Darden Restaurants, Inc. reported a 6% increase in total sales for fiscal year 2025, reaching $12.08 billion, up from $11.39 billion in fiscal 2024. This growth was driven by a blended same-restaurant sales increase of 2% and the addition of 103 net company-owned Chuy’s restaurants, along with 25 other new locations. Net earnings from continuing operations rose to $1.05 billion, or $8.88 per diluted share, reflecting a 2% increase in net earnings compared to $1.03 billion, or $8.53 per diluted share, in the previous fiscal year.
The company experienced several strategic developments during the fiscal year, including the acquisition of Chuy’s Holdings for $649.1 million, which was financed through the issuance of senior notes. Additionally, Darden entered into an agreement to sell its eight Olive Garden restaurants in Canada to Recipe Unlimited, marking a shift in its operational strategy. The company is also exploring strategic alternatives for the Bahama Breeze brand, which includes 28 locations, indicating a potential restructuring of its brand portfolio.
Operationally, Darden managed a total of 2,159 restaurants as of May 25, 2025, an increase from 2,031 the previous year. The company reported a consolidated employee headcount of approximately 197,924, with 58% of hourly team members being female and 57% from racial or ethnic minority groups. The average check per person at Olive Garden was approximately $24, while LongHorn Steakhouse reported an average check of $28. The company noted a decrease in same-restaurant guest counts, which fell by 2.3% at Olive Garden, despite a 4.1% increase in average check.
Looking ahead, Darden anticipates sales from continuing operations to increase by 7% to 8% in fiscal 2026, driven by same-restaurant sales growth of 2% to 3.5% and the opening of 60 to 65 new restaurants. The company expects its annual effective tax rate to be around 13% and plans to invest between $700 million and $750 million in capital expenditures for new restaurant construction, remodeling, and technology initiatives. Darden's management remains focused on leveraging its scale and operational excellence to enhance guest experiences and drive profitability.
About DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
About 10-K Filings
A 10-K form is a comprehensive annual report that public companies in the United States must file with the SEC, providing a detailed overview of the company's financial condition, performance, and business strategies.
Key points about the 10-K:
- Frequency: Filed annually, typically within 60 to 90 days after the end of the company's fiscal year.
-
Content: It includes:
- Detailed financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm
- Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) of financial condition and results
- Description of the company's business, properties, and legal proceedings
- Risk factors and market risks
- Executive compensation and corporate governance information
- Importance: Considered the most comprehensive and important document a public company files with the SEC.
- Length: Often exceeds 100 pages due to its extensive and detailed nature.
Our Methodology
AssetRoom is committed to providing timely summaries of news from public companies. We use AI to generate these summaries quickly, but they are not reviewed by human experts.
Our method:
- Data Collection: We continuously monitor for new filings (currently limited to US-listed stocks).
- AI-Powered Analysis: Our advanced AI system processes each filing, identifying key information and extracting relevant data.
- Summary Generation: The AI creates a concise, easy-to-understand summary of the filing, highlighting the most important points.
- Publication: The summary is immediately published on our platform, allowing users instant access to the latest information.
- Email users: We distribute round-up emails according to our users preferences, keeping them in the loop with the companies they follow.
Feedback & Corrections
Spot an error or have a suggestion? Contact us.