Form 4: Darden Restaurants Executive Exercises Options and Sells Significant Share Holdings

Douglas J. Milanes, SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Darden Restaurants, exercised stock options and subsequently sold a substantial portion of his common stock holdings.

Summary

• Douglas J. Milanes, SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI), reported changes in his beneficial ownership of common stock.
• On June 24, 2025, Mr. Milanes acquired 8,142 shares of common stock by exercising stock options at a price of $78.84 per share.
• Immediately following the option exercise, Mr. Milanes beneficially owned 12,094.696 shares of common stock.
• On the same date, June 24, 2025, he disposed of 3,806 shares of common stock at a weighted average sale price of $222.0753 per share.
• Also on June 24, 2025, he disposed of an additional 8,142 shares of common stock at the same weighted average sale price of $222.0753 per share.
• After these transactions, Mr. Milanes's direct beneficial ownership of Darden Restaurants common stock stands at 146.696 shares.
• The sales were executed in multiple trades with prices ranging from $221.865 to $222.35.
• The stock option exercised had an exercise price of $78.84 and vested in two equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2023, with an expiration date of July 29, 2030.
• The transactions were made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The document reports a routine insider transaction involving the exercise of vested stock options and subsequent sale of shares, likely under a pre-planned trading arrangement (10b5-1 plan). This is a common executive compensation event and does not inherently signal a strong positive or negative outlook for the company.

Positives

• The executive realized a significant financial gain by exercising stock options at a price of $78.84 per share and selling the acquired shares at a weighted average price of $222.0753 per share.
• The vesting of stock options, which began on July 29, 2023, allowed the executive to monetize a portion of his compensation.

Negatives

• The executive significantly reduced his direct beneficial ownership in Darden Restaurants, Inc. from 12,094.696 shares to 146.696 shares following the transactions.

Related Party Transactions

• Shares included in the beneficial ownership figures were acquired pursuant to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and its dividend reinvestment feature.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may note the reduction in direct beneficial ownership by a key executive, although such transactions are common for monetizing vested equity compensation.

Key Dates

Keywords

Darden Restaurants, DRI, SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Stock Option Exercise, Share Sale, Executive Compensation, Beneficial Ownership