Darden Restaurants (DRI) Expected to Announce Quarterly Earnings on Thursday

Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) is expected to post its Q2 2026 results before the market opens on Thursday, December 18th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $2.10 per share and revenue of $3.0714 billion for the quarter. Darden Restaurants has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.500-10.700 EPS. Parties may review the information on the company’s upcoming Q2 2026 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM ET.

Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, September 18th. The restaurant operator reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.03 billion. Darden Restaurants had a return on equity of 52.35% and a net margin of 8.90%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.75 EPS. On average, analysts expect Darden Restaurants to post $10 EPS for the current fiscal year and $11 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Darden Restaurants Stock Performance

Shares of DRI stock opened at $185.64 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.40. The firm has a market cap of $21.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.66. Darden Restaurants has a 52 week low of $159.67 and a 52 week high of $228.27. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $179.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $198.24.

Darden Restaurants Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, October 10th were issued a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 10th. Darden Restaurants’s payout ratio is 64.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants

In other news, SVP Matthew R. Broad sold 5,661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $193.40, for a total value of $1,094,837.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 13,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,691,354.40. This represents a 28.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.49% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Darden Restaurants

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its holdings in shares of Darden Restaurants by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 1,963 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its position in Darden Restaurants by 86.4% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,577 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $344,000 after acquiring an additional 731 shares in the last quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors grew its position in Darden Restaurants by 5.0% in the second quarter. Visionary Wealth Advisors now owns 1,565 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its stake in Darden Restaurants by 234.2% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,691 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $322,000 after acquiring an additional 1,185 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 44 Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Darden Restaurants by 4.6% during the second quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,467 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.64% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Darden Restaurants from $215.00 to $205.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 19th. Stephens cut their price target on Darden Restaurants from $215.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Darden Restaurants from $238.00 to $236.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Raymond James Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Darden Restaurants from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 19th. Finally, Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Darden Restaurants from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $223.57.

Darden Restaurants Company Profile

Darden Restaurants, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada. It operates under Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, and Capital Burger brand names.