Key Highlights

  • Darden’s $1.62 quarterly Dividend trades ex-dividend October 9, 2026, with payment on November 2 to shareholders of record.
  • First-quarter fiscal 2027 sales were $3,200.3 million, up 5.1%, with same-restaurant sales up 3.1% on the fiscal calendar.
  • Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.05, compared with $2.19 reported and $1.97 adjusted in the prior-year quarter.
  • The company reaffirmed fiscal 2027 diluted EPS from continuing operations of $11.10 to $11.35 and repurchased $222.3 million of stock.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) declared a quarterly Cash Dividend of $1.62 per share, a Yield of 3.10%, payable November 2 to shareholders of record on October 9, 2026. The $1.62 amount equals 79.0% of first-quarter diluted EPS from continuing operations of $2.05. First-quarter sales were $3,200.3 million.

Dividend Program and Shareholder Returns

The first-quarter fiscal 2027 release states that the board declared the $1.62 quarterly cash dividend, payable November 2 to shareholders of record at the close of Business on October 9. The shares trade ex-dividend on October 9.

The fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter release declared the same $1.62 amount, payable August 3 to holders of record on July 10, and described it as an 8.0% increase from the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The board also authorized a new repurchase program of up to $1.5 billion. In the first quarter, the company repurchased about 1.1 million shares for $222.3 million, including the 1% excise tax, leaving $1.3 billion under the authorization. The $1.62 quarterly amount equals $6.48 on an annualized basis, a computed figure. Each dividend remains subject to board approval.

About the Company

Darden Restaurants, Inc. is a full-service restaurant company reporting Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fine Dining and Other Business segments. At August 30, 2026, company-owned continuing operations totaled 2,218 restaurants, compared with 2,165 at August 24, 2025, a net increase of 53. Fiscal 2026 diluted net Earnings Per Share from continuing operations were $10.44.

First-Quarter Sales, Earnings and Same-Restaurant Sales

For the quarter ended August 30, 2026, total sales were $3,200.3 million, compared with $3,044.7 million, an increase of 5.1%. Net earnings were $233.4 million, compared with $257.8 million, and earnings from continuing operations were $234.3 million, compared with $257.9 million.

Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.05, compared with $2.19 reported and $1.97 adjusted a year earlier. The company reported a 4.1% increase over the adjusted figure. Consolidated same-restaurant sales rose 3.1% on the fiscal calendar and 3.2% on a comparable calendar basis.

Segment Sales and Brand Performance

Olive Garden sales were $1,329.8 million, compared with $1,301.1 million, with same-restaurant sales up 1.1% on the fiscal calendar and 1.0% on a comparable calendar basis. LongHorn Steakhouse sales were $860.9 million, compared with $776.4 million, with same-restaurant sales up 6.2% and 6.8%.

Fine Dining sales were $304.2 million, compared with $286.5 million, with same-restaurant sales up 1.6% and 1.0%. Other Business sales were $705.4 million, compared with $680.7 million, with same-restaurant sales up 3.8% and 4.5%.

Fiscal 2027 Outlook and Bahama Breeze

The company reaffirmed all aspects of its fiscal 2027 financial outlook, culminating in diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations of $11.10 to $11.35. The release states that all Bahama Breeze locations are to be closed or converted to other brands by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027. The location count fell from 28 at August 24, 2025 to 10 at August 30, 2026, and Bahama Breeze is excluded from the same-restaurant sales metric.

Dividend and Segment Relationships

The $6.48 annualized dividend equals 57.1% to 58.4% of the $11.10 to $11.35 EPS range, a computed ratio based on the high and low ends. LongHorn sales rose 10.9%, Olive Garden 2.2%, Fine Dining 6.2% and Other Business 3.6%, all computed from the reported segment sales.

Net earnings fell 9.5% from $257.8 million to $233.4 million, a computed change. The $222.3 million of first-quarter repurchases compares with the $1.5 billion authorization, which was $1.3 billion unused at quarter end.

Outlook

Darden’s $1.62 quarterly dividend is payable November 2 to shareholders of record on October 9, 2026. The $11.10 to $11.35 fiscal 2027 EPS outlook, the Bahama Breeze closures and conversions, LongHorn same-restaurant sales of 6.2%, and the pace of share repurchases are the relevant considerations.