Stock Analysis
Data Source: SEC EDGAR 13F
Updated Hourly

Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI)

1K + Investors. Track Smart Money conviction in DRI. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

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Current Price
-- USD
Analyst Target
-- (0 analysts)
Upside
0.00%
Net Flow Q/Q
↑ +37
Streak
2Q ▲
Buyers last Q
55%

Smart Money Signals — DRI

Based on 1029 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly

📈

Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row

last 6Q
For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added DRI than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.
🏔️

At the ownership peak (98% of max)

98% of all-time peak
1,029 hedge funds hold DRI right now — the highest count in 3.0 years. When ownership is this concentrated, any bad news can trigger a chain reaction: one big fund sells, others follow. This is a classic 'crowded trade' — high popularity doesn't equal safety.
〰️

Stable — ownership unchanged year-over-year

fund count last 6Q
The number of hedge funds holding DRI is almost the same as a year ago (+34 funds, +3% change). No significant rush to buy or sell — institutional backing is holding steady.
🟡

Slight buying edge — 55% buying

513 buying426 selling
Last quarter: 513 funds bought or added vs 426 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.
➡️

Steady new buyers — ~142 new funds per quarter

new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 139 → 83 → 141 → 142. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
🔒

68% of holders stayed for 2+ years

68% conviction (2yr+) 16% medium 16% new
698 out of 1,029 hedge funds have held DRI for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.
📈

Growing discovery — still being found

154 → 139 → 83 → 141 → 142 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 139 → 83 → 141 → 142. A growing number of institutions are discovering DRI each quarter. The narrative is still spreading — leaving room for ongoing capital accumulation.
🏛️

Deep conviction — 70% of holders stayed 2+ years

70% veterans 10% 1-2yr 19% new
Of 1,059 current holders: 745 (70%) have held for over 2 years without selling. These are not momentum buyers — they have lived through drawdowns and stayed. A large veteran base acts as a stabilizing force during selloffs.
🏆

Elite ownership — 57% AUM from top-100 funds

57% from top-100 AUM funds
64 of 1029 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 57% of total institutional value in DRI. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
3.3
out of 10
Low Exit Risk
Exit risk score 3.3/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.

Methodology note: these Smart Money cards use consecutive 13F disclosure snapshots, not trade-by-trade execution data. "Buying", "selling", "new holders", and "trimmed" refer to quarter-over-quarter changes in reported holders, aggregate shares, or disclosed position values between filings. They are useful for ownership regime analysis and crowding, but they do not imply exact trade timing on the filing date.

Institutional Sentiment Summary — DRI

In 2026 Q1, 513 hedge funds were net buyers of DRI (142 opened a new position, 371 added to an existing one), while 426 reduced or exited (321 trimmed, 105 sold completely) — a 55% buyer ratio, indicating a slight buying edge. Net buying has persisted for two consecutive quarters, a positive momentum signal. 57% of total institutional value in DRI is held by top-100 AUM funds, reflecting elite-tier ownership quality. Net fund flow last quarter: +37 funds (more new holders than closures). Total institutional holders: 1029.

Hedge Fund Ownership: DRI

How many hedge funds hold DRI — quarterly history vs. share price
Quarterly hedge fund ownership of DRI vs. share price

Market Analysis: DRI

Analyst Price Targets

Avg. Price Target
--

Analyst Recommendations

Stock Performance

Real-time

Company Profile: DRI

-- --

Institutional ownership data sourced from SEC EDGAR Form 13F-HR filings.

Is It Too Late to Buy Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI) Based on Hedge Fund 13F Filings?

Signal Freshness measures how much DRI has moved relative to its sector benchmark (XLY) since the 2026 Q1 13F filing. A stock that has barely outrun its sector is still a relatively fresh entry point — the fund's thesis has not yet been priced in by the broader market.

Since Quarter End March 31, 2026 · 82d ago
DRI
+8.9%
XLY
+7.5%

DRI outperformed XLY by +1.4% since March 31, 2026.

Since 13F Filing Date May 15, 2026 · 37d ago
DRI
+9.0%
XLY
+0.5%

Since the filing became public, DRI outperformed XLY by +8.5% .

Interpretation: The stock is tracking its sector benchmark closely. The signal remains fresh and the entry point is still near the fund's implied reference. Learn more →

Smart Money Signal ?
Broad Consensus, Selective Conviction

Many quality funds hold this stock, but top-tier positions remain relatively small.

60 top-rated funds 2 high-conviction
Consensus
7.8
/ 10
breadth
×
Elite
2.5
/ 10
conviction
Hedge Fund Positioning: DRI
1K + Investors

Track Smart Money conviction in DRI. See who's accumulating, reducing, or initiating positions.

