Reading DRI? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
Track DRI free→Reading DRI? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
Track DRI free→NYSEConsumer DiscretionaryRestaurantsSnapshot 2026-06-16
Recent financial performance is holding in the top half of its industry — the reason to own it looks intact.
Recent financial performance is strong, but earnings quality and management's track record are neutral. Risk is moderate, and the sector backdrop presents a headwind, although DRI is performing above typical compared to sector peers. Peer multiples imply a price roughly in line with where it trades (about fair); the read is fair. The outlook hinges on guidance changes, as a cut could negatively impact estimates, while a raise could provide a momentum boost. This read is provisional.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
A consensus fair price across 8 valuation methods, at three horizons. Current price $209.01. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
No-growth: today's peer multiple on trailing earnings. The headline read.
Embeds projected growth. Leans optimistic by design. Upside context.
We take the 12-month fair value above and grade our own number — how the market prices this name versus what we'd justify, and where the two diverge.
At $209 DRI trades at 21× p/e, in line with its 21× p/e peer median. Our $204 fair value reflects that, high confidence. Not investment advice.
One valuation read at a 12-month horizon, plus how price compares to peers and the company's own history.
The market is pricing in roughly 2% near-term growth, in line with our forecast of about 9%. This describes what's priced in, not a forecast of the move.
Only weak execution quality — not the full expensive x weak x turbulent stack.
For similar setups historically (n=20,154): about 33% saw a 20%+ drawdown, and roughly 76% of those did not recover within the year. These are historical base rates for the cohort, not a forecast of this stock.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 1 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated strong grew net income 70% of the time over the next year (vs 53% for the rest of the cohort, n=2844).
Over the trailing year it converted 1.57x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated neutral grew net income 52% of the time over the next year (vs 55% for the rest of the cohort, n=3229).
Most sensitive to the broad stock market.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, real (inflation-adjusted) rates, long-term interest rates, Fed net liquidity.
The next print and the backdrop around it (sector regime and the AI cycle). Context for the path, not a forecast of returns.
EPS estimate $2.12 → $2.12 (+0.2% / 30d). 2 raised, 1 cut, 22 covering analysts.
0 upgrades, 0 downgrades / 30d, 2 maintained. 62% of analysts rate Buy.
1 PT revisions / 30d. Avg target 11.9% above current price.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
What a normal day, a bad day, and the worst of the last year would mean for a $10,000 position.
On a typical day, $10k can swing ±$129.
How much price usually moves either way.
On a bad day, this stock has moved -$263.
A rough but not unusual down day (about the 95th percentile).
In the worst 12 months, $10k could have lost $2,390.
Deepest peak-to-trough drop in the last year.
Past results, not a forecast. Not investment advice.
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
Signal changed from 'mixed' to 'mild_favorable'.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-06-16
Specific, dated things to watch for, each with what would confirm it and what would prove it wrong.
Why it matters: Hitting this growth target shows strong performance. It also shows good market demand.
Confirms:Total sales growth reaches or exceeds 9.5% for FY 2026.
Disproves:Total sales growth falls below 8% for FY 2026.
Recent news graded against this company's own objectives — whether it reinforces or challenges the thesis, and how confirmed it is.
No graded news catalysts for DRI yet.
Conditional scenarios: if X happens, the view would shift in this direction. These are not predictions.
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On March 19, 2026, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the Company) issued a news release entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results; Declares Quarterly Dividend; And Updates Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook,” a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, the slide presentation accompanying the Company’s conference call will be posted on the Company’s website. As provided in General I…
Whether the overall read has been drifting up or down lately, and how it's changed since last week.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
Long-thesis check; widest uncertainty.
Roughly priced in line with peers.
Around its own typical valuation.
Trailing four: 2025-Q3, 2026-Q1, 2026-Q2, 2026-Q3
A side-by-side read on sector standing, valuation, and risk versus Restaurants.
| Stock | Sector standing | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
DRI Darden Restaurants | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 72 of 100 | full | moderate |
MCD McDonald's | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 89 of 100 | full | moderate |
SBUX Starbucks | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 42 of 100 | expensive | moderate |
YUM Yum! Brands | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 76 of 100 | full | moderate |
CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 58 of 100 | expensive | elevated |
11 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by capital-allocation actions. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated neutral grew net income 54% of the time over the next year (vs 57% for the rest of the cohort, n=646).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-16.
via XLY
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive. Historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only: describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-16.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Target a 9.5% increase in total sales for the fiscal year 2026.
Management aims to achieve adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $10.57 to $10.67 for fiscal year 2026.
Ensure capital expenditures remain within the $750 million to $775 million range for fiscal 2026.
Why it matters: More sales at the same restaurants mean strong customer demand. This shows good operations.
Confirms:Sales growth at the same restaurants is over 4.5% in the next earnings.
Disproves:Sales growth at the same restaurants is below 4% in the next earnings.
Why it matters: The acquisition will add to Darden's brands. This could help future growth.
Confirms:Completion of the acquisition by the end of Darden's fiscal second quarter.
Disproves:The acquisition may be delayed or not completed. This can happen because of rules or shareholder problems.
Why it matters: Maintaining CAPEX within this range shows Darden is investing wisely in growth. It impacts future revenue potential.
Confirms one read:CAPEX reported within the range of $750M to $775M.
Confirms the other:CAPEX reported outside the range of $750M to $775M.
Why it matters: An increase in EPS guidance would signal strong financial health and growth potential.
Confirms:Darden raises EPS guidance to $10.67 or higher for FY 2026.
Disproves:Darden lowers EPS guidance below $10.57 for FY 2026.
Why it matters: This report will show how consumers are spending. It can impact Darden's sales and growth outlook.
Confirms one read:Retail sales growth reported above 3% year over year.
Confirms the other:Retail sales growth reported below 1% year over year.
Why it matters: Retail sales data can show how much consumers are spending. This affects Darden's sales.
Confirms one read:Retail sales report shows growth above 0.5% month over month.
Confirms the other:Retail sales report shows a decline or growth below 0.5% month over month.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On December 18, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the Company) issued a news release entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results; Declares Quarterly Dividend; And Updates Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook,” a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, the slide presentation accompanying the Company’s conference call will be posted on the Company’s website. As provided in Gener…
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On September 18, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the Company) issued a news release entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Results; Declares Quarterly Dividend; And Updates Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook,” a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, the slide presentation accompanying the Company’s conference call will be posted on the Company’s website. As provided in Gener…
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. Approval of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award On September 17, 2025, the independent directors of the Board of Directors of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a new special equity grant for Ricardo Cardenas, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, under the Company’s Amended & Restated 2015 Omnibus Incentive…
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On June 20, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the Company) issued a news release entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend; Authorizes New $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program; And Provides Fiscal 2026 Outlook,” a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, the slide presentation accompanying the Company’s conference call will be…