DRI Stock — Darden Restaurants Inc.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI)

DRI is a Stock. As of September 3, 2026, its distribution rate is 2.73%, its trailing-12-month yield is 2.81%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 100/100 (Safe). Total return is 7125.1% over the past 31.3 years, 4688.9 points ahead of SPY at 2436.2%.

At the current 2.73% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $273 per year, or $22.75 per month on an equivalent basis. Actual quarterly payments vary.

Darden Restaurants owns and operates a portfolio of full-service restaurant brands in the United States and Canada, including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and several others. The company pays quarterly dividends at a moderate current distribution rate. This stock appeals to income investors seeking exposure to the casual and fine dining restaurant sector alongside regular dividend payments.

DRI performance versus SPY

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Total return is 7125.1% over the past 31.3 years, 4688.9 points ahead of SPY at 2436.2%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 20.1%.

DRI key facts

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

100 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

2.73%

Asset type

Stock

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

05/09/1995

Distribution rate

2.73%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

2.81%

5-year average yield

3.07

Last close

$218.04

Market cap

$24,327,456,768

Average volume

853876.0

Last dividend

$1.62

Last ex-dividend date

07/10/2026

Last payment date

08/03/2026

Beta

0.585

Payout ratio

0.5741

P/E ratio

21.03

Forward P/E

18.7266

EPS

$10.37

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (2.73%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (2.81%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of September 3, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of September 3, 2026.

Primary sources: prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

DRI risks and drawbacks

DRI's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 20.1%.

Who may consider DRI — and who may not

DRI may suit someone looking for a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (DRI pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions