---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000940944-21-000053"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DRI"
cik: "0000940944"
company_name: "DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC"
filed_at: "2021-09-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T01:56:21.785370+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Darden Q1 sales $2.31B (+51%), EPS $1.76, raises FY2022 outlook, adds $750M buyback

## Summary
- Reported diluted EPS from continuing ops of $1.76 vs $0.28 last year; sales rose 51% to $2.31B.
- Blended same-restaurant sales increased 47.5%; Olive Garden +37.1%, LongHorn +47.0%, Fine Dining +84.6%.
- Quarterly dividend declared of $1.10 per share, payable Nov 1 to holders of record Oct 8.
- Board authorized additional $750M share repurchase, bringing total remaining authorization to ~$1B; Q1 buyback of $186M.
- FY2022 outlook raised: total sales $9.4-9.6B; diluted EPS $7.25-$7.60; EBITDA $1.54-1.60B.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000940944-21-000053
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DRI
- cik: 0000940944
- company_name: DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
- filed_at: 2021-09-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094421000053/0000940944-21-000053-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094421000053/dri-20210923.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-21-000053
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-21-000053.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-21-000053.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.