DRI

We rate DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC (DRI) as a Hold with a composite score of 59.4/100 at a current price of $213.92. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (84th percentile) and momentum (70th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (39th percentile) and quality (52th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (44/100), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: balance sheet deleveraging progress. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC holds a lower-quartile position (#41 of 50) within the Retail Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 59.4/100 places it at rank #757 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $20.3B market capitalization, DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC operates at meaningful scale within the Retail Trade sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 13% and favorable momentum (70th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 20% (-16.6pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 11% (+7.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 8.5%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 43%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $213.92, DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 59/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 24.2x (roughly in line with the sector median of 21.4x), EV/EBITDA of 19.8x (at a premium), P/B of 12.0x, P/S of 2.0x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: significant leverage (103% debt-to-equity) and low beta of 0.60 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (103% debt-to-equity); low beta of 0.60 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 84th percentile and quality factor at the 52th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (84th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 3.32% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 49.7%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 103%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 3.32% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 59.4/100 (rank #757 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (44/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 61/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.