DRI
Darden Restaurants, Inc. Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants Investor Relations →
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) closed at $203.05 as of 2026-03-20, trading 29.2% above its 200-week moving average of $157.11. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 29.2% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 61, indicating neutral momentum.
A big jump in activity this week — 2.4x the usual volume, and the price went up. Significantly more people than usual decided to buy. This kind of surge, especially on a stock already below its 200-week average, can be an early sign that sentiment is shifting.
Over the past 1562 weeks of data, DRI has crossed below its 200-week moving average 13 times. On average, these episodes lasted 14 weeks. Historically, investors who bought DRI at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +33.5%.
With a market cap of $23.6 billion, DRI is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 4.0%. Return on equity stands at 51.5%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 11.1x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 5.6% over the past three years.
Over the past 30 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in DRI would have grown to $4803, compared to $1667 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 13.8% vs 9.8% for the index — confirming DRI as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 6.3% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: DRI vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After DRI Crosses Below the Line?
Across 13 historical episodes, buying DRI when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +45.7% after 12 months (median +33.0%), compared to +11.2% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 92% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +77.5% vs +23.6% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment DRI crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
DRI has crossed below its 200-week MA 13 times with an average 1-year return of +33.5% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1996 | Aug 1997 | 62 | 32.5% | -15.8% | +5610.3% |
| Feb 2000 | Mar 2000 | 4 | 7.4% | +55.5% | +4535.7% |
| Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | 1 | 1.8% | +29.7% | +2334.1% |
| Aug 2004 | Aug 2004 | 3 | 5.4% | +65.0% | +1951.5% |
| Dec 2007 | Apr 2008 | 17 | 34.3% | +6.6% | +1357.8% |
| May 2008 | Aug 2008 | 11 | 15.9% | +6.9% | +1147.8% |
| Aug 2008 | Mar 2009 | 31 | 58.5% | +1.9% | +1072.2% |
| May 2009 | May 2009 | 2 | 3.3% | +31.1% | +1030.6% |
| Jun 2009 | Aug 2009 | 12 | 7.1% | +31.7% | +1040.7% |
| Sep 2009 | Dec 2009 | 11 | 10.6% | +33.3% | +1052.3% |
| Jul 2014 | Jul 2014 | 3 | 3.0% | +69.2% | +626.5% |
| Mar 2020 | Sep 2020 | 29 | 56.9% | +60.5% | +172.5% |
| Oct 2020 | Nov 2020 | 1 | 1.7% | +60.5% | +160.6% |
| Average | 14 | — | +33.5% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DRI below its 200-week moving average?
No. Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) is currently 29.2% above its 200-week moving average of $157.11. It would need to fall to $157.11 to cross below the line.
What is DRI's 200-week moving average price?
Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $157.11 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when DRI drops below its 200-week moving average?
DRI has crossed below its 200-week moving average 13 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +33.5%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 14 weeks on average.
Is DRI a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about DRI as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 61. Free cash flow yield is 4.0%. Return on equity is 51.5%. Price-to-book is 11.1x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does DRI compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 30 years, $100 invested in DRI would have grown to $4803, compared to $1667 for the S&P 500. That's 13.8% annualized vs 9.8% for the index. DRI has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does DRI pay a dividend?
Yes. Darden Restaurants, Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 295.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20