Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)
Darden Restaurants is the powerhouse behind famous American dining chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.
Is Darden Restaurants, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Darden Restaurants is the powerhouse behind famous American dining chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Consistent long-term growth in market share
Long-term shift in consumer dining preferences
What does Darden Restaurants, Inc. do?
Darden operates a massive portfolio of casual dining restaurants across the United States, making money by serving millions of meals every week. They focus on keeping their brands popular and efficient, which helps them turn a steady profit from every plate sold. Their success rests on managing rising food and labour costs while keeping customers coming back through their doors.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and income, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 3.0% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 14% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 3.6x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 54%)
- Strong portfolio of well-known, established restaurant brands
- Impressive ability to generate profit from shareholder investment
- Consistent history of paying dividends to investors
- Economic downturns leading to fewer people eating out
- Supply chain disruptions affecting food quality or availability
- Changing health trends or consumer tastes moving away from casual dining
What do Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Darden Restaurants, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Darden Restaurants, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Darden Restaurants, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 3.0% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Darden Restaurants, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Darden Restaurants, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-09-24 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | $3.64 | $3.66 | In line |
| 2026-03-19 | $2.94 | $2.95 | In line |
| 2025-12-18 | $2.10 | $2.08 | In line |
| 2025-09-18 | $2.01 | $1.97 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-06-20 | $2.97 | $2.98 | In line |
| 2025-03-20 | $2.80 | $2.80 | In line |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Darden Restaurants, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 0 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Casey's General Stores, Inc.What are the scenarios for Darden Restaurants, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Darden Restaurants, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong portfolio of well-known, established restaurant brands
- Impressive ability to generate profit from shareholder investment
- Consistent history of paying dividends to investors
- Operates in a highly competitive and crowded dining market
- High sensitivity to rising costs for ingredients and staff
- Relies heavily on discretionary spending which can drop during tough times
- Economic downturns leading to fewer people eating out
- Supply chain disruptions affecting food quality or availability
- Changing health trends or consumer tastes moving away from casual dining
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A significant and sustained drop in revenue growth
- A major change in the company's dividend policy
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.