Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI - Free Report) reported better-than-expected results in second-quarter fiscal 2018 results.

Adjusted earnings of 73 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 70 cents by 4.3%. Earnings increased 14.1% year over year on the back of higher revenues. Notably, the quarter marked the 13th consecutive earnings beat for the company. Darden’s impressive earnings also resulted from the company’s relentless efforts in improving the basic operating factors of the business — food, service and atmosphere.

Total revenues of $1.88 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 billion and increased 14.6% year over year. The upside was driven by the addition of 153 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and 28 other new restaurants. The reported quarter witnessed strong comps growth as well These factors helped the company gain market share.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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Moreover, Darden’s shares have rallied 24.5% so far this year, outperforming the industry’s gain of 14.8%.

Revenues by Segments

Darden reports its business under four segments: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fine Dining, which includes The Capital Grille and Eddie V's, and Other Business.

In the reported quarter, the company’s legacy brands posted blended comps growth of 3.1%. In the previous quarter, comps had increased 1.7%. Meanwhile, the company witnessed increased sales across all segments in the fiscal second quarter.

Sales at Olive Garden were up 4% year over year to $951.6 million. Comps grew 3% at the segment, much higher than prior-quarter comps growth of 1.9%. Traffic rose 1.1% along with a 1.7% improvement in pricing and 0.2% growth in menu mix.

Sales at Fine Dining increased 9.3% to $140.6 million. Comps at The Capital Grille rose 3.8%, higher than the prior-quarter comps growth of 2%. Eddie V's also posted comps growth of 6.8%, significantly higher than the 2.5% improvement recorded in the preceding quarter.

Revenues from Other Business jumped 75.5% year over year to $401.6 million. However, comps at Seasons 52 fell 0.5% in the quarter, compared with the prior-quarter comps decline of 2.2%. Comps at Yard House inched up 2% in the quarter against a 0.4% decline in the last quarter. Meanwhile, comps grew 2.5% at Bahama Breeze, higher than the comps growth of 1.2% in the preceding quarter.

At LongHorn Steakhouse, sales rose 6.2% to $387.7 million. Comps at LongHorn Steakhouse increased 3.8%, higher than the prior-quarter comps growth of 2.6%. Traffic increased 0.9%, while pricing and menu mix grew 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively.

In the quarter under review, comps at Cheddar's declined 2%, comparing unfavorably with the prior-quarter decline of 1.4%.

Operating Highlights & Net Income

Total operating cost and expenses increased 14.8% year over year in the second quarter to nearly $1.8 billion. This was led by an overall increase in food and beverage costs, restaurant labor and restaurant expenses, marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses. As a result, operating margin in the quarter contracted 20 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis.

Net earnings in the second quarter was $84.7 million, recording 6.5% growth from the year-ago level.

Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter was $114.7 million, down from $146.8 million in the previous quarter.

Inventories totaled $199.1 million at the end of the reported quarter. Goodwill, as a percentage of total assets, was 22.1% in the quarter.

Long-term debt was $1.4 billion, up from $936.6 million in the previous quarter.

In the quarter under review, the company generated cash flow of $134.7 million from operating activities. It spent about $77.9 million on dividends in the quarter.

During the second quarter, the company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of approximately $89 million. As of the end of the quarter, Darden had approximately $281 million remaining under the current $500-million repurchase authorization.

Fiscal 2018 Outlook Raised

The company raised its fiscal 2018 adjusted EPS guidance to the range of $4.45 to $4.53, up from the previously guided range of $4.38 to $4.50. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings is pegged at $4.44.

Moreover, the company lifted its guidance for total sales growth to roughly 13% (earlier growth projected at 11.5% to 13%) on expectations of 40 new restaurant openings. Meanwhile, comps are anticipated to grow roughly 2%, at the high end of the previously guided range of 1% to 2%.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Darden carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

A few better-ranked stocks in the same space are Famous Dave's of America, Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) , Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (ARCO - Free Report) and Good Times Restaurants, Inc. (GTIM - Free Report) .

Dave's of America sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company’s long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 20%.

Arcos Dorados and Good Times carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Long-term earnings growth rate for Arcos Dorados and Good Times are projected at a respective 11.9% and 25%, respectively.