Darden Restaurants (DRI) stock
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
Darden Restaurants (DRI) is a Restaurants company in the Consumer Discretionary sector, headquartered in Orlando, Florida. As of October 23, 2026, DRI closed at $212.40, a market capitalization of $24.03 billion, the 366th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $13.37 billion in revenue (+5% year over year) and $1.02 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 20.6x trailing earnings and 17.1x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +17.5% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +11.5% a year
- 52-week range: $169.00 – $229.76
- Gross margin 21.7%, operating margin 9.9%
- Dividend yield: 3.05%, 5 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: C+ across 10 metrics
- 30th largest of 47 Consumer Discretionary stocks in the S&P 500
DRI price chart
1Y price change: +13.9% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRI | +0.2% | +19.1% | +17.5% | +18.2% | +11.5% | +16.2% | +14.5% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1995.
DRI key statistics
- Market cap
- $24.0B
- #366 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 20.6x
- Forward P/E
- 17.1x
- EPS (TTM)
- $10.30
- Revenue (TTM)
- $13.4B
- +5%
- Free cash flow
- $1.0B
- Gross margin
- 21.7%
- Operating margin
- 9.9%
- Return on equity
- 55.4%
- Dividend yield
- 3.05%
- 52-week range
- $169.00 – $229.76
- Beta
- 0.62
- Price / sales
- 1.8x
- EV / EBITDA
- 15.1x
- Debt / equity
- 4.15x
- Employees
- 209,931
DRI report card
C+Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth5.1%C
- Gross margin21.7%D
- Operating margin9.9%D
- FCF margin7.6%D
- Return on equity55.4%A
- Net debt / EBITDA3.9xF
- Forward P/E17.1xB
- PEG ratio1.9xC
- Shareholder yield5.8%A
- Share count change / yr-2.5%A
Darden Restaurants financials
Revenue went from $7.2B in fiscal 2017 to $13.2B in fiscal 2026, growing 7.0% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $7.2B | $8.1B | $8.5B | $7.8B | $7.2B | $9.6B | $10.5B | $11.4B | $12.1B | $13.2B |
| Gross profit | $1.3B | $1.5B | $1.6B | $1.2B | $1.4B | $1.9B | $2.0B | $2.3B | $2.5B | $2.7B |
| Operating income | $677.5M | $766.8M | $832.5M | $47.9M | $648.7M | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.3B | $1.4B | $1.6B |
| Net income | $479.1M | $596.0M | $713.4M | -$52.4M | $629.3M | $952.8M | $981.9M | $1.0B | $1.0B | $1.2B |
| EPS (diluted) | $3.80 | $4.73 | $5.69 | $-0.43 | $4.77 | $7.39 | $7.99 | $8.51 | $8.86 | $10.38 |
| Buybacks | $230.2M | $234.8M | $207.5M | $330.3M | $45.4M | $1.1B | $458.7M | $453.9M | $418.2M | $671.7M |
| Dividends paid | $279.1M | $313.5M | $370.8M | $322.3M | $202.6M | $563.0M | $589.8M | $628.4M | $658.5M | $693.0M |
| Diluted shares | 126.0M | 126.0M | 125.4M | 122.7M | 131.8M | 129.0M | 122.9M | 120.8M | 118.4M | 116.3M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into DRI?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $32.4B and $1.0B of trailing free cash flow, Darden Restaurants needs to grow free cash flow about 22.3% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return.
P/E ratio history
Current 20.5x vs. median 19.3x (10th–90th percentile 12.2x–25.8x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
DRI dividend
- Dividend yield
- 3.05%
- Annual dividend
- $6.48
- Years of increases
- 5
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 37.5%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 59%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
DRI analyst price targets
25 analysts' average 12-month target is $233.44 (+10% vs. $212.40). Targets range from $163.00 to $276.00. 64% rate it a buy.
DRI earnings
Next report: December 18, 2026. Last quarter's revenue was $3.2B (+5% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 | $2.05 | $2.05 | -0.2% |
| Jun 25, 2026 | $3.64 | $3.66 | +0.6% |
| Mar 19, 2026 | $2.94 | $2.95 | +0.3% |
| Dec 18, 2025 | $2.10 | $2.08 | -0.8% |
| Sep 18, 2025 | $2.01 | $1.97 | -2.0% |
| Jun 20, 2025 | $2.97 | $2.98 | +0.4% |
| Mar 20, 2025 | $2.80 | $2.80 | +0.2% |
| Dec 19, 2024 | $2.02 | $2.03 | +0.3% |
Stocks like DRI
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MCD McDonald's | -1.65% | -17% | $175.8B | 20.2x | Compare |
 SBUX Starbucks | -1.09% | +21% | $114.9B | 58.3x | Compare |
 YUM Yum! Brands | -3.08% | +4% | $40.9B | 18.9x | Compare |
 CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill | -2.20% | -34% | $34.8B | 25.7x | Compare |
 DPZ Domino's Pizza | -1.29% | -24% | $10.3B | 17.3x | Compare |
 AMZN Amazon.com | -0.95% | +12% | $2.7T | 20.0x | Compare |
 TSLA Tesla | -0.63% | -17% | $1.5T | 409.0x | Compare |
 HD Home Depot | -2.41% | -15% | $319.1B | 21.5x | Compare |
DRI news
- FCPT Announces Extensions for 100% of Olive Garden and LongHorn Leases Maturing in 2027 · Oct 14, 2026
- Darden vs. McDonald’s: Which Restaurant Stock Is the Better Buy for Income Investors · Oct 14, 2026
- Darden Restaurants (DRI) Could Be 14% Undervalued On Its Dividend Update · Oct 9, 2026
- 3 Low-Volatility Stocks with Warning Signs · Oct 9, 2026
- Darden’s Sales Rise as Olive Garden Targets Lunch Comeback · Sep 29, 2026
DRI stock FAQ
What is DRI's market cap?
Darden Restaurants's market capitalization is $24.03 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 366th in the S&P 500.
What is DRI's P/E ratio?
DRI trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 20.6x and a forward P/E of 17.1x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 19.3x.
Does DRI pay a dividend?
Yes. Darden Restaurants pays $6.48 per share a year, a 3.05% yield. It has raised its dividend 5 years in a row. Dividends grew 37.5% a year over the last five years.
How much has DRI stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, DRI returned +17.5% over one year, +11.5% a year over five years, +16.2% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is DRI stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Darden Restaurants must grow free cash flow about 22% a year for the next decade. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the DRI price target?
25 analysts cover DRI with an average 12-month price target of $233.44, +10% from the current price. 64% of them rate it a buy.
When does DRI report earnings?
Darden Restaurants is expected to report earnings on December 18, 2026.
How many employees does Darden Restaurants have?
Darden Restaurants has about 209,931 full-time employees, or $63,671 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology