We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Darden Restaurants (DRI) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
Read MoreHide Full Article
For the quarter ended February 2026, Darden Restaurants (DRI - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.35 billion, up 5.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.95, compared to $2.80 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.33 billion, representing a surprise of +0.52%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.1%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.95.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Darden Restaurants performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Company-owned restaurants - Total: 2,196 versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 2,200.
Company-owned restaurants - LongHorn Steakhouse: 608 versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 608.
Same-restaurant sales - Olive Garden - YoY change: 3.2% compared to the 4% average estimate based on seven analysts.
Company-owned restaurants - Olive Garden: 944 versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 942.
Same-restaurant sales - Consolidated - YoY change: 4.2% versus 3.6% estimated by seven analysts on average.
Same-restaurant sales - LongHorn Steakhouse - YoY change: 7.2% versus 5.5% estimated by seven analysts on average.
Same-restaurant sales - Fine Dining - YoY change: 2.1% compared to the 0.4% average estimate based on six analysts.
Same-restaurant sales - Other Business - YoY change: 3.9% versus 2.6% estimated by six analysts on average.
Sales- LongHorn Steakhouse: $854.2 million compared to the $841.75 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.2% year over year.
Sales- Olive Garden: $1.39 billion versus $1.4 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4.7% change.
Sales- Other Business: $696.1 million compared to the $688.82 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +3.2% year over year.
Sales- Fine Dining: $402 million compared to the $391.97 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.3% year over year.
Shares of Darden Restaurants have returned -7.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Darden Restaurants (DRI) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
For the quarter ended February 2026, Darden Restaurants (DRI - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.35 billion, up 5.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.95, compared to $2.80 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.33 billion, representing a surprise of +0.52%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.1%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.95.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Darden Restaurants performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:View all Key Company Metrics for Darden Restaurants here>>>
Shares of Darden Restaurants have returned -7.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.