DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
DRI · Retail-Eating Places · 114.5M shares · -1%/yr ↓ buyback · EDGAR filings ↗
Net buyback after stock comp: $391M (gross $459M, SBC $68M)
Reference price $202.16 · est. market cap ~$23.2B — last insider sale, 2026-04-17 (estimated from the dated SEC Form 4 price × shares outstanding — not a live quote)
Grade
B78Category-leading full-service restaurant operator with strong returns and margins but leverage-heavy balance sheet and modest growth.
Strengths
- High ROE (45.4%, 82.9th pct) and ROA (78.9th pct) with net margin in the 85th pct
- Scale leadership across Olive Garden/LongHorn and disciplined multi-brand portfolio management
- Healthy operating margin (77.1st pct) and consistent cash generation
Risks
- Elevated debt-to-equity (0.92, 84th pct) and thin liquidity (current 0.42, quick 0.28)
- Modest revenue (45th pct) and net income (33rd pct) growth; discretionary-spend and commodity/labor inflation exposure
- Restaurant moats are narrower than scaled industrials — competition and consumer-spending sensitivity
Notable findings
- Weak liquidityCurrent ratio 0.42 (<1)
- Strong balance sheetStrong balance sheet — $240M cash & investments
- Insider sellingInsider selling — 14 open-market sale(s) by 10 insider(s) (cluster of 10 insiders, ~$9M, last 6mo) Form 4 ↗
Quarterly revenue
Last 4 quarters · from SEC filings.
Key metrics
Gross margin
20.5%
Operating margin
11.3%
Net margin
8.7%
Return on equity
45.4%
Return on assets
8.3%
ROIC
24.2%
Revenue growth (QoQ)
7.8%
Net-income growth
2.1%
Debt / equity
0.9×
Net debt / EBITDA
1.0×
Current ratio
0.4×
EBITDA
$1.9B
Tangible book value
$638M
Cash & investments
$240M
Stock comp / revenue
0.7%
Insider transactions · last 18 months
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 159 | — |
| 2026-04-17 | Milanes Douglas J. | Sell | 3.6K | $202.16 |
| 2026-04-07 | Koren Lindsay L. | Sell | 300 | $194.32 |
| 2026-04-06 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 5.1K | $196.04 |
| 2026-04-06 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 5.1K | $124.24 |
| 2026-03-23 | Simon William S | Sell | 2.3K | $200.64 |
| 2026-03-23 | Simon William S | Sell | 2.3K | $203.96 |
| 2026-02-22 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 149 | — |
| 2026-01-23 | SONSTEBY CHARLES M | Sell | 3.1K | $205.32 |
| 2026-01-22 | King Sarah H. | Sell | 200 | $207.28 |
| 2026-01-22 | King Sarah H. | Sell | 4.4K | $206.62 |
| 2026-01-16 | Wilkerson John W. | Gift | 670 | — |
| 2026-01-16 | Wilkerson John W. | Sell | 2.3K | $213.00 |
| 2026-01-15 | Vennam Rajesh | Sell | 3.2K | $214.12 |
| 2026-01-15 | Vennam Rajesh | Option exercise | 3.2K | $124.24 |
| 2026-01-15 | Vennam Rajesh | Sell | 3.6K | $214.12 |
| 2026-01-14 | Connelly Susan M. | Sell | 2.6K | $207.36 |
| 2026-01-13 | Burrowes Todd | Gift | 2.2K | — |
| 2026-01-13 | Burrowes Todd | Sell | 7.1K | $207.12 |
| 2026-01-06 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 1.2K | $197.47 |
| 2025-12-30 | Madonna John W. | Gift | 486 | — |
| 2025-12-29 | Vennam Rajesh | Gift | 500 | — |
| 2025-12-22 | Cardenas Ricardo | Gift | 2.4K | — |
| 2025-11-23 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 186 | — |
| 2025-11-11 | SONSTEBY CHARLES M | Option exercise | 531 | — |
| 2025-10-29 | Connelly Susan M. | Gift | 600 | — |
| 2025-10-14 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 1.7K | $184.58 |
| 2025-10-06 | Broad Matthew R | Sell | 5.7K | $193.40 |
| 2025-10-06 | Broad Matthew R | Gift | 515 | — |
| 2025-09-17 | FOGARTY JAMES P | Option exercise | 1.2K | — |
| 2025-09-17 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 823 | — |
| 2025-09-17 | Simon William S | Option exercise | 1.2K | — |
| 2025-09-17 | CHUGG JULIANA L | Option exercise | 1.2K | — |
| 2025-09-17 | ATKINS M SHAN | Option exercise | 1.2K | — |
| 2025-08-24 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 155 | — |
| 2025-07-30 | Williamson Laura B | Sell | 523 | $204.65 |
| 2025-07-30 | Williamson Laura B | Sell | 1.2K | $204.70 |
| 2025-07-29 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Sell | 85 | $203.91 |
| 2025-07-28 | Cardenas Ricardo | Tax withheld | 2.0K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Cardenas Ricardo | Option exercise | 5.0K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Milanes Douglas J. | Option exercise | 1.5K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Milanes Douglas J. | Tax withheld | 580 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 454 | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 179 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Broad Matthew R | Tax withheld | 892 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 2.3K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Burrowes Todd | Tax withheld | 1.1K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Burrowes Todd | Option exercise | 2.7K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 181 | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 45 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 2.7K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Martin Melvin John | Tax withheld | 850 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 85 | — |
