Restaurants Up, Groceries Down in Analyst Calls

Analysts delivered a split verdict Friday across consumer, pharma, and financial names. The moves point to diverging views on the US spending outlook.

Darden Restaurants got the clearest boost. Analysts raised the consensus target to $226.23, up from $225.58. The Olive Garden parent carries just 5.1% short interest. Eighteen buy ratings back the stock — against only one sell.

General Mills faced the opposite direction. Target prices were cut to $37.00 from $37.56. The cereal giant has 9.3% of its free float sold short. Five sell ratings now sit alongside eleven holds. Consumer staples remain under pressure as private-label competition bites.

Gilead Sciences got a target lift to $157.57 from $157.04. Short sellers are largely absent — just 2.1% of the float is short. The biopharma holds 23 buy recommendations. Analysts appear confident in its HIV and oncology pipeline.

Lennar was trimmed slightly to $89.50 from $90.14. Homebuilder sentiment is softening. Nine analysts still rate it a sell — the most bearish consensus on the list. Rising mortgage rates are weighing on the sector narrative.

Charles Schwab and Huntington Bancshares both saw target price increases. Regional banks are catching a bid as rate-cut expectations firm up heading into the second half of 2026.