Darden Restaurants (DRI) Reports Q2 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

For the quarter ended November 2024, Darden Restaurants (DRI) reported revenue of $2.89 billion, up 6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.03, compared to $1.84 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.88 billion, representing a surprise of +0.48%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -0.98%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.05.While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.Here is how Darden Restaurants performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Same-restaurant sales - LongHorn Steakhouse - YoY change: 7.5% versus 4.3% estimated by 10 analysts on average. Same-restaurant sales - Olive Garden - YoY change: 2% versus the 10-analyst average estimate of 1.6%. Company-owned restaurants - Total: 2,152 compared to the 2,099 average estimate based on 10 analysts. Company-owned restaurants - Olive Garden: 925 versus the nine-analyst average estimate of 926. Same-restaurant sales - Consolidated - YoY change: 2.4% compared to the 1.7% average estimate based on nine analysts. Company-owned restaurants - LongHorn Steakhouse: 580 versus the nine-analyst average estimate of 580. Same-restaurant sales - Other Business - YoY change: 0.7% compared to the 0.7% average estimate based on eight analysts. Same-restaurant sales - Fine Dining - YoY change: -5.8% versus the eight-analyst average estimate of -1.7%. Company-owned restaurants - Bahama Breeze: 43 versus 44 estimated by seven analysts on average. Company-owned restaurants - Seasons 52: 45 versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 44. Sales- Other Business: $581.40 million compared to the $456.53 million average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12.9% year over year. Sales- Fine Dining: $306 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $336.19 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3.8%. View all Key Company Metrics for Darden Restaurants here>>>Shares of Darden Restaurants have returned -1.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.Zacks Naming Top 10 Stocks for 2025Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2025?History suggests their performance could be sensational.From 2012 (when our Director of Research Sheraz Mian assumed responsibility for the portfolio) through November, 2024, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,112.6%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +475.6%. Now Sheraz is combing through 4,400 companies to handpick the best 10 tickers to buy and hold in 2025. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these stocks when they’re released on January 2.Be First to New Top 10 Stocks >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks