Darden Restaurants Q3 sales slightly beat expectations, helped by new restaurant openings

Darden Restaurants

19/03/2026 11:08

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    Overview
  
    * U.S. restaurant operator's fiscal Q3 sales rose 5.9%, slightly beating analyst expectations
    * Adjusted EPS from continuing operations for fiscal Q3 rose 5.4%, beating analyst expectations
    * Company repurchased $127 mln of its shares during the quarter

    
    Outlook
  
    * Darden sees fiscal 2026 total sales growth of about 9.5%, including 2% from 53rd week
    * Company expects fiscal 2026 same-restaurant sales growth of about 4.5%
    * Darden forecasts fiscal 2026 adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $10.57 to $10.67

    
    Result Drivers
  
    * SAME-RESTAURANT SALES GROWTH - Co said blended same-restaurant sales rose 4.2%, with LongHorn Steakhouse up 7.2% and Olive Garden up 3.2%
    * NEW RESTAURANT OPENINGS - Sales growth also driven by 31 net new restaurants added over the past year

    
Company press release:  ID:nPnbtN06Xa 
    
    Key Details
  
                               
                               
 Metric    Beat/Mis  Actual    Consensu
           s                   s
                               Estimate
                               
                               
 Q3 Sales  Slight    $3.35     $3.33
           Beat*     bln       bln (26
                               Analysts
                               )
 Q3 Net              $306.80    
 Income              mln       
 Q3        Beat      $2.95     $2.94
 Adjusted                      (28
 EPS                           Analysts
 continui                      )
 ng                            
 operatio                      
 ns                            
 Q3 EPS              $2.68      
 continui                      
 ng                            
 operatio                      
 ns                            
 Q3                  4.20%      
 Same-res                      
 taurant                       
 sales                         
 growth                        
    *Applies to a deviation of less than 1%; not applicable for per-share numbers.
    
For questions concerning the data in this report, contact Estimates.Support@lseg.com. For any other questions or feedback, contact .

(This story was created using Reuters automation and AI based on LSEG and company data. It was checked and edited by a Reuters journalist prior to publication.)