WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - (Adds Outlook, dividend)

Looking ahead, for the full year, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) expects
earnings per share of $9.40 to $9.60, in line with analysts' estimate of $9.55
per share.

Annual sales are projected to be in the range of $11.8 billion to $11.9 billion,
below the Street view of $11.94 billion.

The Board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.40 per share, a 6.9
percent increase from third quarter. The dividend will be paid on August 1, to
shareholders of record on July 10.

Q4 Results:

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) revealed a profit for fourth quarter that
decreased from last year but beat the Street estimates.

The company's bottom line totaled $308.1 million, or $2.57 per share. This
compares with $315.1 million, or $2.58 per share, in last year's fourth quarter.

Excluding items, Darden Restaurants Inc. reported adjusted earnings of $318.2
million or $2.65 per share for the period.

Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $2.61 per share, according
to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude
special items.

The company's revenue for the quarter rose 6.9% to $2.96 billion from $2.77
billion last year.

Darden Restaurants Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :

-Earnings (Q4): $308.1 Mln. vs. $315.1 Mln. last year.
-EPS (Q4): $2.57 vs. $2.58 last year.
-Revenue (Q4): $2.96 Bln vs. $2.77 Bln last year.



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