Other
Labor
Darden Restaurants Labor increased by 4.7% to $1.05B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 5.2%, from $995.00M to $1.05B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Labor shows an upward trend with a 13.8% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOther
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2017
Last reportedQ3 2026Mar 27, 2026
How to read this metric
A decrease relative to revenue suggests improved operational efficiency, while an increase may indicate rising wage pressures or staffing challenges.
Detailed definition
Direct labor costs include all wages, salaries, benefits, and payroll taxes associated with restaurant-level staff, incl...
Peer comparison
Commonly reported as 'Restaurant Labor' or 'Payroll and Benefits' by restaurant operators.
Metric ID:
other_cost_direct_laborHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | Q2 '26 | Q3 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $690.70M | $736.00M | $744.80M | $798.70M | $829.30M | $793.80M | $808.50M | $874.20M | $869.80M | $875.30M | $880.90M | $937.10M | $926.00M | $889.30M | $926.80M | $995.00M | $1.02B | $988.00M | $1.00B | $1.05B |
| QoQ Change | — | +6.6% | +1.2% | +7.2% | +3.8% | -4.3% | +1.9% | +8.1% | -0.5% | +0.6% | +0.6% | +6.4% | -1.2% | -4.0% | +4.2% | +7.4% | +2.7% | -3.3% | +1.2% | +4.7% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +20.1% | +7.9% | +8.6% | +9.5% | +4.9% | +10.3% | +9.0% | +7.2% | +6.5% | +1.6% | +5.2% | +6.2% | +10.4% | +11.1% | +7.9% | +5.2% |
Range$690.70M – $1.05B
CAGR+9.2%
Avg YoY Growth+8.2%
Median YoY Growth+7.9%
Current Streak2 quarters growth
Labor at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Darden Restaurants's labor?
- Darden Restaurants (DRI) reported labor of $1.05B in Q4 2025.
- How has Darden Restaurants's labor changed year-over-year?
- Darden Restaurants's labor increased by 5.2% year-over-year, from $995.00M to $1.05B.
- What is the long-term trend for Darden Restaurants's labor?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Darden Restaurants's labor has grown at a 13.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $2.29B to $3.83B.
- What does labor mean?
- The total cost of employee wages and benefits required to operate the restaurants.