ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended August 27, 2017.

First Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights, Comparisons Versus Same Fiscal Quarter Last Year


    --  Total sales increased 12.9% to $1.94 billion, including 11.2% growth
        from the addition of 141 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen restaurants and 21
        other net new restaurants
    --  Blended same-restaurant sales from Darden's legacy brands increased 1.7%


     +1.9% for Olive Garden        +2.0% for The Capital Grille -0.4% for Yard House

     +2.6% for LongHorn Steakhouse +2.5% for Eddie V's          -2.2% for Seasons 52

                                                                +1.2% for Bahama Breeze

    --  Same-restaurant sales for Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen were -1.4%
    --  Reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations
        increased 8.0% to $0.95 and were negatively impacted by approximately
        $0.04 related to Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen integration expenses
    --  Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations
        increased 12.5% to $0.99*

    --  The Company repurchased approximately $100 million of its outstanding
        common stock* See "Non-GAAP Information" below for more details

"Our focus on simplifying operations and providing an excellent value for our core consumer continues to yield strong sales growth," said CEO Gene Lee. "The teams continue to make appropriate investments in their brands and manage costs effectively. These actions have enabled Darden to outperform the industry."

Segment Performance
Segment profit represents sales, less costs for food and beverage, restaurant labor, restaurant expenses and marketing expenses.



                        Q1 Sales                 Q1 Segment Profit

    ($ in millions)                2018     2017  % Change            2018        2017        % Change
    --------------                 ----     ----  --------            ----        ----        --------

    Consolidated Darden        $1,936.1 $1,714.4                12.9%
    -------------------        -------- --------                 ----

    Olive Garden                 $989.9   $961.2                 3.0%      $199.1      $186.3           6.9%

    LongHorn Steakhouse          $404.5   $386.3                 4.7%       $63.6       $60.1           5.8%

    Fine Dining                  $122.2   $114.2                 7.0%       $19.2       $16.9          13.6%

    Other Business               $419.5   $252.7                66.0%       $65.9       $44.7          47.4%

U.S. Same-Restaurant Sales Results



                              Q1

                             Olive         LongHorn
                            Garden        Steakhouse
                            ------        ----------

    Same-Restaurant Sales            1.9%       2.6%
    ---------------------             ---         ---

    Same-Restaurant Traffic        (0.3)%       0.1%

    Pricing                          1.5%       1.5%

    Menu-mix                         0.7%       1.0%

Share Repurchase Program
During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of approximately $100 million. As of the end of the fiscal first quarter, the Company had approximately $370 million remaining under the current $500 million repurchase authorization.

Fiscal 2018 Financial Outlook
The Company reaffirmed its outlook for total sales growth of 11.5% to 13% driven by the addition of Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and other new restaurant openings and same-restaurant sales growth from legacy Darden brands of approximately 1.0% to 2.0%. The Company also reaffirmed adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of $4.38 to $4.50.* This financial outlook includes the expected full financial impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
* See "Non-GAAP Information" below for more details

Investor Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and slide presentation on Tuesday, September 26 at 8:30 am ET to review its recent financial performance and reaffirm its financial outlook for the full fiscal year. To listen to the call live, please go to https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1007/22469 at least fifteen minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. Prior to the call, a slide presentation will be posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at: www.darden.com. For those who cannot access the Internet, please dial 1-888-603-9230 and enter passcode 9992959. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call.

About Darden
Darden is a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V's. Our people equal our success, and we are proud to employ more than 175,000 team members in over 1,700 restaurants. Together, we create memorable experiences for 380 million guests each year in communities across North America. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

Information about Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this communication regarding our expected earnings performance and all other statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning our future economic performance, are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are first made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. We wish to caution investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those anticipated in the statements. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Darden's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports. These risks and uncertainties include the ability to successfully integrate Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen operations into our business, technology failures including failure to maintain a secure cyber network, food safety and food-borne illness concerns, litigation, unfavorable publicity, risks relating to public policy changes and federal, state and local regulation of our business, long-term and non-cancelable property leases, labor and insurance costs, failure to execute a business continuity plan following a disaster, health concerns including food-related pandemics or virus outbreaks, intense competition, failure to drive profitable sales growth, a lack of availability of suitable locations for new restaurants, higher-than-anticipated costs to open, close, relocate or remodel restaurants, an inability or failure to manage the accelerated impact of social media, a failure to execute innovative marketing tactics, a failure to develop and recruit effective leaders, a failure to address cost pressures, shortages or interruptions in the delivery of food and other products and services, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, volatility in the market value of derivatives, economic factors specific to the restaurant industry and general macroeconomic factors including interest rates, disruptions in the financial markets, risks of doing business with franchisees, licensees and vendors in foreign markets, failure to protect our intellectual property, impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets, failure of our internal controls over financial reporting and other factors and uncertainties discussed from time to time in reports filed by Darden with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Non-GAAP Information
The information in this press release includes financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), such as adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations. The Company's management uses these non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. The Company believes that the presentation of certain non-GAAP measures provides useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company's businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures are included in this release.


