Darden Q3 sales rise 5.9% to $3.3 billion; adjusted EPS up 5.4% to $2.95
Darden reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 sales of $3.3 billion, up 5.9%, with same-restaurant sales up 4.2%. Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations fell to $2.68 from $2.74, while adjusted EPS rose 5.4% to $2.95 after excluding impairment and strategic review costs. The company also updated its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $10.57 to $10.67 and declared a $1.50 quarterly dividend.
Key points
- Q3 total sales rose 5.9% to $3.3 billion; same-restaurant sales rose 4.2%, with LongHorn Steakhouse up 7.2% and Olive Garden up 3.2%.
- Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.68, down from $2.74; adjusted EPS was $2.95, up 5.4%, excluding $0.16 of restaurant closure impairment.
- Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS outlook is $10.57 to $10.67, including about $0.25 from a 53rd week.
- Darden repurchased $127 million of stock in the quarter, with $516 million left under a $1 billion authorization; quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share is payable May 1, 2026.
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 8, 2026, 1:10 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on March 19, 2026.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.