Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) has reported a strong Q3 performance, with adjusted earnings per share exceeding the analyst consensus of $2.95 and sales exceeding $3.345 billion. The company's growth was driven by a 4.2% increase at LongHorn Steakhouse and a 3.2%. The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.50 per share on its outstanding common stock. As of the end of 2026, Darden had $516 million remaining under the current $1 billion repurchase authorization. However, Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho noted that there are still questions about the company's margins, costs, and consumer spending trends.