Analysts Cut General Mills, Lift Darden and Gilead

Analysts trimmed their target on GIS this week. The consensus average target fell to $37.00 from $37.56. That is a modest cut. But it signals ongoing caution on the food giant. Short interest stands at 9.3% of the free float. That is notable for a $18.4bn consumer staples name.

DRI got the opposite treatment. Analysts lifted the Darden Restaurants average target to $226.23 from $225.58. The move is small in dollar terms. But the direction matters. The restaurant operator has a $24.2bn market cap. Short interest is low at just 5.1% of free float — shorts are not betting against it.

GILD saw its consensus target nudge higher to $157.57 from $157.04. Gilead carries a $155.9bn market cap. Its short interest is only 2.1% of free float. That puts it firmly in bull territory among analysts, with 23 hold ratings but no sell coverage visible in the consensus.

LEN and BIIB both saw target cuts. Lennar's average slipped to $89.50. Biogen's dropped to $220.13. Both moves reflect broader caution in homebuilding and biopharma respectively. SCHW bucked that trend with a target lift to $116.05.