Darden Restaurants Inc Reports 10.6% Sales Growth in Q4

By Bobby Samwell • Friday, June 20 15:21 • Permanent Link

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending on May 25, 2025.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Darden saw a 10.6% increase in total sales, reaching $3.3 billion. This growth was driven by a 4.6% increase in blended same-restaurant sales and sales from the acquisition of 103 Chuy's Tex Mex (Chuy's) restaurants and 25 net new restaurants.

The reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.58, which increased to $2.98 when excluding $0.40 of Chuy's transaction and integration-related costs and costs from restaurant closures, representing a 12.5% increase.

For the fiscal year 2025, total sales increased by 6.0% to $12.1 billion, driven by a 2.0% increase in blended same-restaurant sales and sales from the acquisition of 103 Chuy's restaurants and 25 net new restaurants.

The reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations for the fiscal year were $8.88, increasing to $9.55 when excluding $0.67 of Chuy's transaction and integration-related costs and costs from restaurant closures, representing a 7.5% increase.

Notably, Darden's board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, marking a 7.1% increase from the third quarter of fiscal 2025.

Darden also repurchased approximately 0.2 million shares of its common stock for a total of $51 million during the quarter. Additionally, the board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program, under which the company may repurchase up to $1 billion of its outstanding common stock.

Looking ahead to fiscal 2026, Darden provided its full-year financial outlook, which includes a 53rd week. The outlook includes expectations of total sales growth of 7% to 8%, same-restaurant sales growth of 2% to 3.5%, and new restaurant openings of 60 to 65.

Moreover, the company anticipates diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations for fiscal 2026 to be in the range of $10.50 to $10.70, including approximately $0.20 related to the addition of the 53rd week.

Darden's annual meeting of shareholders is scheduled for September 17, 2025, and will be held in a virtual format only. Today the company's shares have moved -0.78% to a price of $221.02. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.

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