Retail
Darden Sales Rise 5.1% but Operating Profit Falls as Olive Garden Trails LongHorn
The Olive Garden parent reaffirmed its full-year earnings outlook, but food and labor costs climbed faster than revenue and its flagship chain posted just 1.1% same-restaurant sales growth.
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By Dana Whitfield
Sep 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Darden Restaurants reported higher first-quarter sales but lower operating profit on Thursday, after revenue came in narrowly below Wall Street forecasts and a widening gap opened between the performance of its two largest chains.
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Dana Whitfield
Leadership Editor
Dana reports on boards, succession and executive pay. She has interviewed more than 200 sitting chief executives.