Darden Restaurants Q3 EPS Matches at $2.95, Revenue Misses by $30 Million
Darden Restaurants posted adjusted Q3 EPS of $2.95, matching estimates, while revenue of $3.30 billion fell short of the $3.33 billion consensus despite 5.9% year-over-year growth. LongHorn same-restaurant sales rose 7.2%, and the company projects fiscal-2026 EPS of $10.57–$10.67 with about 70 new restaurant openings.
1. Q3 Earnings and Revenue
Darden Restaurants posted adjusted EPS of $2.95 for the quarter ended February 22, matching analyst expectations, while revenue of $3.30 billion trailed the $3.33 billion consensus despite a 5.9% year-over-year increase.
2. Segment Performance
Same-restaurant sales grew 4.2% overall with LongHorn Steakhouse leading at 7.2%, followed by Olive Garden at 3.2%, Fine Dining at 2.1% and the Other Business segment at 3.9%. The company added 31 net new restaurants during the quarter.
3. Fiscal 2026 Outlook
The company forecast full-year EPS of $10.57 to $10.67 per share, including about $0.25 of benefit from a 53rd week. It anticipates total sales growth of roughly 9.5%, same-restaurant sales rising about 4.5%, 70 new openings and capital expenditures of $750 million to $775 million.