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Martin Melvin John, Group President of Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI), sold 12,212 shares of common stock on June 25, 2025, for a total of $2.67 million. The sales were executed in multiple transactions, with prices ranging from $217.7799 to $220.0594. The transaction comes as Darden, currently valued at $25.2 billion, shows strong momentum with a 47% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro, the company maintains a GOOD financial health score and has consistently paid dividends for 31 consecutive years.
On the same day, Martin exercised options to acquire 12,212 shares of Darden Restaurants common stock at a price of $78.84 per share, for a total value of $962794.
Following these transactions, Martin directly owns 12695.0950 shares of Darden Restaurants.
In other recent news, Darden Restaurants reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that slightly surpassed analyst expectations, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.98 and revenue reaching $3.272 billion. This performance exceeded the consensus estimates of $2.97 for earnings per share and $3.265 billion for revenue. Despite these positive results, Darden issued a conservative fiscal year 2026 outlook, projecting total sales growth of 7-8%, which is below the consensus estimate of 8.9%. Analysts at UBS, Truist Securities, and BTIG maintained their buy ratings on Darden, highlighting strong sales momentum and potential growth catalysts, including delivery services at Olive Garden.
Stephens raised its price target for Darden to $212, citing the company’s strategic shift toward improving portfolio quality by closing underperforming locations. Meanwhile, Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James increased its price target to $240, noting robust comparable sales growth at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. Analysts emphasized Darden’s focus on top-line growth and market share gains through investments in guest experience and marketing. The restaurant chain’s management appears committed to balancing current success with reinvestment in the business, according to BTIG.
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