Every material Form 8-K Darden Restaurants filed with the SEC in 2024, read and summarized by AI: what happened, the key figures, whether it reads positive or negative for shareholders, and how big a deal it is (impact 1-5). Newest first; each brief links to its own page and to the filing on SEC.gov.
Darden reported fiscal 2025 second-quarter sales up 6.0% to $2.9 billion, with same-restaurant sales up 2.4% and reported diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.82, compared with $1.76 a year earlier. The company also declared a $1.40 quarterly dividend, repurchased $142 million of stock, and updated its fiscal 2025 outlook to adjusted diluted EPS of $9.40 to $9.60, now including Chuy's results.
Total sales rose 6.0% to $2.9 billion; same-restaurant sales rose 2.4%, with LongHorn Steakhouse up 7.5% and Fine Dining down 5.8%.
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.82 vs. $1.76 a year earlier; adjusted EPS was $2.03, up 10.3%, excluding $0.21 of Chuy's transaction and integration costs.
Fiscal 2025 outlook: adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $9.40 to $9.60; reported EPS of $9.07 to $9.27.
Quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share, payable February 3, 2025 to holders of record on January 10, 2025.
Darden Restaurants' board increased its size from nine to ten and elected Daryl A. Kenningham as a director effective December 9, 2024. He joins the Audit and Compensation Committees, and the board determined he is independent and an audit committee financial expert. The filing describes a routine board addition with no financial results or guidance included.
Daryl A. Kenningham elected a director effective December 9, 2024; board expanded from nine to 10 members
Kenningham is a former Darden COO and currently serves as President and CEO of Group 1 Automotive, a position he has held since January 2023
Annual non-employee director compensation includes a $100,000 cash retainer and an equity grant with a $185,000 fair market value, prorated for part-year service
Darden Restaurants reported fiscal 2025 first-quarter sales of $2.8 billion, up 1.0%, but adjusted diluted earnings per share fell 1.7% to $1.75, while same-restaurant sales declined 1.1%. The company reiterated its full-year fiscal 2025 outlook of $9.40 to $9.60 in diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding pending Chuy's acquisition costs, and declared a quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share.
Total sales rose 1.0% to $2.8 billion, helped by 42 net new restaurants; same-restaurant sales fell 1.1%.
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.74, versus $1.60 a year earlier; adjusted EPS was $1.75, down 1.7%.
The company repurchased $172 million of stock and had $743 million remaining under a $1 billion authorization.
Quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share is payable November 1, 2024, to holders of record on October 10, 2024.
Darden Restaurants signed a $600 million, two-year senior unsecured term loan on September 16, 2024, and amended its $1.25 billion revolving credit agreement. The company has not yet drawn on the term loan, and proceeds may fund its pending acquisition of Chuy's Holdings and related fees, which means shareholders may see added debt if the borrowing is made.
$600 million two-year term loan with Bank of America as administrative agent, dated September 16, 2024
Single borrowing allowed until February 17, 2025; no amount drawn as of the filing date
Proceeds may finance the anticipated acquisition of Chuy's Holdings and related fees and expenses
Revolving credit agreement amended to a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.50 to 1.00, replacing the prior debt-to-capitalization covenant
Darden Restaurants agreed on July 17, 2024 to acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy's Holdings for $37.50 per share in cash, a transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $605 million. The deal requires approval by a majority of Chuy's stockholders and the expiration of the HSR waiting period, and it is not subject to a financing condition. For Darden shareholders, the companies say the deal is expected to be neutral to fiscal 2025 diluted EPS excluding acquisition costs, and accretive by approximately 12 to 15 cents in fiscal 2027.
Price of $37.50 per share in cash, about $605 million enterprise value, a 40% premium to Chuy's 60-day volume weighted average price
Darden expects acquisition and integration-related expenses of approximately $50 to $55 million, pre-tax, and pre-tax net synergies of approximately $15 million by the end of fiscal 2026
Go-shop period ends 11:59 p.m. New York time on August 16, 2024; termination fee of $22,421,057 applies in certain circumstances; End Date is February 17, 2025
Chuy's had 101 restaurants in 15 states as of July 16, 2024, and total revenues over $450 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024
Darden reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2024 sales of $2,957.3 million, up 6.8%, with reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations flat at $2.58 and adjusted EPS of $2.65, up 2.7%. The company also gave a fiscal 2025 outlook of $9.40 to $9.60 diluted EPS from continuing operations and raised its quarterly dividend by 6.9%.
Q4 fiscal 2024 sales rose 6.8% to $2,957.3 million; consolidated same-restaurant sales were flat at 0.0%
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.58, unchanged from a year earlier; adjusted EPS was $2.65, up 2.7%, excluding $0.07 of Ruth's Chris transaction and integration costs
Fiscal 2025 outlook: total sales of $11.8 to $11.9 billion and diluted EPS from continuing operations of $9.40 to $9.60
Quarterly dividend raised 6.9% to $1.40 per share, payable August 1, 2024; bylaws amended June 18, 2024 to replace Chairman and Committee Chairman titles with Chair
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text (each brief's own page names the model) and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the model's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.
Only material 8-Ks get a brief: results, deals, executive changes, restructuring, impairments, delisting notices, restatements, cybersecurity incidents and other disclosed events. Routine filings (vote results, exhibits only) are skipped. Every Darden Restaurants filing is on SEC EDGAR ↗. 8-K briefs of other companies →