a moderate level of equity financing relative to total assets.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Darden Restaurants has shown robust cash flow performance with a free cash flow growth rate of 21.31% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.75, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.71 further underscores the company's ability to convert earnings into cash, although there is room for improvement in cash flow efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.36B12.08B11.39B10.49B9.63B7.20B
Gross Profit4.20B2.64B2.43B2.11B2.00B1.49B
EBITDA1.92B1.88B1.78B1.60B1.53B992.60M
Net Income1.10B1.05B1.03B981.90M952.80M629.30M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.76B12.59B11.32B10.24B10.14B10.66B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments211.00M240.00M194.80M367.80M420.60M1.21B
Total Debt6.16B6.23B5.43B4.79B5.91B5.76B
Total Liabilities10.53B10.28B9.08B8.04B7.94B7.84B
Stockholders Equity2.23B2.31B2.24B2.20B2.20B2.81B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.26B1.04B983.60M951.80M857.00M924.90M
Operating Cash Flow1.77B1.71B1.61B1.55B1.26B1.19B
Investing Cash Flow-1.29B-1.28B-1.32B-568.40M-389.00M-263.70M
Financing Cash Flow-471.30M-385.80M-483.40M-1.03B-1.61B-478.90M

Darden Restaurants Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price188.12
Price Trends
50DMA
204.22
Negative
100DMA
208.01
Negative
200DMA
198.53
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-5.66
Positive
RSI
27.43
Positive
STOCH
13.99
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DRI, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 188.12 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 202.28, below the 50-day MA of 204.22, and below the 200-day MA of 198.53, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -5.66 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 27.43 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.99 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for DRI.

Darden Restaurants Risk Analysis

Darden Restaurants disclosed 34 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Darden Restaurants reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Darden Restaurants Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$10.80B24.7930.19%1.63%14.59%18.98%
71
Outperform
$21.93B20.1750.41%3.03%8.30%7.69%
68
Neutral
$2.73B16.8539.63%1.97%4.77%38.24%
68
Neutral
$5.88B15.91103.29%21.95%146.44%
66
Neutral
$42.38B30.16-18.65%1.83%11.30%-7.82%
60
Neutral
$1.54B20.71-17.38%3.91%-1.46%8.10%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DRI
Darden Restaurants
188.12
28.94
18.18%
EAT
Brinker International
132.19
55.66
72.73%
PZZA
Papa John's International
47.00
-4.60
-8.91%
TXRH
Texas Roadhouse
162.53
-11.51
-6.61%
CAKE
Cheesecake Factory
54.75
15.02
37.81%
YUM
Yum! Brands
152.70
15.66
11.43%

Darden Restaurants Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Darden Restaurants Reports Strong Q4 and Dividend Increase
Positive
Jun 20, 2025

On June 13, 2025, Dan Kiernan, President of Olive Garden, announced his retirement effective August 31, 2025, with John Wilkerson set to succeed him on September 1, 2025. Darden Restaurants reported a strong fiscal fourth quarter and year-end for 2025, with a 10.6% increase in total sales driven by same-restaurant sales growth and acquisitions. The company also declared a 7.1% increase in its quarterly dividend and authorized a new $1 billion share repurchase program, reflecting its robust financial health and commitment to shareholder value.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 25, 2025