John Madonna Buys Shares in Darden Restaurants
John Madonna, a senior executive at Darden Restaurants, purchased 1,394 shares.
Key Points
- John Madonna, SVP at Darden Restaurants, bought 1,394 shares on June 23, 2026.
- Darden Restaurants' stock traded near $209.98 on Thursday with a market cap of $24.28 billion.
- Analysts from Guggenheim, Oppenheimer, and others maintain a 'buy' rating with targets up to $276.
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John Madonna, Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller at Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), purchased 1,394 shares of the company on June 23, 2026. This insider transaction was not part of a pre-planned trading program. The shares were purchased at an undisclosed price.
Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants, Inc.
On the same day, several other executives at Darden Restaurants also bought shares. President and CEO Ricardo Cardenas acquired 23,249 shares, while John Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden, purchased 2,325 shares. Other notable transactions include Rajesh Vennam, SVP and CFO, buying 5,890 shares, and Susan Connelly, SVP, Chief Communication & Public Affairs Officer, acquiring 1,551 shares.
Other Institutional Activity in Darden Restaurants
Several major funds have adjusted their positions in Darden Restaurants. Capital World Investors reduced its holdings by 232,593 shares, now holding about 14.9 million shares valued at $2.93 billion, a 1.5% decrease. BlackRock, Inc. also cut its stake by 280,271 shares, ending with approximately 9.6 million shares worth $1.89 billion, a 2.8% reduction. Meanwhile, Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 7.47 million shares valued at $1.47 billion. Wellington Management Group LLP significantly reduced its holdings by 1,228,575 shares, a 15.2% decrease, now holding 6.85 million shares valued at $1.34 billion. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC also initiated a new position with 5.36 million shares worth about $1.05 billion.
Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Down 2.6%
Shares of NYSE:DRI traded near $209.98 on Thursday. Darden Restaurants boasts a market capitalization of $24.28 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.3. The stock has a 52-week low of $169.00 and a high of $224.94, with a 50-day moving average of $199.51 and a 200-day moving average of $195.85. The company's beta is 0.587, indicating lower volatility compared to the broader market. Darden has a current ratio of 0.387 and a quick ratio of 0.133, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 387.681.
$DRI stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
For its recent quarter, Darden Restaurants reported revenue of approximately $12.76 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 5.9%. The company's net margin stands at 8.66%, with a return on equity of 51.54%. Earnings per share were $9.50. The next earnings report is anticipated on June 25, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
8 target raises vs 1 cuts.
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EPS & revenue
EPS missed estimates by 0.8%. Revenue missed estimates by 0.6%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 7 percent. Operating income missed by 9 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average.
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Analyst signal
8 target raises, 1 target cut.
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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 rate of $6.00, yielding 2.81% with a payout ratio of 62.17%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On June 24, 2026, Guggenheim maintained a 'buy' rating with a target price of $235. Oppenheimer reiterated its 'buy' rating with the same target on June 18. Citigroup maintained its 'buy' rating, setting a target of $245 on June 15. B of A Securities maintained a 'buy' rating with a high target of $276 on June 5. The consensus among analysts is a 'buy' recommendation, with an average target price of $226.23 based on 26 opinions.
About Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. operates a range of full-service restaurants in the U.S. and Canada under various brand names, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company is led by CEO Ricardo Cardenas and employs nearly 198,000 people.
Bottom Line
John Madonna's purchase of Darden Restaurants shares highlights insider confidence in the company's prospects. Investors often track insider transactions for potential insights, although they are not definitive indicators of future performance. Darden Restaurants continues to attract attention with its diverse restaurant brands and financial performance, with analysts maintaining favorable ratings.
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