Darden Restaurants Reports Strong Fiscal 2026 Results
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 25 2026
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Strong Financial Performance: Darden Restaurants reported Q4 sales of $3.718 billion for fiscal 2026, reflecting a 13.6% year-over-year increase, which underscores the company's robust position in the restaurant industry.
- Same-Store Sales Growth: The company achieved a 14.6% increase in same-store sales during Q4, with Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse growing by 2.4% and 9.5% respectively, indicating sustained brand appeal and customer loyalty.
- Dividend Increase: Darden's Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.62 per share, an 8.0% increase from Q3 2026, reflecting strong cash flows and a commitment to shareholder returns.
- Share Repurchase Program: The company repurchased approximately 0.7 million shares for $138 million in the quarter and authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $1.5 billion, demonstrating confidence in future growth and proactive capital management.
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Analyst Views on DRI
Wall Street analysts forecast DRI stock price to rise
20 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 203.220
Low
200.00
Averages
224.35
High
261.00
Current: 203.220
Low
200.00
Averages
224.35
High
261.00
About DRI
Darden Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates full-service dining restaurants in the United States under the trade names Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chuy’s, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Ruth’s Chris), The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood (Eddie V’s), Bahama Breeze, and The Capital Burger. Its segments include reportable segments: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fine Dining and Other Business. Olive Garden is a full-service dining Italian restaurant operator in the United States. LongHorn Steakhouse is a full-service steakhouse restaurant brand with locations primarily in the eastern United States. The Fine Dining segment includes brands that operate within the fine-dining sub-segment of full-service dining and includes Ruth’s Chris, The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s restaurants. The Other Business segment includes Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chuy’s, Yard House, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and The Capital Burger restaurants.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- New Restaurant Openings: The company opened 71 new restaurants in fiscal 2026, surpassing initial plans, demonstrating strong expansion momentum while supporting future revenue growth.
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- Profitability Improvement: The adjusted diluted EPS was $3.66, which includes a $0.25 contribution from the extra fiscal week, while the restaurant-level EBITDA margin improved by 50 basis points to 22.1%, showcasing the company's success in cost control and operational efficiency.
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