Metric All 13F Filers (2026 Q1) Prior (2025 Q4) Change
Funds Holding 1023 992 3.12%
13F Shares 110M 114M -4.04%
Total Value $21.09B $20.81B 1.33%
New Positions 140 141 -1
Increased Positions 361 292 +69
Closed Positions 109 123 -14
Reduced Positions 314 369 -55
Total Calls 17 19 -10.53%
Total Puts 20 19 5.26%
PUT/CALL Ratio 1.18 1.0 Neutral

Statistics: DRI

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Enterprise Value/EBITDA --
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Short Ratio (Days to Cover) --
Short % of Float --

Financial Highlights

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Institutional Holders (2026 Q1)

1K + investors

Explore institutional interest and hedge fund ownership dynamics. Analyze portfolio weights, new positions, and conviction trends in DRI. Verified SEC 13F-HR filings.

QUARTER:
Top 25 DRI holders by conviction (% of portfolio weight) — 2026 Q1 · Source: SEC Form 13F
# Investor % of Portfolio Shares Mkt Value
1 Clear Trail Advisors, LLC 5.24% 160,688 $31.5M
2 Hamlin Capital Management, LLC 4.03% 851,038 $166.8M
3 Woodley Farra Manion Portfolio Management Inc 3.24% 339,543 $66.6M
4 Westport Asset Management Inc 3.03% 35,000 $6.9M
5 Virginia Wealth Management Group, INC. 2.82% 26,868 $5.3M
6 Running Oak Capital LLC 1.86% 70,123 $13.7M
7 Applied Finance Capital Management, LLC 1.64% 111,515 $21.9M
8 Decatur Capital Management, Inc. 1.52% 16,916 $3.3M
9 Willis Investment Counsel 1.31% 122,600 $24.0M
10 Valley Wealth Managers, INC. 1.30% 102,820 $20.2M
11 Ellsworth Advisors, LLC 1.29% 35,152 $6.9M
12 Harrell Investment Partners, LLC 1.26% 26,888 $5.3M
13 Earnest Partners LLC 1.12% 1,387,401 $272.0M
14 Vista Investment Partners II, LLC 1.08% 12,256 $2.4M
15 LRT Capital Management, LLC 1.07% 5,877 $1.2M
16 Vista Investment Partners LLC 1.05% 20,166 $4.0M
17 Winthrop Partners - WNY, LLC 1.01% 9,666 $1.9M
18 Bahl & Gaynor Inc 1.00% 1,010,176 $198.0M
19 Skba Capital Management LLC 0.99% 36,915 $7.2M
20 Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional, Inc. 0.93% 15,887 $3.1M
21 Phoenix Wealth Advisors 0.91% 11,701 $2.3M
22 Carolina Wealth Advisors, LLC 0.89% 10,846 $2.1M
23 Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC 0.88% 7,139 $1.4M
24 Agp Franklin, LLC 0.87% 8,858 $1.7M
25 Newport Trust Company, LLC 0.86% 1,782,919 $349.5M
Investor Ownership
History
% of Portfolio Prev % Rank Conviction Avg Buy Price 13F Score™ 3Y / 7Y Sell Timing Shares Mkt Value Change Change % Source Quarter Filed

Frequently Asked Questions — Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI)

What does the Smart Money Trend signal show for DRI?

Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row: For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added DRI than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.

What is the institutional breadth score for DRI?

Slight buying edge — 55% buying: Last quarter: 513 funds bought or added vs 426 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.

What is the fund quality score for DRI holders?

Elite ownership — 57% AUM from top-100 funds: 64 of 1029 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 57% of total institutional value in DRI. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.

How long have hedge funds held DRI?

68% of holders stayed for 2+ years: 698 out of 1,029 hedge funds have held DRI for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.

Is it too late to buy Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI) following the 2026 Q1 hedge fund 13F filings?

As of today, DRI has moved +9.0% since the 2026 Q1 13F filing date (May 15, 2026), compared to +0.5% for the XLY sector ETF — an outperformance of +8.5%. Since the quarter end (March 31, 2026), DRI has gained +8.9% vs +7.5% for XLY. The stock is tracking its sector benchmark closely. The signal remains fresh and the entry point is still near the fund's implied reference.

Where does this institutional ownership data come from?

All holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings, which institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets are required to submit quarterly. Data is parsed directly from SEC EDGAR.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Institutional holdings data is sourced from SEC Form 13F filings and reflects positions as of the filing date. Past performance of any fund or portfolio is not indicative of future results. 13Foresight is not a registered investment adviser. Always conduct your own due diligence before making investment decisions.

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