John Wilkerson Buys Shares of Darden Restaurants
John Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden, acquired 2,325 shares of Darden Restaurants.
Key Points
- John Wilkerson, President of Olive Garden, bought 2,325 shares of Darden Restaurants on June 23, 2026.
- Darden Restaurants has a market cap of $24.28 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.32.
- Analysts maintain a positive outlook with multiple firms setting buy ratings and price targets up to $276.
Important disclosure: Podchat is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial planner. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Content may be generated by automated systems using public filings, market data, and third-party sources, and may contain errors or omissions. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance, insider activity, analyst ratings, price targets, sentiment scores, and hypothetical or backtested results are not guarantees of future performance. Please do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.
On June 23, 2026, John Wilkerson, the President of Olive Garden, purchased 2,325 shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI). This insider transaction did not occur under a pre-planned trading program.
Insider Buying and Selling at Darden Restaurants, Inc.
John Wilkerson wasn't the only insider buying shares. On the same day, Ricardo Cardenas, the President and CEO, acquired 23,249 shares, and Rajesh Vennam, the Senior Vice President and CFO, bought 5,890 shares. Susan Connelly, Laura Williamson, and Melvin John Martin also made purchases, reflecting a wave of insider buying activity.
Other Institutional Activity in Darden Restaurants
Several institutional investors adjusted their positions in Darden Restaurants. CAPITAL WORLD INVESTORS reduced its holdings by 232,593 shares, resulting in 14,928,684 shares valued at about $2.93 billion, a 1.5% decrease. BLACKROCK, INC. also trimmed its position by 280,271 shares to hold 9,649,638 shares worth approximately $1.89 billion, a 2.8% decrease. Meanwhile, VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC opened a new position with 7,473,998 shares valued at around $1.47 billion. Similarly, VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC initiated a stake with 5,355,047 shares worth about $1.05 billion.
Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Down 2.1%
Shares of NYSE:DRI traded near $209.98 on Thursday. Darden Restaurants boasts a market cap of $24.28 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.32. The stock's 52-week range is between $169.00 and $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 market.
$DRI stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
Darden Restaurants reported revenue of $12.76 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 5.9%. The company achieved a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 51.54%. Earnings per share stood at $9.50. The next earnings report is scheduled for June 25, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
-
Forward outlook
8 target raises vs 1 cuts.
-
EPS & revenue
EPS missed estimates by 0.8%. Revenue missed estimates by 0.6%.
-
Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 7 percent. Operating income missed by 9 percent.
-
Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average.
-
Analyst signal
8 target raises, 1 target cut.
-
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
The company offers an annual dividend rate of $6.00, yielding 2.81%. Its dividend payout ratio is 62.17%, providing income to shareholders while retaining earnings for growth.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several analysts have set new price targets for Darden Restaurants. On June 24, 2026, Guggenheim maintained a buy rating with a price target of $235. Oppenheimer reiterated its buy rating on June 18, with the same target. Citigroup and B of A Securities also maintained buy ratings, setting targets at $245 and $276, respectively. Overall, the consensus is a buy, with an average target price of $226.23 from 26 analysts.
About Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates a variety of full-service restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and led by CEO Ricardo Cardenas, the company employs nearly 198,000 people. Founded in 1938, Darden continues to be a significant player in the consumer cyclical sector, particularly in the restaurant industry.
Bottom Line
John Wilkerson's recent purchase adds to a series of insider buys at Darden Restaurants, a company with a strong market presence and consistent earnings growth. While insider transactions can provide insights, they are not necessarily indicative of future stock performance. Investors often track such moves for potential signals, but the backward-looking nature of these reports means they reflect past actions rather than current trends.
Get Darden Restaurants, Inc. alerts
New 13F filings, insider trades, and analyst moves on $DRI, sent to your inbox. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
This instant news alert was generated by automated narrative technology and financial data from Podchat and public regulatory filings. It is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.