---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000940944-26-000005"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DRI"
cik: "0000940944"
company_name: "DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC"
filed_at: "2026-03-19T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T09:48:15.270189+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Darden Q3 sales up 5.9% to $3.3B; adjusted EPS $2.95, up 5.4%; raises FY outlook

## Summary
- Total sales $3.3B (+5.9% YoY); blended same-restaurant sales +4.2%.
- Adjusted diluted EPS $2.95 (+5.4% YoY); reported EPS $2.68.
- Olive Garden same-restaurant sales +3.2%; LongHorn +7.2%; Fine Dining +2.1%.
- Board declares $1.50 quarterly dividend payable May 1, 2026; repurchased $127M in shares.
- FY2026 adj. EPS guidance $10.57-$10.67; sales growth ~9.5% inclusive of 53rd week.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000940944-26-000005
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DRI
- cik: 0000940944
- company_name: DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
- filed_at: 2026-03-19T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094426000005/0000940944-26-000005-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094426000005/dri-20260319.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-26-000005
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-26-000005.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000940944-26-000005.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC updated its third quarter ended February 22, 2026 guidance (reaffirmed).
  - Period: third quarter ended February 22, 2026
  - Guidance: reaffirmed
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results; Declares Quarterly Dividend; And Updates Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094426000005/0000940944-26-000005-index.htm

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