--- title: "Earnings Preview: Will cost pressures impact Darden Restaurants’ Q2 results?" type: "News" locale: "zh-CN" url: "https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/269789997.md" description: "Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) faces margin pressure due to higher input costs from tariffs, yet remains optimistic with growth initiatives like first-party delivery. Analysts expect Q2 earnings of $2.1 per share on $3.08 billion sales, compared to $2.03 per share and $2.89 billion sales a year ago. Despite a recent stock decline, Darden's brands like Olive Garden benefit from strong demand. The company forecasts 7.5-8.5% sales growth for fiscal 2026, with challenges from rising beef costs. Darden's stock opened at $183.28, 7% below its 12-month average." datetime: "2025-12-15T17:58:25.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/269789997.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/269789997.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/269789997.md) --- > 支持的语言: [English](https://longbridge.com/en/news/269789997.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/269789997.md) # Earnings Preview: Will cost pressures impact Darden Restaurants’ Q2 results? Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), a full-service restaurant operator, has faced margin pressure this year from higher input costs tied to tariffs on key commodities. Despite that, management remains optimistic, pointing to growth initiatives such as first-party delivery and an expanding restaurant footprint. Still, softer discretionary spending and evolving consumer dining preferences pose risks to sustaining momentum. ## Estimates Darden’s second-quarter 2026 earnings report is scheduled for release on December 18 at 7 am ET. **Wall Street analysts project adjusted earnings of $2.1 per share for the November quarter, on sales of $3.08 billion.** A year earlier, the company had posted net income of $2.03 per share and sales of $2.89 billion. The company’s popular brands, _Olive Garden_ and _LongHorn Steakhouse_, continue to benefit from strong consumer demand for casual dining. Orlando, Florida-based Darden’s stock has declined more than 18% since hitting an all-time high mid-year, with the downturn accelerating in the past three months. DRI regained momentum over the past month, and the uptrend continues ahead of earnings. The management has regularly increased quarterly dividends, with the latest, a 7% increase in September 2025, representing an above-average yield of 2.8%. ## Key Metrics In the first three months of FY26, Darden’s total sales increased 10.4% year-over-year to $3 billion, with blended same-restaurant sales growing 4.7%. Net income was $257.8 million or $2.19 per share in Q1, compared to $207.2 million or $1.74 per share in the year-ago quarter. **On an adjusted basis, earnings rose 12.6% to $1.97 per share.** However, the numbers fell short of expectations. The management said it expects sales growth of 7.5-8.5% and same-restaurant sales growth of 2.5-3.5% for fiscal 2026, revised up from the previously issued outlook. The forecast for full-year adjusted earnings is between $10.50 per share and 10.70 per share. **_Also Read:_ Highlights of Darden Restaurants’ Q1 2026 Report** **From Darden Restaurant’s Q1 2026 Earnings Call:** _“While we are reiterating our full-year earnings per share guidance, we expect the lowest year-over-year EPS growth to be in the second quarter, driven by the significant step-up in beef costs and our measured approach to pricing for these costs. We expect our pricing for the second quarter to be approximately 100 basis points below total inflation. We have a proven track record of successfully navigating through higher costs, and we’ll continue to take a disciplined approach to ensure the long-term health of our business. We believe our strategy remains the right one for our company.”_ ## Road Ahead The Darden leadership is betting on initiatives like the _Buy One, Take One_ promotion, primarily at Olive Garden, and _first-party delivery_ to deal with macro challenges and drive traffic. **Upward revision of the full-year sales forecast underscores the management’s confidence in its growth strategy.** Meanwhile, increasing input costs, particularly higher beef prices, are eating into the company’s margins. On Monday, Darden’s stock opened at $183.28, which is 7% lower than its 12-month average price. The shares have grown about10% in the past twelve months. The post Earnings Preview: Will cost pressures impact Darden Restaurants’ Q2 results? first appeared on AlphaStreet. ### 相关股票 - [Darden Restaurants (DRI.US)](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/quote/DRI.US.md) ## 相关资讯与研究 - [Sysco-Restaurant Depot deal signals a shift to hybrid B2B ecommerce](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/281225818.md) - [How Strong Q2 2026 Results and Higher Guidance Will Impact Darden Restaurants (DRI) Investors](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/270414504.md) - [Cattle Trading Higher at Midday](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/280354025.md) - [Cattle Futures Flirt With SIGNIFICANT Resistance](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279614386.md) - [Why do beef prices keep climbing? Experts explain the reasons.](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279838083.md)