Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)

Over the past six months, Darden Restaurants' stock (DRI) experienced an 18.25% increase between October 2, 2024, and October 1, 2025, reaching an all-time high of $224.21 on June 20, 2025, and a 52-week high of $228.27. In February 2025, the stock was trading at $195.03, recovering from a 52-week low of $135.87, and received a rating upgrade to "Buy". Darden reported its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter and full-year results on June 20, 2025, and its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results on September 18, 2025, showing strong same-restaurant sales growth of 4.7%. In September 2024, Darden partnered with Uber Technologies for on-demand delivery. On October 6, 2025, analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Darden's price target to $230.00.

The full-service dining sector is influenced by economic factors such as unemployment, energy prices, and interest rates. Darden's business has a seasonal nature, impacting its financial metrics. Historically, the implied volatility for DRI stock tends to increase most significantly in November and decrease to its lowest levels in July.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is an American multi-brand restaurant operator specializing in full-service dining, headquartered in Orlando, Florida. It operates within the Consumer Discretionary sector, specifically in the Restaurants and Bars industry, holding a notable market share in the Chain Restaurants industry. Darden's portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Bahama Breeze, Yard House, Chuy's, and The Capital Burger. The company also generates revenue from consumer packaged goods and franchise operations.

Darden Restaurants primarily operates across the United States and Canada, with over 2,100 restaurant locations. The company also has an international presence through franchising in countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, and Panama.

Darden's brand reputation has seen mixed signals, with Olive Garden experiencing a decline in consumer interest, while LongHorn Steakhouse has maintained a stronger performance. The Capital Grille appears to have strong demand. Darden partnered with Feeding America to provide refrigerated trucks to food banks, which could positively impact its corporate reputation.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. has significant institutional ownership, with approximately 81.43% to 83.3% of its shares held by institutions, including Capital World Investors, Vanguard Group Inc, and BlackRock, Inc. Individual insiders hold less than 1% of the company's stock (0.49%), and the general public accounts for about 15% of the ownership.