Analysts Split on Restaurants, Housing, and Food

Analysts moved target prices across several sectors this week, with no clear macro theme tying the moves together.

Darden Restaurants saw the most constructive action. Its consensus target price rose to $226.23 from $225.58. The Olive Garden and LongHorn parent carries a $24.2B market cap. Analysts remain broadly bullish, with 18 buy ratings versus just one sell.

Lennar got the opposite treatment. Homebuilder sentiment cooled as its target dropped to $89.50 from $90.14. Short interest sits at 8.8% of free float. With the housing market under rate pressure, the trim is no surprise.

General Mills also saw its target cut, falling to $37.00 from $37.56. The packaged-food giant has struggled in recent quarters. Short interest at 9.3% of free float signals persistent skepticism from the market.

Gilead Sciences was a bright spot. Its average target price climbed to $157.57 from $157.04. The biotech has 23 hold ratings and no sells. The nudge higher reflects steadying sentiment around its HIV and oncology pipeline.

Mastercard saw a modest target dip to $644.89 from $646.97 despite 35 analyst buy ratings — one of the strongest consensuses in the data.