Darden Restaurants Boosts FY26 Outlook, Declares Dividend

(DRI) raised its full-year 2026 net earnings from continuing operations and net sales growth guidance, while also declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, following its third-quarter financial results. RTTNews reported that for fiscal 2026, Darden now projects net earnings from continuing operations in a range of $10.57 to $10.67 per share, an increase from the previous expectation of $10.50 to $10.70 per share.

Total sales growth is now anticipated to be about 9.5 percent, up from the prior 8.5 to 9.3 percent range, with same-restaurant sales growth expected at about 4.5 percent, an improvement from the previous 3.5 to 4.3 percent. The company also increased its new restaurant openings forecast to 70, from the previously expected 60.

The declared dividend of $1.50 per share is payable on May 1, 2026, to shareholders of record on April 10, 2026. In Thursday's pre-market trading, DRI shares were up $0.22 or 0.11 percent, trading at $201.00 on the NYSE.