shares of darden restaurants inc dri dove 25 in premarket trading thursday after the restaurant chain operator matched fiscal firstquarter profit expectations but missed on samestore sales amid weakness in its flagship olive garden and longhorn steakhouse chains net income for the quarter to aug 28 fell to 1930 million or 156 a share from 2309 million or 175 a share in the yearago period to match the factset consensus for earnings per share total sales grew 61 to 245 billion just shy of the factset consensus of 247 billion overall samestore sales rose 42 to miss the factset consensus of 51 growth samestore sales rose 23 at olive garden missing the factset consensus of a 23 rise rose 42 at longhorn steakhouse versus expectations of 51 growth and increased 76 at fine dining beating expectations of up 59 operating costs and expenses increased more than total sales rising 87 with food and beverage costs growing 160 an restaurant labor costs rising 79 for fiscal 2023 the company expects total sales of 102 billion to 104 billion and samestore sales growth of 4 to 6 with both surrounding the factset consensus for total sales of 103 billion and samestore sales of 47 growth the stock has rallied 140 over the past three months through wednesday while the sp 500 spx has edged up 08