Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs Brinker International (EAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Brinker International (EAT) has outperformed Darden Restaurants (DRI) over the past year, gaining 45.8% versus a gain of 5.2%. Over five years, EAT leads with a +289.8% price change compared with +35.1% for DRI. Darden Restaurants is the larger company by market cap ($22.73 billion vs $7.94 billion), about 2.9 times the size.
On valuation, Brinker International trades at a lower forward P/E (13.0x vs 16.2x for Darden Restaurants). Darden Restaurants pays a dividend yielding 3.05%, while Brinker International does not currently pay one. Darden Restaurants converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.1% versus 8.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | DRI | EAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $200.93 | $189.54 |
| Market cap | $22.73B | $7.94B |
| 1-day change | -0.28% | +2.28% |
| YTD return | +9.49% | +29.12% |
| 1-year return | +5.19% | +45.76% |
| 5-year return | +35.09% | +289.80% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.51 | 17.44 |
| Forward P/E | 16.20 | 13.02 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.30 | $10.87 |
| Dividend yield | 3.05% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $6.12 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.21B | $5.81B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.39% | +7.86% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.21B | $487.00M |
| Gross margin | 20.30% | 74.38% |
| Operating margin | 11.98% | 10.67% |
| Net margin | 9.13% | 8.39% |
| 52-week high | $229.76 | $254.99 |
| 52-week low | $169.00 | $100.30 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.55% | -25.67% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.18% | +38.54% |
| Average volume | 1.23M | 1.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 113.14M | 41.88M |
| Employees | 209,931 | 20,096 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Darden Restaurants is about 2.9 times larger than Brinker International by market value ($22.73B vs $7.94B).
- EAT has outperformed DRI by 40.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Darden Restaurants offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.05% vs 0.00%).
About Darden Restaurants
DRI stock →Darden Restaurants, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates full-service restaurants in the United States and Canada. The company operates under Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, Darden and Darden Restaurants brand names.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 209,931 employees
About Brinker International
EAT stock →Brinker International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchise of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 20,096 employees
DRI vs EAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Darden Restaurants or Brinker International?
Darden Restaurants (DRI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $22.73B compared with $7.94B for Brinker International (EAT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DRI or EAT?
EAT returned +45.76% over the past 12 months, compared with +5.19% for DRI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DRI or EAT?
EAT has the lower trailing P/E at 17.4, versus 19.5 for DRI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Darden Restaurants or Brinker International?
Darden Restaurants pays a dividend yielding 3.05%, while Brinker International does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Darden Restaurants and Brinker International in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.