                                                                                  Fiscal Q1 Reported to Adjusted Earnings Reconciliation

                                                                                                                                           Q1 2018                                            Q1 2017

                                                                                         $ in millions, except EPS     Earnings     Income Tax       Net       Diluted     Earnings     Income Tax       Net       Diluted Net
                                                                                                                         Before      Expense      Earnings       Net         Before      Expense      Earnings     Earnings Per
                                                                                                                         Income                               Earnings       Income                                    Share
                                                                                                                          Tax                                 Per Share       Tax
    -------------------------                                                                                           --------    ----------      --------  ---------     --------    ----------      --------   ------------

    Reported Earnings from Continuing Operations                                                                          $159.5          $38.2        $121.3        $0.95        $151.4          $40.3        $111.1           $0.88
    --------------------------------------------                                                                          ------          -----        ------        -----        ------          -----        ------           -----

    % Change vs Prior Year                                                                                                                                       8.0%

    Adjustments:

    Cheddar's integration expenses                                                                                           6.4            2.2           4.2         0.04             -             -            -              -
                                                                                                                                                                  ---

    Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations                                                                          $165.9          $40.4        $125.5        $0.99        $151.4          $40.3        $111.1           $0.88
    --------------------------------------------                                                                          ------          -----        ------        -----        ------          -----        ------           -----

    % Change vs Prior Year                                                                                                                                      12.5%



                                                                       Reconciliation of Fiscal 2018 Reported to Adjusted Earnings Outlook
                                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2018
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ----

    Reported diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations                                                     $4.30    to                 $4.44

    Cheddar's integration expenses                                                                                          0.13                        0.10

    Income tax expense                                                                                                    (0.05)                     (0.04)


    Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations                                                     $4.38    to                 $4.50
    ==================================================================                                                     =====    ===                =====


                                                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                                       NUMBER OF COMPANY-OWNED RESTAURANTS


                                                                                           8/27/17 8/28/16
                                                                                           ------- -------

    Olive Garden(1)                                                                            847      843

    LongHorn Steakhouse                                                                        491      483

    Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen                                                                  141        -

    Yard House                                                                                  68       65

    The Capital Grille                                                                          56       56

    Bahama Breeze                                                                               38       36

    Seasons 52                                                                                  41       40

    Eddie V's                                                                                   19       16

    Darden Continuing Operations                                                             1,701    1,539
    ----------------------------                                                             -----    -----

    (1)Includes six locations in Canada for all periods presented.


                                                                                DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                                                          (In millions, except per share data)

                                                                                      (Unaudited)


                                                                                                                      Three Months Ended

                                                                                                               8/27/2017               8/28/2016
                                                                                                               ---------               ---------

    Sales                                                                                                                   $1,936.1                     $1,714.4

    Costs and expenses:

    Food and beverage                                                                                              555.2                           493.2

    Restaurant labor                                                                                               624.2                           545.8

    Restaurant expenses                                                                                            342.9                           303.7

    Marketing expenses                                                                                              66.0                            63.7

    General and administrative expenses                                                                             98.0                            87.7

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                   76.1                            66.8

    Impairments and disposal of assets, net                                                                        (0.8)                          (7.8)
                                                                                                                    ----                            ----

    Total operating costs and expenses                                                                                      $1,761.6                     $1,553.1
                                                                                                                            --------                     --------

    Operating income                                                                                               174.5                           161.3

    Interest, net                                                                                                   15.0                             9.9
                                                                                                                    ----                             ---

    Earnings before income taxes                                                                                   159.5                           151.4

    Income tax expense                                                                                              38.2                            40.3

    Earnings from continuing operations                                                                                       $121.3                       $111.1

    Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $(1.0) and $(0.7), respectively                     (2.3)                          (0.9)
                                                                                                                    ----                            ----

    Net earnings                                                                                                              $119.0                       $110.2
                                                                                                                              ======                       ======


    Basic net earnings per share:

    Earnings from continuing operations                                                                                        $0.97                        $0.89

    Losses from discontinued operations                                                                           (0.02)                         (0.01)
                                                                                                                   -----                           -----

    Net earnings                                                                                                               $0.95                        $0.88
                                                                                                                               =====                        =====

    Diluted net earnings per share:

