Darden’s Strong Finish: LongHorn Outshines Olive Garden as Sales Jump 13.7%
Darden reported Q4 FY2026 sales up 13.7% to $3.72B, with LongHorn Steakhouse same-restaurant sales (+9.5%) far ahead of Olive Garden (+2.4%); it raised its dividend 8% and added a $1.5B buyback.
TL;DR — Darden Restaurants closed fiscal 2026 with Q4 sales up 13.7% to $3.72B and blended same-restaurant sales up 4.6% — led by LongHorn Steakhouse (+9.5%) far outpacing Olive Garden (+2.4%) — and raised its dividend 8% with a new $1.5B buyback.
America’s biggest full-service restaurant company just capped a strong year — and one brand did most of the heavy lifting. On June 25, 2026, Darden reported its fiscal Q4 and full-year results.
The numbers
Darden — parent of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and others — reported a strong close to fiscal 2026, and rewarded shareholders with a bigger dividend and a fresh buyback.
| Metric | Q4 FY2026 |
|---|---|
| Total sales | $3.72B, +13.7% YoY |
| Net earnings | $407.8M |
| Diluted EPS | $3.54 ($3.66 adjusted) |
| Blended same-restaurant sales | +4.6% |
| Dividend | raised 8% to $1.62/share |
| New buyback | $1.5B authorized |
The standout was the brand split — Darden’s steakhouse far outran its flagship Italian chain, and management guided fiscal 2027 EPS to $11.10–$11.35.
| Brand | Q4 FY2026 same-restaurant sales |
|---|---|
| LongHorn Steakhouse | +9.5% |
| Olive Garden | +2.4% |
What they said
"The fourth quarter was a strong finish to an excellent year, one in which we significantly outperformed the industry." — Rick Cardenas, President & CEO, Darden Restaurants
Why it matters
- Steak is winning. LongHorn’s outperformance points to resilient demand at the higher-check steakhouse even as casual-Italian growth cools.
- Capital returns signal confidence. An 8% dividend hike plus a $1.5B buyback says management likes its cash flow.
- A read on the consumer. As the largest full-service operator, Darden’s 4.6% blended comp is a useful gauge of U.S. dining health.
FAQ
How did Darden perform in Q4 fiscal 2026?
Total sales rose 13.7% to $3.72 billion, net earnings were $407.8 million, and diluted EPS was $3.54 ($3.66 adjusted). Blended same-restaurant sales rose 4.6%. Darden also raised its dividend 8% to $1.62 per share and authorized a new $1.5 billion share buyback.
Which Darden brand grew fastest?
LongHorn Steakhouse, with same-restaurant sales up 9.5% in the quarter — nearly four times Olive Garden’s 2.4% — reflecting strong demand at the steakhouse chain.
Sources
Image: “Olive Garden, Middletown, New York” by JJBers, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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