07:50 AM EST, 12/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) reported fiscal Q2 adjusted diluted earnings Thursday of $2.03, up from $1.84 a year earlier.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected $2.02.

Revenue for the quarter ended Nov. 24 was $2.89 billion compared with $2.73 billion a year earlier.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $2.87 billion.

The company reiterated fiscal 2025 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of of $9.40 to $9.60. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect non-GAAP EPS pf $9.42. The company raised its annual revenue guidance to about $12.1 billion from $11.8 to $11.9 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $11.97 billion.

Darden maintained a quarterly cash dividend of $1.40 per share, payable on Feb. 3, to shareholders of record on Jan. 10.

Darden shares were more than 9% higher in recent premarket trading.