Darden Restaurant Group President Sells Shares, Retains Significant Stake

Melvin John Martin, Group President of Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), sold a portion of his common shares on the open market. Even after the sale, he still holds a stake worth several million dollars—approximately KRW 4.5 billion—indicating that the transaction represents only a small fraction of his total holdings.

According to the SEC filing, on January 6, 2026, Martin sold 1,200 shares of Darden common stock at about $197.47 per share, generating roughly $237,000 (around KRW 350 million) in cash. Following this sale, his remaining position stands at 17,228 shares, valued at approximately $3.4–3.5 million (KRW 4.5–4.7 billion) based on recent market prices. The filing notes that his holdings include shares acquired through the employee stock purchase plan and dividend reinvestments.

In its fiscal 2026 second-quarter report, Darden Restaurants confirmed quarterly revenues growth, reinstated a cash dividend of $1.50 per share, and repurchased $222 million of its own stock during the quarter. The company also plans to open more than 60 new restaurants across key brands—including Olive Garden—during fiscal 2025–26, aiming for roughly 8% annual revenue growth.

Darden Restaurants is a leading U.S. casual-dining company whose portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and fine-dining concepts such as The Capital Grille and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The firm has recently combined the acquisition of Chuy’s with an aggressive share-buyback and dividend-enhancement strategy. As an executive responsible for brands like Olive Garden, Martin has steadily increased his ownership through long-term incentive awards and the employee stock purchase plan.