Darden Restaurants, IncNYSE: DRI
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
$195.03
-2.76%
Vol: 868K
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
Darden reports Q3 beat with 5.9% sales growth, closes 14 Bahama Breeze locations
Darden Restaurants reported Q3 FY2026 results (ended Feb 22) with total sales up 5.9% to $3.3B, same-restaurant sales +4.2%, and 31 net new openings. Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations at $2.95, up 5.4%. Company completed strategic review of Bahama Breeze, permanently closing 14 locations (complete shutdown by April 5) and converting 14 others to Darden brands over 12-18 months. Board declared $1.50 quarterly dividend (payable May 1). Repurchased 0.7M shares for $127M. Stock price $200.56 with average analyst rating "Buy" and 12-month PT of $226.50 (+17.73%).
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Darden Restaurants reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results with $3.3B sales (up 5.9%), adjusted EPS of $2.95 (up 5.4%), and raised full-year guidance to $10.57-$10.67 EPS with ~9.5% expected sales growth.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants reported strong Q3 fiscal 2026 results with total sales of $3.3B (up 5.9%) driven by blended same-restaurant sales increase of 4.2% and 31 net new restaurants. Adjusted EPS of $2.95 increased 5.4% YoY with solid brand performance at Olive Garden (3.2%) and LongHorn Steakhouse (7.2%). The board declared $1.50 quarterly dividend payable May 1, 2026. Management is testing smaller prototypes to lower construction costs. Among 31 analysts, 19 recommend Strong Buy with average price target of $226.66 representing 13.1% upside.
Apr 29Darden Restaurants reports Q3 FY2026 sales +5.9% to $3.3B; Q4 EPS forecast $3.64 (+22.2% YoY)Positive▶
Darden Restaurants reported Q3 FY2026 sales of $3.3 billion (+5.9%) driven by 4.2% same-restaurant sales growth and 31 net new restaurants. For Q4, analysts forecast EPS $3.64 (+22.2% YoY) and FY26 EPS $10.61 (+11.1% YoY). Board declared $1.50 quarterly dividend payable May 1. Company repurchased 0.7M shares for $127M. Average analyst PT is $226.66 with Strong Buy consensus.
Apr 16Darden Restaurants posts Q3 FY2026 sales of $3.3B, same-store sales growth of 4.2% across all 11 brands, Bahama Breeze closes 28 units.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants reported fiscal Q3 2026 results ending February 22 with sales growth of 5.9% to $3.3 billion and consolidated same-store sales growth of 4.2% across all 11 brands. LongHorn Steakhouse led with 7.2% same-store sales growth, while each of four largest brands exceeded industry performance by more than 400 basis points. Bahama Breeze officially closed all 28 locations on April 5, 2026, with Darden converting approximately half to Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen over next 12-18 months. Darden guides fiscal 2026 total sales growth of approximately 9.5%, same-store sales growth around 4.5%, net new openings around 70 locations, and net EPS of $10.57-$10.67. Analyst consensus is Buy with 25 analysts and 12-month target of $226.50, representing 17.73% upside. DRI stock trades at $202.21 with forward P/E of 17.06.
Apr 15Darden Restaurants reports Q3 fiscal 2026 results with 5.9% sales growth and 4.2% same-restaurant sales increase.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants reported Q3 fiscal 2026 with total sales increasing 5.9% to $3.3 billion, driven by 4.2% same-restaurant sales increase and 31 net new restaurant openings. The company repurchased $127 million of stock. Board declared a $1.50 quarterly dividend. Darden is closing 14 out of 28 Bahama Breeze locations and converting to other brands.
Apr 14Darden updated FY2026 guidance with 9.5% total sales growth and 4.5% same-store sales growth, closing Bahama Breeze brand.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants updated fiscal 2026 earnings guidance to $10.57-$10.67 EPS with revenue of $13.2B. Q3 delivered $3.3B in sales. Executing strategic portfolio tightening with Bahama Breeze closure. Multiple analysts raised price targets including Argus ($240), Evercore ISI ($230), KeyBanc ($226).
Apr 13Darden Restaurants updates FY26 guidance amid elevated beef cost pressures; closing all 28 Bahama Breeze locations.Mixed▶
Darden reported strong Q3 FY26 with total sales up 5.9% to $3.3B and same-restaurant sales +4.2%. However, faces significant margin pressure from elevated beef costs. Announced closure of all 28 Bahama Breeze restaurants. FY26 EPS guidance: $10.57-$10.67.
