Core Insights - Olive Garden's sales indicate a growing consumer demand for value and pasta offerings [1][6] - Darden Restaurants reported a significant increase in quarterly sales, driven by the popularity of its $13.99 "never ending pasta bowl" special [1][6] Sales Performance - Darden posted $3.1 billion in sales for its fiscal second quarter, slightly exceeding analyst expectations [4] - Adjusted earnings per share were $2.08, just 1 cent below estimates, with same restaurant sales increasing by 4.3% across Darden's portfolio [4] - Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse reported same restaurant sales gains of 4.7% and 5.9%, respectively, both surpassing forecasts [4] Consumer Trends - There is a notable trend of middle to higher-income customers seeking better deals at restaurants, as indicated by Olive Garden's increasing customer base [2][3] - The restaurant industry is witnessing signs of consumer strain, with a focus on value offerings becoming more prominent [3] Future Outlook - Darden plans to continue emphasizing value, including the introduction of lower-priced, smaller portion options at Olive Garden [5] - The company raised its full-year revenue outlook for the third consecutive quarter, now expecting sales growth of 8.5% to 9.3% [5] - Darden maintained its adjusted EPS forecast at $10.50 to $10.70 despite warnings that higher prices could impact profits [5]

Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) Q2 2026 Earnings Call December 18, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsJeff Farmer - Managing DirectorPeter Saleh - Managing DirectorGregory Francfort - Managing DirectorChris O'Cull - Managing DirectorAndrew Charles - Managing DirectorJohn Ivankoe - Managing DirectorRick Cardenas - CEOJim Sanderson - Managing DirectorRaj Vennam - CFODennis Geiger - Executive DirectorBrian Vaccaro - Managing DirectorJacob Aiken-Phillips - VP Equity ResearchAndy Barish - Managing DirectorCourtn ...

Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) Q2 2026 Earnings Call December 18, 2025 08:30 AM ET Speaker6Greetings and welcome to the Darden Restaurants Q2 FY26 earnings conference call and webcast. At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. You may be placed into the question queue at any time by pressing star 1 on your telephone keypad, and we ask that you please ask one question, one follow-up, and return to the queue. If anyone should requ ...