Darden Restaurants Inc logo

Darden Restaurants Inc(DRI)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 13 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+5.61% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$229.77
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for DRI

11/09/2026: DRI (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Darden Restaurants is a well-established, multi-brand operator in the full-service dining sector, anchored by recognizable names like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Its core strength lies in its massive scale, which provides operational efficiencies and a defensible competitive position within the restaurant industry. Investors primarily view Darden as a stable, dividend-paying company with consistent cash flow generation, making it a suitable fit for income-focused portfolios. While it faces risks related to labor cost inflation, commodity price volatility, and shifting consumer preferences, its disciplined acquisition strategy provides a potential path for long-term growth. Key developments to monitor include its margin performance and the successful integration of its recent acquisitions.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitDarden offers steady growth through acquisitions but is not a high-growth tech-style stock.
Momentum investorMixed fitThe stock is generally stable and tends to follow broader market trends rather than explosive momentum.
Value investorStrong fitIt is often viewed as a reliable blue-chip operator with a defensible market position.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a history of reliable dividend payments, making it suitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorStrong fitAs a large-scale, established operator, it generally experiences lower volatility than emerging growth stocks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityLowThe stock is generally less volatile than the broader market, though sensitive to macro economic news.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock can trade at premium multiples depending on market sentiment toward the consumer sector.
Competition riskMediumIntense competition from casual dining and fast-casual chains can impact same-store sales.
Business qualityStrongDarden operates high-quality, well-known brands with substantial scale and operational expertise.
Dividend incomeStrongThe dividend is supported by consistent cash flows and a solid balance sheet.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully integrating new acquisitions while managing daily operations is critical for long-term performance.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 7.02%
Avg. Invested days 43
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
DRI receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
DRI has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, solid earnings growth (+15.0%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 8.5%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+9.4%), soft profitability (net margin 9.1%), very low insider ownership of 0.30%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
DRI's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.1B (8.5% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is DRI's strongest growth driver at +15.0% FY2026 versus FY2025 (solid, 4 stars). Revenue growth (+9.4%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (+8.3%, moderate) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 101.3% and approximately 99.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.30%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Capital World Investors 13.41%
BlackRock Inc 8.65%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.60%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.75%
State Street Corp 4.42%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
DRI generates approximately $694 of gross profit, $120 of operating income, and $85 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Moderate margins and moderate cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is solid.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 12.60%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
DRI has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 25.61B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 21.98
1Y Target Price 233.44
Price to earnings Ratio 21.98
1Y Target Price 233.44
Volume (30-day avg) 1.0M shares
Beta 0.63
52 Weeks Range 163.80 - 233.98
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 163.80 - 233.98
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 2.68%
Basic EPS (TTM) 10.3

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Casual DiningRevenue generated from Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Cheddar's.This is the primary engine of the company's total revenue and traffic.
Fine DiningRevenue from The Capital Grille, Eddie V's, and Ruth's Chris.This segment offers higher margins and targets higher-income, less price-sensitive customers.
GeographyPrimarily North American market operations.The company is almost entirely dependent on the US economy, meaning US consumer health is the most important factor.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Valuation

Trailing PE 21.98
Forward PE 20.08
Enterprise Value 32.01B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.92
Enterprise Value 32.01B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.92
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.4
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 14.71
Shares Outstanding 113.14M
Shares Floating 112.63M
Shares Outstanding 113.14M
Shares Floating 112.63M
Percent Insiders 0.3
Percent Institutions 101.31

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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