Trailing Dividend / Share
$5.56
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) Dividend History
Income profile from 1995 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.6%
Payout Ratio
62.7%
Watch
Dividend Streak
5 years
DRI Dividend Income Check
Safety
62.7% payout ratio with watch safety profile.
Consistency
5 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 5.0% and trend is rising.
DRI Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield2.6%
Trailing DPS$5.56
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout62.7%
Earnings SafetyWatch
FCF Payout42.1%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak5 years
3Y CAGR7.9%
5Y CAGR37.5%
Yield on Cost (5Y)5.0%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield1.7%
Total Shareholder Yield4.3%
1Y Total Return-1.5%
5Y Total Return84.1%
Div Contribution (5Y)20.0%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$18,41110Y ago$37,14120Y ago$82,847
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
DRI Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (32 years of payments)
DRI Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
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Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Darden Restaurants, Inc. distributes 62.7% of earnings as dividends (Watch). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 42.1%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
DRI has raised its dividend for 5 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 7.9% and 5-year CAGR of 37.5%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, DRI returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 2.6% dividend yield, 1.7% buyback yield, 4.3% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 5.0% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 84.1%, with dividends contributing 20.0% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $37,141 today.
DRI Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$26.08
Avg/Payment$1.3040
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2026Latest | $1.5000 | — | 3.12% | May 1, 2026 |
| Jan 9, 2026 | $1.5000 | — | 2.92% | Feb 2, 2026 |
| Oct 10, 2025 | $1.5000 | — | 3.20% | Nov 3, 2025 |
| Jul 10, 2025 | $1.5000 | ↑ +7.1% | 2.68% | Aug 1, 2025 |
| Apr 10, 2025 | $1.4000 | — | 2.92% | May 1, 2025 |
| Jan 10, 2025 | $1.4000 | — | 3.06% | Feb 3, 2025 |
| Oct 10, 2024 | $1.4000 | — | 3.48% | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Jul 10, 2024 | $1.4000 | ↑ +6.9% | 3.86% | Aug 1, 2024 |
DRI Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#2 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.6%
#2 of 6
Safety
Watch
62.7% payout
Streak
5Y
37.5% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
4.3%
#3 of 6
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd DRIDarden Restaurants, … | $25.3B | 2.6% | 62.7% | 5 | Watch |
 TXRHTexas Roadhouse, Inc… | $11.7B | 1.5% | 44.4% | 15 | Sustainable |
1st  BLMNBloomin' Brands, Inc… | $687M | 5.6% | 7.1% | 0 | Sustainable |
 CAKEThe Cheesecake Facto… | $3.8B | 1.4% | 35.2% | 0 | Sustainable |
 CBRLCracker Barrel Old C… | $1.1B | 2.2% | 49.8% | 0 | Sustainable |
3rd  MCDMcDonald's Corporati… | $198.0B | 2.6% | 59.7% | 17 | Sustainable |
DRI Annual Dividend History (1995–2026)
32 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $3.00 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2.6% |
| 2025 | $5.80 | 7.0% | 4 | $8.86 | 65.5% | 1.53x | 5.0% |
| 2024 | $5.42 | 7.5% | 4 | $8.51 | 63.7% | 1.57x | 4.7% |
| 2023 | $5.04 | 9.1% | 4 | $7.99 | 63.1% | 1.59x | 4.3% |
| 2022 | $4.62 | 33.9% | 4 | $7.39 | 62.5% | 1.60x | 4.0% |
| 2021 | $3.45 | 192.4% | 4 | $4.77 | 72.3% | 1.38x | 3.0% |
| 2020 | $1.18 | -63.8% | 2 | $-0.40 | — | — | 1.0% |
| 2019 | $3.26 | 18.1% | 4 | $5.69 | 57.3% | 1.75x | 2.8% |
| 2018 | $2.76 | 16.0% | 4 | $4.73 | 58.4% | 1.71x | 2.4% |
| 2017 | $2.38 | 12.3% | 4 | $3.80 | 62.6% | 1.60x | 2.0% |
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Full Stock Analysis
Deep dive into DRI consensus models and risk factors.
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Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
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Historical Returns
31+ years return with dividends reinvested.
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DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
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DRI — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying DRI stock.
How much dividend does DRI pay per share?
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $5.56 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.6%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is DRI's next ex-dividend date?
DRI's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. DRI typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is DRI's dividend safe?
DRI's dividend safety is rated "Watch" based on an earnings payout ratio of +62.7% and FCF payout ratio of +42.1%. The 5-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
Is DRI a Dividend Payer?
Yes, Darden Restaurants, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Payer with 5 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +37.5%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does DRI pay dividends?
Darden Restaurants, Inc. pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $5.56 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 31+ years from 1995 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in DRI grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in DRI five years ago would be worth approximately $18,411 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is DRI's yield on cost for long-term holders?
DRI's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +5.0% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +2.6% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.