Chips, Airlines, and Biotech Get Analyst Boosts

Airlines are catching fresh tailwinds from Wall Street. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines Holdings both saw consensus target prices raised Friday. Delta's average target climbed to $86.41. United's moved to $136.63. Southwest Airlines also got a lift, with the consensus target ticking up to $47.51.

The semiconductor sector drew attention too. Wells Fargo analyst Joe Quatrochi lifted his target on Applied Materials to $740 from $715, maintaining a Buy rating. AMAT carries a $530 billion market cap. Short interest sits at just 2.7% of free float — bulls are firmly in control.

In biotech, UBS raised its target on Incyte Corporation to $113 from $103. That's a $10 jump, or roughly 10%. Incyte's SI % FF stands at 6.7%. The UBS analyst kept a Hold rating, but the bigger target signals improving confidence in the pipeline.

UBS also bumped Darden Restaurants to $240 from $230, with a Buy. Darden owns Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.

In energy, targets moved in opposite directions. Exxon Mobil saw its consensus target edge higher to $170.29. EOG Resources and Diamondback Energy both saw slight consensus target trims.

Walmart received a new consensus recommendation, with the average target settling at $138.59.