DRI vs. YUMC: Darden Restaurants vs. Yum China Stock Comparison
How do Darden Restaurants (DRI) and Yum China (YUMC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Darden Restaurants (DRI) and Yum China (YUMC) are both classified in the Restaurants sub-industry within the broader Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Darden Restaurants, Inc. | Yum China Holdings, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | China |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Services | Consumer Services |
| GICS Industry | Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
| Market Capitalization | 25.61 billion USD | 16.79 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 9, 1995 | October 17, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 33.36% | 17.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.59% | 6.80% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.78% | -0.60% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.88% | 25.40% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.63 | 0.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.96% | -53.84% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.09M | 1.59M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.04 | 0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.57 | 0.77 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 55.43% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Yum China (YUMC) at 17.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DRI.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
55.43%
- Max
- 76.75%
- DRI
- 55.43%
- Q3
- 34.07%
- Median
- 15.90%
- Q1
- 3.23%
- Min
- -40.61%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
17.35%
- Max
- 76.75%
- Q3
- 34.07%
- YUMC
- 17.35%
- Median
- 15.90%
- Q1
- 3.23%
- Min
- -40.61%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 8.85% and Yum China (YUMC) at 7.90% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
8.85%
- Max
- 25.52%
- Q3
- 12.95%
- DRI
- 8.85%
- Median
- 6.63%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -14.36%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
7.90%
- Max
- 25.52%
- Q3
- 12.95%
- YUMC
- 7.90%
- Median
- 6.63%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -14.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.86% and Yum China (YUMC) at 13.09% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
9.86%
- Max
- 49.05%
- Q3
- 24.35%
- Median
- 14.23%
- DRI
- 9.86%
- Q1
- 5.67%
- Min
- -16.47%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
13.09%
- Max
- 49.05%
- Q3
- 24.35%
- Median
- 14.23%
- YUMC
- 13.09%
- Q1
- 5.67%
- Min
- -16.47%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 55.43% | 17.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.65% | 7.81% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.85% | 7.90% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.86% | 13.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 21.66% | 20.45% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.39% and Yum China (YUMC) at 4.37% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 17.16% and Yum China (YUMC) at 7.73% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.39% | 4.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.00% | 7.23% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 17.16% | 7.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.11% | 34.14% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 0.30 and Yum China (YUMC) at 0.67 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
0.30
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.72
- DRI
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.22
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
0.67
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 1.85
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.72
- YUMC
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Yum China (YUMC) at 0.54 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 4.15 uses more debt funding than most peers.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
4.15
- Max
- 6.12
- DRI
- 4.15
- Q3
- 2.93
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.01
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
0.54
- Max
- 6.12
- Q3
- 2.93
- Median
- 1.29
- YUMC
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.30 | 0.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.15 | 0.54 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.91 | 0.85 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 2.68% and Yum China (YUMC) at 2.23% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
2.68%
- Max
- 4.10%
- DRI
- 2.68%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
2.23%
- Max
- 4.10%
- YUMC
- 2.23%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 59.42% and Yum China (YUMC) at 38.54% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
59.42%
- Max
- 89.80%
- DRI
- 59.42%
- Q3
- 36.83%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
38.54%
- Max
- 89.80%
- YUMC
- 38.54%
- Q3
- 36.83%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | 2.23% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.42% | 38.54% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 21.98 and Yum China (YUMC) at 17.34 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
21.98
- Max
- 71.70
- Q3
- 37.12
- DRI
- 21.98
- Median
- 21.88
- Q1
- 13.00
- Min
- 5.72
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
17.34
- Max
- 71.70
- Q3
- 37.12
- Median
- 21.88
- YUMC
- 17.34
- Q1
- 13.00
- Min
- 5.72
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 1.92 and Yum China (YUMC) at 1.32 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
1.92
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.01
- DRI
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.54
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.08
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
1.32
- Max
- 6.40
- Q3
- 3.01
- Median
- 1.54
- YUMC
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Yum China (YUMC) at 3.19 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 12.40 prices above its benchmark range — DRI looks rich relative to book.
DRI
Consumer Services industry group
12.40
- DRI
- 12.40
- Max
- 12.02
- Q3
- 5.58
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -4.51
YUMC
Consumer Services industry group
3.19
- Max
- 12.02
- Q3
- 5.58
- YUMC
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -4.51
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DRI | YUMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.98 | 17.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.92 | 1.32 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 12.40 | 3.19 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.10% | -2.30% |