    Earnings from continuing operations                                                                                        $0.95                        $0.88

    Losses from discontinued operations                                                                           (0.02)                         (0.01)
                                                                                                                   -----                           -----

    Net earnings                                                                                                               $0.93                        $0.87
                                                                                                                               =====                        =====

    Average number of common shares outstanding:

    Basic                                                                                                          125.2                           124.9

    Diluted                                                                                                        127.3                           126.7


                                                    DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                                  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                         (In millions)


                                                                                8/27/2017          5/28/2017
                                                                                ---------          ---------

                                                                              (Unaudited)

    ASSETS

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                               $146.8                     $233.1

    Receivables, net                                                                 57.6                       75.9

    Inventories                                                                     176.3                      178.9

    Prepaid income taxes                                                              2.9                        6.2

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                        88.3                       80.6

    Assets held for sale                                                             11.1                       13.2
                                                                                     ----                       ----

    Total current assets                                                                    $483.0                     $587.9

    Land, buildings and equipment, net                                            2,318.8                    2,272.3

    Goodwill                                                                      1,172.2                    1,201.7

    Trademarks                                                                      950.2                      950.2

    Other assets                                                                    299.3                      280.2
                                                                                    -----                      -----

    Total assets                                                                          $5,223.5                   $5,292.3
                                                                                          ========                   ========

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                                                        $256.8                     $249.5

    Accrued payroll                                                                 123.9                      149.1

    Accrued income taxes                                                             11.5                        1.9

    Other accrued taxes                                                              61.9                       54.2

    Unearned revenues                                                               353.1                      388.6

    Other current liabilities                                                       451.1                      445.9
                                                                                    -----                      -----

    Total current liabilities                                                             $1,258.3                   $1,289.2

    Long-term debt                                                                  936.6                      936.6

    Deferred income taxes                                                           151.9                      145.6

    Deferred rent                                                                   292.1                      282.8

    Other liabilities                                                               525.9                      536.4
                                                                                    -----                      -----

    Total liabilities                                                                     $3,164.8                   $3,190.6
                                                                                          --------                   --------

    Stockholders' equity:

    Common stock and surplus                                                              $1,619.8                   $1,614.6

    Retained earnings                                                               515.0                      560.1

    Treasury stock                                                                  (7.8)                     (7.8)

    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                  (66.1)                    (62.9)

    Unearned compensation                                                           (2.2)                     (2.3)
                                                                                     ----                       ----

    Total stockholders' equity                                                            $2,058.7                   $2,101.7
                                                                                          --------                   --------

    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                            $5,223.5                   $5,292.3
                                                                                          ========                   ========


                                                          DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                               (In millions)

                                                                (Unaudited)


                                                                               Three Months Ended

                                                                        8/27/2017              8/28/2016
                                                                        ---------              ---------

    Cash flows-operating activities

    Net earnings                                                                      $119.0                         $110.2

    Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax                           2.3                             0.9

    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings from continuing operations
     to cash flows:

    Depreciation and amortization                                            76.1                            66.8

    Stock-based compensation expense                                          8.4                             6.2

    Change in current assets and liabilities and
     other, net                                                            (26.4)                         (11.0)
                                                                            -----

    Net cash provided by operating activities of
     continuing operations                                                            $179.4                         $173.1
                                                                                      ======                         ======

    Cash flows-investing activities

    Purchases of land, buildings and equipment                             (95.7)                         (60.1)

    Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings and
     equipment                                                                2.9                             3.8

    Purchases of capitalized software and changes in
     other assets, net                                                      (3.9)                          (6.8)
                                                                             ----                            ----

    Net cash used in investing activities of
     continuing operations                                                           $(96.7)                       $(63.1)
                                                                                      ======                         ======

    Cash flows-financing activities

    Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                   15.8                             3.3

    Income tax benefits credited to equity                                      -                            0.6

    Dividends paid                                                         (79.1)                         (70.5)

    Repurchases of common stock                                           (100.2)                        (195.6)

    ESOP note receivable repayment                                            0.1                             0.1

    Principal payments on capital and financing
     leases                                                                 (1.0)                          (1.0)

    Net cash used in financing activities of
     continuing operations                                                          $(164.4)                      $(263.1)
                                                                                     =======                        =======

    Cash flows-discontinued operations

    Net cash used in operating activities of
     discontinued operations                                                (4.6)                          (7.0)

    Net cash used in discontinued operations                                          $(4.6)                        $(7.0)
                                                                                       =====                          =====


    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                  (86.3)                        (160.1)

    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period                         233.1                           274.8
                                                                            -----                           -----

    Cash and cash equivalents - end of period                                         $146.8                         $114.7
                                                                                      ======                         ======

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