Darden Restaurants Posts Higher 1Q Sales, Profit Slips on Increased Expenses

By Connor HartDarden Restaurants logged higher fiscal first-quarter sales, though profit slipped as operating costs grew at a faster rate.The company on Thursday posted net earnings of $233.4 million, or $2.04 a share, for its three months ended Aug. 30, compared with $257.8 million, or $2.19 a sha…