Darden Restaurants posts mixed quarter with higher dividend, shares react to FY 2027 outlook

By Julia Schmitt, Sector & Peer Group desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-26, 10:50.

Darden Restaurants (US2371941053) reported fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full-year results on June 25, 2026, alongside a higher dividend and a new share repurchase authorization, according to the company’s release and NYSE filings. Company earnings release on PR Newswire The stock is part of the S&P 500 and trades on the NYSE under ticker DRI, giving investors a liquid US casual-dining benchmark.

What the latest quarter shows

For the quarter ended May 31, 2026, which included a 53rd week of operations, Darden Restaurants generated revenue of about 3.72 billion US dollars, up 13.7 percent year-on-year and just below the roughly 3.73 billion dollar analyst consensus. Yahoo Finance commentary on Q4 results The additional operating week, blended same-restaurant sales growth of around 4.6 percent and contributions from 43 net new restaurants supported the top line. PR Newswire detailed financial highlights

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations came in around 3.66 dollars for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of 3.63 dollars by roughly three cents, according to market commentary. Investing.com analysis of the Q4 beat For the full fiscal year, total sales reached roughly 13.21 billion dollars, up about 9.4 percent, with blended same-restaurant sales growth of 4.5 percent and adjusted EPS increasing by around 11.4 percent to approximately 10 dollars. Yahoo Finance full-year summary

Guidance and shareholder returns

Looking ahead, Darden Restaurants set fiscal 2027 total sales guidance between 13.60 billion and 13.75 billion US dollars, implying mid-single-digit growth on top of the 2026 base. Investing.com discussion of FY 2027 outlook The company forecasts diluted EPS from continuing operations in a range of about 11.10 to 11.35 dollars, clearly above an analyst consensus around 10.62 dollars, signalling management’s confidence in margin resilience despite a slower casual-dining environment. Yahoo Finance comparison with consensus expectations

Alongside the earnings release, the board approved a quarterly cash dividend of 1.62 dollars per share, an 8.0 percent increase versus the prior 1.50 dollars, payable on August 3, 2026 to shareholders of record as of July 10, 2026. Dividend and capital allocation details from PR Newswire The company also authorized a new share repurchase program of up to 1.5 billion dollars with no expiration date, replacing a previous authorization after buying back roughly 0.7 million shares for about 138 million dollars in the latest quarter. Investing.com note on buybacks and capital returns

The business behind the stock

Darden Restaurants generates the bulk of its revenue from its large US casual-dining portfolio, led by Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, with 2,202 company-owned restaurants at the end of fiscal 2026. Yahoo Finance overview of restaurant count and brands Olive Garden focuses on Italian-inspired pasta, soups and family-style dining, while LongHorn Steakhouse is positioned as a grill and steak specialist targeting guests seeking affordable steakhouse experiences.

Where the stock trades today

The Darden Restaurants shares (US2371941053) trade on the NYSE under ticker DRI and recently changed hands at around 213.45 US dollars as of 2026-06-26, 10:30 Eastern Time, according to real-time quote data. Yahoo Finance real-time DRI quote The company’s listing sits within the S&P 500 consumer discretionary segment, giving the stock visibility in major US equity benchmarks.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell securities, or a solicitation of any transaction. All data are based on sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication but may change without notice.