Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)

In the past six months, Darden's stock experienced analyst adjustments and company announcements. Barclays maintained an "Overweight" rating but slightly decreased its price target, while BMO Capital raised its price target with a "Market Perform" rating. Truist Securities downgraded Darden from "Buy" to "Hold," citing a "lack of incremental sales drivers" for 2026. In December 2025, Darden reported its fiscal second-quarter earnings, with adjusted earnings per share slightly below consensus estimates but exceeded sales expectations. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share and updated its fiscal 2026 financial outlook. The stock price as of January 9, 2026, was $202.46, representing a 12.47% increase over the previous year.

The restaurant industry, including Darden Restaurants, experiences demand seasonality throughout the year. The busiest periods are generally during the warmer months, from April/May through September, driven by increased tourism and locals dining out more frequently. The slowest months are typically from November to January, as many people travel for holidays and tend to dine at home with family.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is a full-service restaurant company in the Consumer Discretionary sector, operating in the Restaurants industry. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Darden owns and operates casual and fine-dining brands, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, and Chuy's. The company generates revenue by selling food and beverages, focusing on high-volume traffic through value-focused promotions and operational consistency.

Darden Restaurants' operations are mainly in the United States and Canada, with company-owned and franchised locations. The company also has franchised restaurants in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. As of May 25, 2025, Darden operated 2,163 owned restaurants and 154 franchised restaurants.

Darden Restaurants maintains its brand reputation through operational consistency, guest experience, and menu innovation. Olive Garden has seen success with smaller, cheaper portions and first-party delivery services. Some analyst reports have noted a "lack of incremental sales drivers" and limited outperformance of Olive Garden's everyday value, which could subtly impact perception among investors.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. is primarily owned by large financial institutions, holding approximately 93.64% to 93.98% of the outstanding shares. Major institutional owners include Capital World Investors, Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Inc., AWSHX - WASHINGTON MUTUAL INVESTORS FUND Class A, AMECX - INCOME FUND OF AMERICA Class A, State Street Corp, Wellington Management Group Llp, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc, VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Investor Shares, and Raymond James Financial Inc. Individual retail investors and corporate entities hold the remaining approximately 6.36% of the stock. Peter A. Feld is a significant individual shareholder, owning approximately 10.11% of the company's shares.