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Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/28/2025: DRI (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
1 Year Target Price $232.78
1 Year Target Price $232.78
14 | Strong Buy |
4 | Buy |
11 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
2 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 31.99% | Avg. Invested days 63 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 24.13B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 23.3 | 1Y Target Price 232.78 |
Price to earnings Ratio 23.3 | 1Y Target Price 232.78 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 31 | Beta 0.75 | 52 Weeks Range 149.31 - 226.68 | Updated Date 08/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 149.31 - 226.68 | Updated Date 08/29/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 2.71% | Basic EPS (TTM) 8.88 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 8.69% | Operating Margin (TTM) 13.17% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.38% | Return on Equity (TTM) 46.16% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 23.3 | Forward PE 19.34 | Enterprise Value 30091032399 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2 |
Enterprise Value 30091032399 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.49 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.99 | Shares Outstanding 116595000 | Shares Floating 116486112 |
Shares Outstanding 116595000 | Shares Floating 116486112 | ||
Percent Insiders 0.31 | Percent Institutions 95.18 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Darden Restaurants Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
Darden Restaurants Inc. was founded in 1938 by Bill Darden as a single restaurant called The Green Frog in Waycross, Georgia. It evolved to become a major restaurant operator, expanding through acquisitions and organic growth, including the creation and acquisition of numerous restaurant brands.
Core Business Areas
- Olive Garden: A casual dining Italian-American restaurant chain known for its unlimited breadsticks, salad, and pasta dishes.
- LongHorn Steakhouse: A casual dining steakhouse restaurant chain specializing in grilled steaks and Southwestern-inspired dishes.
- Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen: A casual dining restaurant chain offering freshly made American comfort food at affordable prices.
- Yard House: An upscale sports bar and restaurant chain with a wide selection of beers on tap and a diverse menu.
- The Capital Grille: A fine-dining steakhouse restaurant chain known for its dry-aged steaks and extensive wine list.
- Eddie V's Prime Seafood: An upscale seafood restaurant chain offering a variety of fresh seafood dishes and cocktails.
- Seasons 52: A fresh grill and wine bar that offers a seasonally inspired menu.
Leadership and Structure
Darden Restaurants Inc. has a board of directors and a management team led by the CEO. The organizational structure is divided by restaurant brand, with each brand having its own management team reporting to the corporate leadership.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Olive Garden: Offers Italian-American cuisine, unlimited breadsticks, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Competitors include Carrabba's Italian Grill and Maggiano's Little Italy. Market share data specific to Olive Garden is difficult to extract, but it is a leader in the casual Italian dining segment.
- LongHorn Steakhouse: Offers steaks, ribs, and other American grill fare in a casual setting. Competitors include Outback Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse. Similar to Olive Garden, specific market share data is proprietary, but LongHorn is a strong contender in the steakhouse segment.
- Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen: Provides affordable American comfort food made from scratch. Competitors include Cracker Barrel and Applebee's.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The restaurant industry is highly competitive and sensitive to economic conditions, consumer trends, and food costs. Demand is driven by disposable income, changing lifestyles, and consumer preferences for convenience and experiences.
Positioning
Darden Restaurants Inc. is a major player in the full-service dining segment, with a portfolio of well-known brands catering to different customer segments and price points. Its competitive advantages include brand recognition, scale, and supply chain efficiencies.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The US restaurant market is estimated to be over $900 billion. Darden is positioned strongly with a diverse brand portfolio catering to a wide customer base. Darden captures only a very small amount of this large TAM.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Diversified brand portfolio
- Strong brand recognition
- Large scale and purchasing power
- Experienced management team
- Established supply chain
Weaknesses
- Exposure to commodity price fluctuations
- Labor costs and availability
- Dependence on consumer discretionary spending
- Brand overlap in some segments
Opportunities
- Expansion into new markets
- Menu innovation and development
- Technology adoption (e.g., online ordering, delivery)
- Acquisitions of complementary brands
- Increased focus on health and wellness trends
Threats
- Economic downturns
- Increased competition
- Changing consumer preferences
- Food safety concerns
- Rising inflation
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- TXRH
- DIN
- BLMN
- RUTH
Competitive Landscape
Darden Restaurants Inc. competes with a range of full-service restaurant chains. Its scale and brand diversity provide an advantage, but it faces challenges from smaller, more nimble competitors.
Major Acquisitions
Ruth's Chris Steak House
- Year: 2023
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 715
- Strategic Rationale: Expand Darden's fine-dining portfolio and capture a greater share of the upscale steakhouse market.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Darden Restaurants Inc's growth has been driven by organic expansion of existing brands and acquisitions.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates for future growth should be obtained from reputable financial sources.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include menu innovations, technology investments, and restaurant remodels.
Summary
Darden Restaurants is a financially stable company with a diverse portfolio of well-known brands. Its scale offers advantages but also exposes it to economic and competitive pressures. The companyu2019s recent acquisitions and strategic initiatives should drive future growth. However, rising costs, changing consumer preferences, and stiff competition pose challenges that require careful management. Overall, Darden maintains a strong position in the full-service dining sector.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company filings, press releases, market research reports, analyst reports.
Disclaimers:
The data provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market share data is estimated and may vary depending on the source. Actual results may differ.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Darden Restaurants Inc
Exchange NYSE | Headquaters Orlando, FL, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1995-05-05 | CEO, President & Director Mr. Ricardo Cardenas C.P.A. | ||
Sector Consumer Cyclical | Industry Restaurants | Full time employees 197924 | Website https://www.darden.com |
Full time employees 197924 | Website https://www.darden.com |
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. Darden Restaurants, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is based in Orlando, Florida.

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