Analysts Split on Consumer, Housing, and Biotech

Analyst target price moves this week cut across sectors, with restaurants rising and grocers falling.

Darden Restaurants collected the most bullish treatment. The consensus target price rose to $226.23 from $225.58. 18 buy ratings back the stock. The $24B casual dining giant carries short interest of just 5.1% of free float, suggesting little bearish pushback.

The opposite story played out at General Mills. Analysts trimmed the average target to $37.00 from $37.56. Five sell ratings now sit alongside 11 holds. Short interest runs at 9.3% of free float — notable for a staples name.

Homebuilders also took a hit. Lennar saw its consensus target slip to $89.50 from $90.14. Nine buy ratings remain, but the downward TP revision reflects ongoing mortgage rate pressure on housing demand. Short interest sits at 8.8% of free float.

On the upside, Gilead Sciences got a target bump to $157.57 from $157.04. The biotech carries 23 buy ratings and zero sells. Short interest is a low 2.1% of free float.

Charles Schwab also edged higher, with the consensus target rising to $116.05 from $115.85. 19 buy ratings underpin the brokerage firm.

Mastercard bucked its own strong buy consensus with a small target cut — to $644.89 from $646.97 — though 35 buy ratings remain intact.