Today, Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, reported strong results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending May 25, 2025, fueled by increased consumer demand for casual dining.
The company’s total sales in the fourth quarter increased by 10.6%, reaching $3.3 billion, while its full-year total sales grew by 6.0% to $12.1 billion.
Darden President & CEO Rick Cardenas told investors, “We had a strong quarter with same-restaurant sales and earnings growth that exceeded our expectations. Our adherence to our winning strategy, anchored in our four competitive advantages and being brilliant with the basics, led to a successful year. Our strategy remains the right one for the company, and we will continue to execute it to drive growth and long-term shareholder value.”
CFO Raj Vennam stated, “Our long-term framework calls for 10-15% Total Shareholder Return over time. Over our 30-year history as a public company, Darden has achieved an annualized total shareholder return of 10% or greater over any 10 fiscal-year period. This level of performance reflects the strength of our operating model and the durability of the cash flows it generates.”
Moving forward, Darden expects its annual same-store sales to grow in the range of 2% to 3.5% in 2026.
Shares of the company increased by 3% in premarket trading following the announcement.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
