Restaurants & Scores Face Target Cuts

Analysts trimmed price targets across the restaurant sector this week. Yum! Brands and Darden Restaurants both saw consensus target prices edge lower. Yum!'s average target slipped to $173.87 from $174.54. Darden's dropped to $225.31.

The cuts come as consumer spending pressure weighs on the casual dining space. McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Domino's Pizza all had single analyst recommendations removed from the consensus pool.

Outside restaurants, Fair Isaac had its target trimmed. The scoring giant now carries an average target of $1,560. That still implies a premium valuation for its $25.5B market cap. Short interest sits at 7.5% of free float — modest, but worth watching given the target drift lower.

First Solar also saw a recommendation removed. The solar manufacturer carries 8.2% SI % FF. Its average target stands at $243. Availability of shares to borrow is extremely high at over 1,500% of short interest — indicating shorts face no real squeeze pressure.

Equifax rounded out the downward target moves, with its consensus price falling slightly to $227.52.

The clearest pattern: analysts are fine-tuning, not panicking. Targets are drifting down, not collapsing.