Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI)

I dare you to go to olive garden on a sunday for lunch and get sat in less than 40 minutes. Crazy successful brand.

1 of 3 eateries easing off.

DRI just announced better than expected earnings and reaffirmed guidance for the next year. Visit any one of their establishments on any weekend night and expect to wait 90 minutes to get a seat. Managment is ferocious about customer service and high quality customer exp. Current 4% div yld will attract many income seekers from a solid brand.

Over the past decade, earnings have consistently gone up (about 267% over 10 yrs), while the number of shares has consistently gone down (about 25% over 10 years). The ROE has averaged a very impressive 23.6%. Earnings yield is currently about 7.6% and dividend yield is about 4.3%. The brands are stable and should grow at a steady, modest rate going forward.

There's nothing sexy about Darden. Future growth will not be explosive, and DRI probably won't be a multi-bagger. BUT if you want a steady company with a FAT dividend, and an very low probabaility of experiencing a permanent loss of capital, DRI at $45 might be a solid pick for you, especially if you can reinvest dividends.

Moving up on some news that wasn't great today...possibly a sign that DRI has bottomed? Company is planning on expanding into Latin America. I'm hoping increased growth potential translates into multiple expansion.

P/E 12.88 one of the best in sector.
Div yield 4.36% very good!

picking it up out of this low. the companies here arent anything special but sustained enough to justify a return back upwards as well as the insiders are buying also

Darden has been struggling recently in maintaining growth, however they are wisely putting assets to work in addressing the issue. Older stores are being remodelled, low price menu items are being added, and additional stores are being built. I believe the quality of the food and concepts of Olive Garden and Red Lobster are still strong and I am willing to patiently collect my impressive dividend while waiting for the profits to start growing again.

I like this pullback as a buying opportunity, I still show the value of the stock in the 57-60 range.

FSTG experiment

great company, largest full service restaurant provider in the USA, hiring employees in restaurant, adding restaurant, profitable, menu changes in the right direction

With the effective steady increase in the markets more people will be looking for restaurants slightly better than fast food chains and DRI will benefit in that climate.

UNLIMITED BREADSTICKS!

Decent fundamentals, very good valuation and dividend. The stock is priced at a level ($49) that has provided support 4 times this year already.

I'm not a chain casual dining fan, but I'm always impressed whenever I go to an Olive Garden. The restaurants always look like they have just been remodeled. Because they don't franchise (in the U.S. and Canada at least), it is easier make upgrades and improvements to the stores and menus. Last time I was there we were given free samples of a sweet white wine as an apertif. That hasn't happened since our honeymoon in Spain!

2nd leg of recession striking

short Lobster Farms

This stock isn't going anywhere with 1000s of family friendly restaurants. As an Italian olive garden is kind of a slap in the face to traditional Italian food but at the same time I can't stop going for endless bread sticks and chicken nyoke soup

Unfairly punished for one brands data on a strong company. Time for a fool to buy

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/11/29/rising-star-buy-darden-restaurants.aspx