Darden Restaurants reports $3.2 billion first-quarter sales as revenue rises

• Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 sales of $3.2 billion, up 5.1% year over year.
• Same-restaurant sales increased 3.1% on a fiscal-calendar basis, supported by continued performance across its restaurant brands.
• Darden reaffirmed fiscal 2027 diluted EPS guidance of $11.10 to $11.35 and declared a $1.62 quarterly dividend.

Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 sales of $3.2 billion for the period ended August 30, 2026, representing a 5.1% increase compared with the prior-year quarter.

The restaurant operator reported same-restaurant sales growth of 3.1% on a fiscal-calendar basis and 3.2% on a comparable-calendar basis.

Reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.05, compared with $2.19 in the prior-year period.

The latest quarter’s earnings were 4.1% higher than the previous year’s adjusted EPS of $1.97.

Operating cash flow from continuing operations totaled $279 million, compared with $342.5 million in the prior-year quarter.

During the quarter, Darden repurchased $222.3 million of its common stock as part of its capital return program.

The company’s board of directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share.

The dividend is payable on November 2, 2026, to shareholders of record as of October 9, 2026.

Looking ahead, Darden reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 diluted earnings-per-share outlook from continuing operations of $11.10 to $11.35.