| 2025-07-28 | King Sarah H. | Option exercise | 1.8K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Madonna John W. | Option exercise | 793 | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Madonna John W. | Tax withheld | 194 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 2.9K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Connelly Susan M. | Tax withheld | 446 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 1.1K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Wilkerson John W. | Tax withheld | 624 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | King Sarah H. | Tax withheld | 713 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-28 | Wilkerson John W. | Option exercise | 1.6K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Vennam Rajesh | Option exercise | 2.7K | — |
| 2025-07-28 | Vennam Rajesh | Tax withheld | 1.1K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 171 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Wilkerson John W. | Option exercise | 3.2K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Wilkerson John W. | Option exercise | 1.6K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Wilkerson John W. | Tax withheld | 633 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Wilkerson John W. | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Milanes Douglas J. | Option exercise | 3.0K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Milanes Douglas J. | Option exercise | 1.5K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Milanes Douglas J. | Tax withheld | 591 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Milanes Douglas J. | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 6.0K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 3.0K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Martin Melvin John | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Martin Melvin John | Tax withheld | 2.4K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Madonna John W. | Option exercise | 1.5K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Madonna John W. | Option exercise | 750 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Madonna John W. | Tax withheld | 183 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Madonna John W. | Tax withheld | 366 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | King Sarah H. | Option exercise | 3.9K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | King Sarah H. | Option exercise | 1.9K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | King Sarah H. | Tax withheld | 759 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | King Sarah H. | Tax withheld | 1.5K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 2.1K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 1.1K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Connelly Susan M. | Tax withheld | 422 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Connelly Susan M. | Tax withheld | 843 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 6.4K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 3.2K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 1.3K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 2.5K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 214 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 107 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 27 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 52 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Burrowes Todd | Option exercise | 6.0K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Burrowes Todd | Option exercise | 3.0K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Burrowes Todd | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Burrowes Todd | Tax withheld | 2.4K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Cardenas Ricardo | Option exercise | 21K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Cardenas Ricardo | Option exercise | 11K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Cardenas Ricardo | Tax withheld | 4.2K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Cardenas Ricardo | Tax withheld | 8.4K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Vennam Rajesh | Option exercise | 7.3K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Vennam Rajesh | Option exercise | 3.6K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Vennam Rajesh | Tax withheld | 1.4K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Vennam Rajesh | Tax withheld | 2.7K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 856 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 429 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 169 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 234 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 342 | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 42 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Williamson Laura B | Tax withheld | 84 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 4.7K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 2.4K | — |
| 2025-07-27 | Broad Matthew R | Tax withheld | 928 | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-27 | Broad Matthew R | Tax withheld | 1.9K | $204.48 |
| 2025-07-21 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 333 | — |
| 2025-07-21 | Williamson Laura B | Sell | 333 | $206.81 |
| 2025-07-01 | ATKINS M SHAN | Sell | 1.0K | $220.33 |
| 2025-07-01 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 733 | $124.24 |
| 2025-07-01 | Broad Matthew R | Sell | 733 | $218.50 |
| 2025-06-30 | Burrowes Todd | Option exercise | 14K | $78.84 |
| 2025-06-30 | Burrowes Todd | Sell | 14K | $216.45 |
