Todd Burrowes Acquires Shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Todd Burrowes purchased 4,650 shares of Darden Restaurants on June 23.

Key Points

  • Todd Burrowes, Group President and President of Chuy's, bought 4,650 shares of Darden Restaurants on June 23, 2026.
  • Darden Restaurants, Inc. trades on the NYSE under the ticker DRI, with shares priced at $209.98 as of Thursday.
  • Several analysts, including Guggenheim and Citigroup, have maintained a 'buy' rating on Darden with price targets up to $276.

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Todd Burrowes, the Group President and President of Chuy's at Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), purchased 4,650 shares of the company on June 23, 2026. This insider buying activity highlights ongoing confidence in the company's prospects.

Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants, Inc.

In addition to Todd Burrowes, several other executives at Darden Restaurants also bought shares on June 23. Ricardo Cardenas, the President and CEO, acquired 23,249 shares. John Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden, bought 2,325 shares. Rajesh Vennam, SVP and CFO, purchased 5,890 shares. Susan Connelly, SVP and Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, acquired 1,551 shares. Lastly, Laura Williamson, President of LongHorn Steakhouse, bought 869 shares. These purchases were not part of any pre-planned trading programs.

Other Institutional Activity in Darden Restaurants

Several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in Darden Restaurants. Capital World Investors reduced its holdings by 232,593 shares, leaving it with 14,928,684 shares valued at approximately $2.93 billion, marking a 1.5% decrease. BlackRock, Inc. also trimmed its stake by 280,271 shares to 9,649,638 shares, worth about $1.89 billion—a 2.8% decrease. Meanwhile, Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 7,473,998 shares valued at approximately $1.47 billion. Similarly, Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC initiated a stake with 5,355,047 shares, valued at around $1.05 billion. Wellington Management Group LLP cut its position by 1,228,575 shares to 6,848,992 shares, valued at $1.34 billion, representing a 15.2% decrease.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Down 2.6%

On Thursday, shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) traded near $209.98. The company has a market cap of about $24.3 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.3. Its forward P/E ratio stands at 18.6, indicating expectations of future earnings. Darden's beta is 0.587, suggesting lower volatility compared to the broader market. The stock's 52-week range is between $169.00 and $224.94. It has a 50-day moving average of $199.51 and a 200-day moving average of $195.85.

Year to date

$DRI stock price

Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.

Recent Earnings

Darden Restaurants reported revenue of approximately $12.76 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 5.9%. The company's net margin is 8.66%, with a return on equity of 51.54%. Investors are keeping an eye on the upcoming earnings report, scheduled for June 25, 2026.

Earnings drift grade

Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.

C+ 62/100

Reported Mar 19, 2026

  1. Forward outlook

    8 target raises vs 1 cuts.

  2. EPS & revenue

    EPS missed estimates by 0.8%. Revenue missed estimates by 0.6%.

  3. Profit surprise

    EBITDA missed by 7 percent. Operating income missed by 9 percent.

  4. Pre-earnings setup

    Expectations were about average.

  5. Analyst signal

    8 target raises, 1 target cut.

  6. Earnings quality

    Gross margin down 4.3 points. Positive free cash flow.

Earnings Call Summary

Darden delivered a strong second quarter with 3.1 billion in sales and 4.3 percent same restaurant sales growth, outperforming the industry by 300 basis points. Olive Garden led with 4.7 percent growth driven by the Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion and strong Uber Direct delivery at 4 percent of sales. However, elevated beef prices compressed margins as the company priced 130 basis points below inflation to protect guest value. Management expects beef costs to ease in the fourth quarter and margins to improve in the back half.

Guidance Darden raised its full year sales guidance to 8.5 to 9.3 percent growth, up from prior range. The company expects same restaurant sales of 3.5 to 4.3 percent for the year and 65 to 70 new openings. Full year adjusted earnings per share guidance stays at 10.60 to 10.70, which includes about 20 cents from a fifty-third week.

Fine but not compelling. Acceptable results that likely do not create a meaningful forward reset.

Dividend

Darden Restaurants pays an annual dividend of $6.00 per share, yielding 2.81%. The dividend payout ratio is 62.17%, indicating the proportion of earnings paid out as dividends.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Analysts have been positive about Darden Restaurants. On June 24, 2026, Guggenheim maintained a 'buy' rating with a price target of $235. Oppenheimer reiterated its 'buy' rating with the same target on June 18. Citigroup kept a 'buy' rating with a target of $245 on June 15. B of A Securities has a higher target of $276, set on June 5. The consensus among 26 analysts is a 'buy' rating, with a mean price target of $226.23.

About Darden Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, Inc., based in Orlando, Florida, operates a range of full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada. Its brands include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, and several others. Led by CEO Ricardo Cardenas, the company employs nearly 198,000 people and has been in operation since 1938.

Bottom Line

Todd Burrowes' purchase of Darden Restaurants shares, along with other insider buys, suggests confidence in the company's future. Shares of the company, trading at $209.98, reflect a stable position in the restaurant industry. Analyst ratings and institutional activities provide further insights into investor sentiment and market expectations.

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