About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Our mission: Bringing practical business and technical intelligence to today's structured cabling professionals

For more than 30 years, Cabling Installation & Maintenance has provided useful, practical information to professionals responsible for the specification, design, installation and management of structured cabling systems serving enterprise, data center and other environments. These professionals are challenged to stay informed of constantly evolving standards, system-design and installation approaches, product and system capabilities, technologies, as well as applications that rely on high-performance structured cabling systems. Our editors synthesize these complex issues into multiple information products. This portfolio of information products provides concrete detail that improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and equips cabling professionals with the perspective that enables strategic planning for networks’ optimum long-term performance.

Throughout our annual magazine, weekly email newsletters and 24/7/365 website, Cabling Installation & Maintenance digs into the essential topics our audience focuses on.

  • Design, Installation and Testing: We explain the bottom-up design of cabling systems, from case histories of actual projects to solutions for specific problems or aspects of the design process. We also look at specific installations using a case-history approach to highlight challenging problems, solutions and unique features. Additionally, we examine evolving test-and-measurement technologies and techniques designed to address the standards-governed and practical-use performance requirements of cabling systems.
  • Technology: We evaluate product innovations and technology trends as they impact a particular product class through interviews with manufacturers, installers and users, as well as contributed articles from subject-matter experts.
  • Data Center: Cabling Installation & Maintenance takes an in-depth look at design and installation workmanship issues as well as the unique technology being deployed specifically for data centers.
  • Physical Security: Focusing on the areas in which security and IT—and the infrastructure for both—interlock and overlap, we pay specific attention to Internet Protocol’s influence over the development of security applications.
  • Standards: Tracking the activities of North American and international standards-making organizations, we provide updates on specifications that are in-progress, looking forward to how they will affect cabling-system design and installation. We also produce articles explaining the practical aspects of designing and installing cabling systems in accordance with the specifications of established standards.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Contact Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Editorial

Patrick McLaughlin

Serena Aburahma

Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

Peter Fretty - Vice President, Market Leader

Tim Carli - Business Development Manager

Brayden Hudspeth - Sales Development Representative

Subscriptions and Memberships

Subscribe to our newsletters and manage your subscriptions

Feedback/Problems

Send a message to our general in-box

 

The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Darden’s Q3 Earnings Call

DRI Cover Image

Darden’s third quarter results were met with a negative market reaction, with shares falling after the company delivered sales growth but missed Wall Street’s profit expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to strong same-restaurant sales gains at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, supported by menu innovation and the growing adoption of first-party delivery. CEO Ricardo Cardenas highlighted the positive impact of new menu items and promotional campaigns, noting, “Olive Garden’s advertising featuring 1 million free deliveries concluded in the first quarter with all the free deliveries being redeemed.” However, executives also acknowledged margin pressures from higher beef costs and increased investment in affordability initiatives.

Is now the time to buy DRI? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

Darden (DRI) Q3 CY2025 Highlights:

  • Revenue: $3.04 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.04 billion (10.4% year-on-year growth, in line)
  • Adjusted EPS: $1.97 vs analyst expectations of $2.01 (2% miss)
  • Adjusted EBITDA: $439 million vs analyst estimates of $452 million (14.4% margin, 2.9% miss)
  • Adjusted EPS guidance for the full year is $10.60 at the midpoint, missing analyst estimates by 0.9%
  • Operating Margin: 11.1%, up from 9.8% in the same quarter last year
  • Locations: 2,165 at quarter end, up from 2,040 in the same quarter last year
  • Same-Store Sales rose 4.7% year on year (-1.1% in the same quarter last year)
  • Market Capitalization: $21.76 billion

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Darden’s Q3 Earnings Call

  • Brian Harbour (Morgan Stanley) asked about beef cost coverage and exposure to price swings. CFO Raj Vennam acknowledged limited hedging in beef and noted, “beef is the biggest variable here,” with ongoing volatility expected in the near term.
  • Jon Tower (Citi) inquired about the impact of affordability initiatives and delivery costs on margins. Vennam explained that delivery and lighter portion menus each reduced margins by about 20 basis points but were planned investments to drive long-term traffic.
  • David Palmer (Evercore ISI) questioned the sustainability of casual dining strength and Olive Garden’s plans against tougher comparisons. CEO Ricardo Cardenas cited value perception as a driver and said new initiatives will be deployed to maintain momentum.
  • Eric Gonzalez (KeyBanc Capital Markets) probed shifts in guest income demographics. Cardenas confirmed visit growth across all income groups, with higher-income guests showing increased frequency, possibly reflecting trade-down from other segments.
  • Peter Saleh (BTIG) pressed on the sustainability of elevated beef prices and the likelihood of further price increases. Vennam described current beef prices as unsustainable, but said more pricing could occur if costs remain high and demand holds.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, our team will be closely tracking (1) the pace at which Darden can mitigate commodity cost pressures and achieve margin stabilization, (2) measurable progress in expanding first-party delivery and its ability to drive incremental traffic, and (3) the effectiveness of menu affordability initiatives in sustaining guest visits without eroding average check. Additional attention will be paid to new unit openings and competitive responses to Darden’s value-driven approach.

Darden currently trades at $187.26, down from $208.86 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

The Best Stocks for High-Quality Investors

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.