| 2025-06-30 | Broad Matthew R | Sell | 6.9K | $218.00 |
| 2025-06-30 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 6.9K | $124.24 |
| 2025-06-25 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 4.5K | $217.78 |
| 2025-06-25 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 12K | $78.84 |
| 2025-06-25 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 3.2K | $220.06 |
| 2025-06-25 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 4.5K | $218.70 |
| 2025-06-24 | Milanes Douglas J. | Option exercise | 8.1K | $78.84 |
| 2025-06-24 | Milanes Douglas J. | Sell | 3.8K | $222.08 |
| 2025-06-24 | Milanes Douglas J. | Sell | 8.1K | $222.08 |
| 2025-06-24 | Vennam Rajesh | Sell | 5.8K | $222.22 |
| 2025-06-24 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 4.7K | $107.05 |
| 2025-06-24 | Connelly Susan M. | Sell | 4.7K | $223.78 |
| 2025-05-25 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 159 | — |
| 2025-03-28 | SONSTEBY CHARLES M | Sell | 8.0K | $204.56 |
| 2025-03-26 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 2.3K | $107.05 |
| 2025-03-26 | Williamson Laura B | Sell | 2.3K | $207.26 |
| 2025-03-26 | Williamson Laura B | Option exercise | 1.3K | $107.05 |
| 2025-03-26 | Williamson Laura B | Sell | 1.3K | $207.45 |
| 2025-03-25 | King Sarah H. | Sell | 6.3K | $207.09 |
| 2025-03-25 | Martin Melvin John | Option exercise | 5.1K | $124.24 |
| 2025-03-25 | Martin Melvin John | Sell | 5.1K | $208.69 |
| 2025-03-25 | King Sarah H. | Option exercise | 8.7K | $107.05 |
| 2025-03-25 | King Sarah H. | Sell | 2.4K | $207.75 |
| 2025-03-25 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 11K | $107.05 |
| 2025-03-25 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Option exercise | 6.0K | $78.84 |
| 2025-03-25 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Sell | 4.5K | $207.04 |
| 2025-03-25 | Kiernan Daniel J. | Sell | 12K | $206.32 |
| 2025-03-24 | Madonna John W. | Sell | 1.8K | $207.88 |
| 2025-03-24 | Cardenas Ricardo | Option exercise | 21K | $107.05 |
| 2025-03-24 | Cardenas Ricardo | Sell | 1.8K | $209.39 |
| 2025-03-24 | Cardenas Ricardo | Sell | 3.2K | $209.79 |
| 2025-03-24 | Cardenas Ricardo | Sell | 3.8K | $206.85 |
| 2025-03-24 | Cardenas Ricardo | Sell | 12K | $207.99 |
| 2025-02-23 | Kenningham Daryl | Option exercise | 143 | — |
| 2025-01-30 | Milanes Douglas J. | Option exercise | 7.9K | $107.05 |
| 2025-01-30 | Milanes Douglas J. | Sell | 7.9K | $195.95 |
| 2025-01-28 | MENSAH NANA | Option exercise | 2.8K | — |
| 2025-01-28 | MENSAH NANA | Option exercise | 1.6K | — |
| 2025-01-28 | MENSAH NANA | Option exercise | 1.4K | — |
| 2025-01-21 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 10K | $107.05 |
| 2025-01-21 | Broad Matthew R | Option exercise | 2.5K | $124.24 |
| 2025-01-21 | Broad Matthew R | Sell | 13K | $187.37 |
| 2025-01-15 | ATKINS M SHAN | Sell | 1.1K | $181.11 |
| 2025-01-14 | Burrowes Todd | Option exercise | 16K | $107.05 |
| 2025-01-14 | Burrowes Todd | Sell | 1.4K | $183.89 |
| 2025-01-14 | Burrowes Todd | Gift | 2.5K | — |
| 2025-01-14 | Burrowes Todd | Sell | 14K | $182.95 |
| 2025-01-06 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 5.4K | $78.84 |
| 2025-01-06 | Connelly Susan M. | Option exercise | 3.8K | $85.83 |
| 2025-01-06 | Connelly Susan M. | Sell | 9.3K | $184.68 |
| 2025-01-05 | SONSTEBY CHARLES M | Option exercise | 1.8K | — |
| 2025-01-05 | SONSTEBY CHARLES M | Option exercise | 1.6K | — |
All non-derivative Form 4 activity (SEC), newest first.
Supply chain
Customers (1)
- Recipe Unlimited
Suppliers (1)
Named in the 10-K; linked when we track them.
Notable events (8-K)
| Date | Items | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | Results5.03Exhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-03-19 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-12-18 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-09-19 | Exec/director changeShareholder voteExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-09-18 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-06-20 | ResultsExec/director changeExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-03-20 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-01-28 | Exec/director change | filing ↗ |
Recent filings
| Form | Filed | Period | Accession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-K | 2026-06-25 | 2026-06-24 | 0000940944-26-000016 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2026-03-27 | 2026-02-22 | 0000940944-26-000009 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-03-19 | 2026-03-19 | 0000940944-26-000005 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-12-30 | 2025-11-23 | 0000940944-25-000071 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-12-18 | 2025-12-18 | 0000940944-25-000067 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-09-26 | 2025-08-24 | 0000940944-25-000054 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-09-19 | 2025-09-17 | 0000940944-25-000048 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-09-18 | 2025-09-18 | 0000940944-25-000045 ↗ |
| 10-K | 2025-07-18 | 2025-05-25 | 0000940944-25-000038 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-06-20 | 2025-06-13 | 0000940944-25-000028 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-04-01 | 2025-02-23 | 0000940944-25-000018 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-03-20 | 2025-03-20 | 0000940944-25-000011 ↗ |