Apr 10Darden Reports Q3 2026 Beat; Raises FY Guidance; Argus Target $240Positive▶
Strong Q3 results April 9, beating earnings. Raised FY guidance to $10.57-$10.67 EPS. Same-restaurant sales growth 4.2%. Closing 28 Bahama Breeze locations.
Apr 9Darden Restaurants Q3 2026 results show 4.2% same-store sales growth with updated guidancePositive▶
Darden reported Q3 2026 sales of $3.3B with 4.2% blended same-restaurant sales growth. The company updated fiscal 2026 outlook to ~9.5% total sales growth with ~4.5% same-restaurant sales growth. Darden declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share and repurchased 0.7M shares for $127M. LongHorn Steakhouse led with 7.2% same-store sales growth, and the company is testing smaller prototypes for Yard House and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen.
Apr 8Darden Restaurants beats Q3 expectations with strong same-store sales growth and positive guidance.Positive▶
DRI fiscal Q3 EPS beat by $0.01, revenue $3.35B beat by $12M. Multiple analysts raised PTs (Evercore $230, KeyBanc $226, MS $236). 6% YoY sales growth. Closing 28 Bahama Breeze locations.
Apr 7Darden Restaurants Q3 earnings beat with 5.9% revenue growth, closes Bahama Breeze locationsPositive▶
DRI reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results with 5.9% revenue growth and 4.2% same-store sales gains. Updated FY26 outlook to 9.5% total sales growth with 4.5% same-restaurant sales growth. Announced $1.50 quarterly dividend (ex-date Apr 10). Bahama Breeze restructuring to close 14 of 28 locations over next 12-18 months.
Apr 6Darden reports strong Q3 with 4.2% same-restaurant sales growth and Bahama Breeze restructuringPositive▶
Darden Restaurants reported Q3 FY2026 sales of $3.3B with 4.2% blended same-restaurant sales growth and 31 net new restaurants. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.95, up 5.4% YoY. Board declared $1.50 quarterly dividend payable May 1, 2026. Darden is restructuring Bahama Breeze, closing 14 of 28 locations over 12-18 months with minimal financial impact. Olive Garden introduced GLP-1-friendly menu options. BofA raised price target to $272 from $262. Analyst consensus is Buy with average target of $226.50.
Apr 3Darden Restaurants reported strong Q3 fiscal 2026 results with 5.9% revenue growth and 4.2% same-restaurant sales.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results with 5.9% revenue growth to $3.3 billion and 4.2% same-restaurant sales increase. Declared quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share. Repurchased 0.7 million shares for $127 million. Testing smaller-format prototypes for Yard House and Cheddar's. Analysts rate Buy with $226.50 target.
Apr 2Darden Restaurants reports strong Q3 2026 results with 5.9% revenue growth and 4.2% same-store sales increase; dividend raised to $1.50.Positive▶
Darden Restaurants delivered exceptional Q3 fiscal 2026 results (quarter ended Feb 22, 2026) with total sales increasing 5.9% to $3.3 billion and blended same-restaurant sales gaining 4.2%, significantly outperforming the casual dining industry. The company added 31 net new restaurants during the quarter and is testing smaller restaurant prototypes for Yard House and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen to reduce construction costs. The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share (payable May 1, 2026) and repurchased $127 million in stock during Q3. Bank of America Securities raised price target to $272 from $262 in March, while Deutsche Bank raised target to $230 from $222. Analyst sentiment is strongly positive with 25 analysts averaging "Buy" rating and $226.50 price target (17.67% upside). All segments posted positive comparable sales gains. Olive Garden introduced GLP-1 friendly and smaller portion options.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCDMCDONALD | $287.01 | -2.24% | -5.2% | 20.4x | 0.53 | $208.7B |
| SBUXSTARBUCKS | $105.84 | +0.48% | +11.1% | 34.9x | 0.94 | $120.0B |
| YUMYUM | $158.14 | -0.95% | +1.5% | 21.3x | 0.66 | $44.1B |
| CMGCHIPOTLE | $32.98 | -2.99% | +1.5% | 25.0x | 1.06 | $43.7B |
| DRIDARDEN | $195.03 | -2.76% | +2.0% | 17.6x | 0.63 | $23.0B |
| DPZDOMINO | $338.34 | -0.32% | -10.9% | 16.1x | 1.19 | $11.3B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price below 200d MA — bearish structure.