Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Cash flow from operations refers to the cash brought in through a company's normal business operations. It is the cash flow before any investment or financing activities. It is the cash version of net income.
Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) Cash Flow from Operations Explanation
For companies reported in indirect method, cash flow from operations contains six items:
1. Net Income From Continuing Operations:
Net Income From Continuing Operations indicates the net income that a firm brings in from ongoing business activities. These activities are expected to continue into the next reporting period. It excludes extraordinary items, income from the cumulative effects of accounting changes, non-recurring items, income from tax loss carry forward, and preferred dividends.
Darden Restaurants's net income from continuing operations for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $408 Mil.
2. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation is a present expense that accounts for the past cost of an asset that is now providing benefits.
Depletion and amortization are synonyms for depreciation.
Generally:
The term depreciation is used when discussing man made tangible assets
The term depletion is used when discussing natural tangible assets
The term amortization is used when discussing intangible assets
Darden Restaurants's depreciation, depletion and amortization for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $146 Mil.
3. Change In Working Capital:
Working Capital is a measure of a company's short term liquidity or its ability to cover short term liabilities. It is defined as the difference between a company's current assets and current liabilities. Changes in Working Capital is reported in the cash flow statement since it is one of the major ways in which net income can differ from operating cash flow.
Darden Restaurants's change in working capital for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $14 Mil. It means Darden Restaurants's working capital
increased by $14 Mil
from Feb. 2026 to May. 2026 .
4. Deferred Tax:
It is the cash flow generated from deferred tax.
Darden Restaurants's cash flow from deferred tax for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $-9 Mil.
Darden Restaurants's cash from discontinued operating Activities for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $0 Mil.
6. Asset Impairment Charge:
It is the charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.
Darden Restaurants's asset impairment charge for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $9 Mil.
7. Stock Based Compensation:
It is a way corporations use stock options to reward employees. It provides executives and employees the opportunity to share in the growth of the company and, if structured properly, can align their interests with the interests of the company's shareholders and investors, without burning the company's cash on hand.
Darden Restaurants's stock based compensation for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $13 Mil.
8. Cash Flow from Others:
These are cash differences caused by the change of inventory, accounts payable, accounts receivable etc. For instance, if a company pays its suppliers slower, its cash position will build up faster. If a company receives payments from its customers slower, its account receivables will rise, and its cash position will grow more slowly (or even shrink).
Darden Restaurants's cash flow from others for the
three
months ended in May. 2026 was $-12 Mil.
Darden Restaurants Cash Flow from Operations Related Terms
Darden Restaurants Cash Flow from Operations Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Darden Restaurants's Cash Flow from Operations can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Darden Restaurants Cash Flow from Operations Chart
Darden Restaurants Cash Flow from Operations Calculation
Cash flow from operations refers to the cash brought in through a company's normal business operations. It is the cash flow before any investment or financing activities. It is the cash version of net income.
Darden Restaurants's Cash Flow from Operations for the fiscal year that ended in May. 2026 is calculated as:
Cash Flow from Operations for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in May. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $1,848 Mil.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
What does a Cash Flow from Operations of $1,848 Mil mean?
Darden Restaurants (DRI) has a Cash Flow from Operations of $1,848 Mil as of May. 2026. Cash Flow from Operations is the amount of cash earned or paid from standard business operations. View historical data for Darden Restaurants and its competitors.
Is Darden Restaurants' Cash Flow from Operations too high?
Darden Restaurants' current Cash Flow from Operations is $1,848 Mil. Overall, Darden Restaurants has a GF Score™ of 85/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Darden Restaurants' Cash Flow from Operations compare to YUMC and TXRH?
Darden Restaurants' Cash Flow from Operations of $1,848 Mil can be compared against companies in the Restaurants industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Cash Flow from Operations for a Restaurants company?
A good Cash Flow from Operations depends on the Restaurants industry context. However, Cash Flow from Operations should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Cash Flow from Operations mean?
A high Cash Flow from Operations can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Cash Flow from Operations is the amount of cash earned or paid from standard business operations. View historical data for Darden Restaurants and its competitors. Darden Restaurants's current Cash Flow from Operations is $1,848 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Darden Restaurants stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Darden Restaurants (DRI) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $210.45, compared to a current price of $208.85 — trading 0.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Cash Flow from Operations is $1,848 Mil. Darden Restaurants' overall GF Score™ is 85/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Cash Flow from Operations calculated?
Cash Flow from Operations is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Darden Restaurants (DRI), the current Cash Flow from Operations is $1,848 Mil as of May. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Darden Restaurants (DRI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Darden Restaurants stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $208.85 is trading 0.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $210.45.
GuruFocus considers Darden Restaurants to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for DRI:
Cash Flow from Operations: $1,848 Mil
GF Value™: $210.45 vs. price of $208.85 (0.8% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the DRI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Darden Restaurants is the largest global full-service dining operator, with over $12 billion in system sales across 2,159 company-owned stores at the end of fiscal 2025, spanning the US and Canada. The firm operates 10 banners in four segments, including Olive Garden (43% of sales), LongHorn Steakhouse (25%), and fine dining (21%), which includes The Capital Grille, Ruth's Chris, and Eddie V's. The other 11% of sales comes from smaller concepts such as Yard House and Cheddar's. Darden primarily generates revenue through sales of food and beverage items at its company-owned restaurants. It also earns royalties on sales from 154 franchised locations in US and international markets, which sit within the other segment but are immaterial to consolidated results.
85GF Score
Get the complete analysis for DRI
Cash Flow from Operations is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
DRI has been successfully added to your 
