Darden Restaurants (DRI) vs Yum! Brands (YUM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Darden Restaurants (DRI) has outperformed Yum! Brands (YUM) over the past year, gaining 5.2% versus a loss of 4.3%. Over five years, DRI leads with a +35.1% price change compared with +12.1% for YUM. Yum! Brands is the larger company by market cap ($38.66 billion vs $22.60 billion), about 1.7 times the size, while Darden Restaurants is growing revenue faster (+9.4% vs +8.8%).
On valuation, Darden Restaurants trades at a lower forward P/E (16.1x vs 20.3x for Yum! Brands). Darden Restaurants offers the higher dividend yield (3.06% vs 1.03%). Yum! Brands converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.0% versus 9.1%.
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 | YUM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $199.73 | $141.68 |
| Market cap | $22.60B | $38.66B |
| 1-day change | -0.87% | +0.95% |
| YTD return | +9.49% | -7.23% |
| 1-year return | +5.19% | -4.34% |
| 5-year return | +35.09% | +12.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.39 | 17.84 |
| Forward P/E | 16.11 | 20.33 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.30 | $7.94 |
| Dividend yield | 3.06% | 1.03% |
| Annual dividend | $6.12 | $1.46 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.21B | $8.21B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.39% | +8.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.21B | $1.56B |
| Gross margin | 20.30% | 69.77% |
| Operating margin | 11.98% | 31.34% |
| Net margin | 9.13% | 18.98% |
| 52-week high | $229.76 | $170.14 |
| 52-week low | $169.00 | $134.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.07% | -16.73% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.88% | +20.84% |
| Average volume | 1.23M | 2.51M |
| Shares outstanding | 113.14M | 272.90M |
| Employees | 209,931 | 49,000 |
| 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 offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.06% vs 1.03%).
- Yum! Brands is more profitable, keeping 19.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.1 cents for Darden Restaurants.
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 Yum! Brands
YUM stock →Yum! Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises traditional and non-traditional quick service restaurants in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: KFC Division, Taco Bell Division, Pizza Hut Division, and Habit Burger & Grill Division.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 49,000 employees
DRI vs YUM FAQ
Which is bigger, Darden Restaurants or Yum! Brands?
Yum! Brands (YUM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.66B compared with $22.60B for Darden Restaurants (DRI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DRI or YUM?
DRI returned +5.19% over the past 12 months, compared with -4.34% for YUM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DRI or YUM?
YUM has the lower trailing P/E at 17.8, versus 19.4 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 Yum! Brands?
Darden Restaurants has the higher yield at 3.06%, compared with 1.03% for Yum! Brands.
Are Darden Restaurants and Yum! Brands in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.