Darden Restaurants Stock Hits All-Time High on Strong Olive Garden Sales

Shares of Darden Restaurants (DRI) traded at an all-time high Friday as the restaurant chain operator beat earnings and revenue estimates and announced a new stock buyback as it got a boost from same-restaurant sales and growth in the number of locations.

The owner of chains including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House posted fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.98, with revenue up 11% year-over-year to $3.27 billion. Both narrowly exceeded Visible Alpha forecasts.

Same-store sales climbed 4.6%, led by a 6.9% rise at Olive Garden and 6.7% gain at LongHorn Steakhouse. All were above expecation.

Darden added 25 net new restaurants in the quarter, plus it gained 103 Chuy’s Tex Mex locations after its purchase of the chain last July.

Revenue from Olive Garden increased more than 8% to $1.38 billion. It was 9% higher to $833.8 million at LongHorn Steakhouse, and grew more than 2% to $334.6 million at what it calls “Fine Dining” chains, which includes Ruth’s Chris. Thanks to the Chuy’s contribution, “Other Business” revenue jumped 22% to $722.3 million. 

Along with the financial report, Darden said the board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $1.0 billion. 

Including a 2% rise to about $227 in recent trading Friday, Darden Restaurant shares have gained more than 20% so far this year. They hit a record $228.27 earlier in the session.