Core Insights - Darden Restaurants, Inc. plans to release its fiscal 2026 second quarter financial results on December 18, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call will follow at 8:30 am ET, where CEO Rick Cardenas and senior management will discuss the results and answer questions [1] Company Overview - Darden Restaurants operates a diverse portfolio of restaurant brands, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth's Chris Steak House, among others [1]

Core Insights - Darden Restaurants, Inc. reported strong financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with total sales increasing by 10.4% to $3.0 billion, driven by a same-restaurant sales increase of 4.7% and contributions from acquisitions [2][6][7]. Financial Performance - Consolidated sales for Q1 2026 were $3,044.7 million, compared to $2,757.0 million in Q1 2025, reflecting a growth of 10.4% [4]. - Same-restaurant sales growth was reported at 4.7%, with Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse showing increases of 5.9% and 5.5%, respectively [2][4]. - Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations increased by 12.6% to $1.97, up from $1.75 in the prior year [7][19]. Segment Performance - Olive Garden generated sales of $1,301.1 million in Q1 2026, with a segment profit of $267.6 million, compared to $1,209.1 million and $250.1 million in Q1 2025 [4]. - LongHorn Steakhouse reported sales of $776.4 million and a segment profit of $134.9 million, up from $713.5 million and $128.4 million, respectively [4]. - The Fine Dining segment experienced a slight decline in profit, with a segment profit of $38.7 million compared to $38.9 million in the previous year [4]. Shareholder Returns - The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable on November 3, 2025 [5]. - During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 0.9 million shares for a total of $183 million, with $865 million remaining under the current $1 billion repurchase authorization [8][7]. Future Outlook - The company updated its full-year financial outlook for fiscal 2026, projecting total sales growth of 7.5% to 8.5%, including approximately 2% growth related to the addition of a 53rd week [14]. - Same-restaurant sales growth is expected to be between 2.5% to 3.5%, with plans to open approximately 65 new restaurants [14].

Group 1 - Darden Restaurants, Inc. plans to release its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter financial results on June 20, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call will follow at 8:30 am ET, where CEO Rick Cardenas and senior management will discuss the results and conduct a Q&A session [1] - A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the live broadcast for those unable to listen [1] Group 2 - Darden operates a diverse portfolio of restaurant brands, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth's Chris Steak House, among others [2] - The company emphasizes its differentiated brands as a key aspect of its business strategy [2]

Core Insights - Darden Restaurants reported weaker-than-expected sales, with Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse underperforming analysts' projections [1] - The company's shares fell nearly 1% in premarket trading following the earnings report [1] Financial Performance - Darden's fiscal third-quarter net income was $323.4 million, or $2.74 per share, an increase from $312.9 million, or $2.60 per share, a year earlier [1] - Excluding acquisition-related costs for Chuy's, Darden earned $2.80 per share [2] - Net sales increased by 6.2% to $3.16 billion, primarily driven by the addition of Chuy's restaurants [2] Analyst Expectations - Adjusted earnings per share were reported at $2.80, slightly above the expected $2.79 [3] - Revenue of $3.16 billion fell short of the expected $3.21 billion [3]