Darden Restaurants stock holds near a 52-week high
Published on 08/21/2026 at 19:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Darden Restaurants stock holds near a 52-week high after shares opened at $217.89 on August 21, 2026, with a market cap of $24.86 billion and a 52-week range of $169.00 to $229.76.
The latest reported quarter showed revenue of $3.72 billion, up 13.7% year over year, and earnings of $3.66 per share, a combination that keeps the restaurant operator's growth story tied to margin discipline as well as sales momentum.
Shares sit close to the top of the range
At $217.89, the stock traded less than $12 below the 52-week high of $229.76, while the 50-day moving average stood at $208.09 and the 200-day moving average at $204.32. That gap signals that the recent price level is still being measured against a year-long high base rather than a deep discount.
Institutional investors owned 93.64% of the shares, and the consensus view on the name was Moderate Buy with an average price target of $228.88. The market is already assigning value to the earnings profile, so the next comparison point is whether sales and profit can keep outpacing that setup.
Guidance and payout
The company also lifted its quarterly dividend to $1.62 per share from $1.50, which implies an annualized payout of $6.48 and a 3.0% yield. On a reported basis, that dividend move sits alongside the same quarter's $3.72 billion in sales and $3.66 in EPS, giving investors a clear look at cash returns and operating performance in one frame.
A second number matters here: the stock's price-to-earnings ratio was 20.99, while the PEG ratio stood at 2.21. Together with the 13.7% revenue increase, those figures show that valuation is still being judged against growth rather than against a flat earnings base.
What is driving the setup
For Darden Restaurants, Inc., the product mix still revolves around its full-service dining brands, with Olive Garden the best-known banner in the portfolio. The relevance for investors is simpler: same-store strength and menu execution need to support the current revenue trend if the share price is to hold close to its high-water mark.
As of August 21, 2026, the stock opened at $217.89 and carried a market cap of $24.86 billion. The range into the summer's trading window leaves room for movement, but the evidence in hand still centers on a price that sits close to the top end of the year.
More on Darden Restaurants stock
Company: Darden Restaurants, Inc. | ISIN: US2371941053 | Ticker: DRI | Exchange: NYSE | Sector / Industry: Consumer Discretionary / Restaurants | Index membership: S&P 500
Price (as of August 21, 2026): $217.89 USD | Market cap: $24.86 billion | 52-week range: $169.00-$229.76 | 50-day moving average: $208.09 | 200-day moving average: $204.32 | P/E ratio: 20.99 | PEG ratio: 2.21 | Institutional ownership: 93.64% | Quarterly dividend: $1.62 per share
Next earnings date: September 18, 2026
