Best of the Brokers for 30 October 2015

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Barclays maintained its “equal weight” rating, but lowered its target price for Aberdeen Asset Management to 350p from 400p as it projects a “painful quarter” leading up to its final results at the end of next month. The broker predicts net outflows of £10.3bn, with an eight per cent decrease in assets under management, down to £283bn for the quarter, which will hit revenues and bring earnings per share down 17 per cent.

 

WH Smith share price has risen by around 50 per cent over the past year, placing it at a 25 per cent premium to the rest of the sector. Numis says the price is “stretched”, and has downgraded shares to “reduce” from “hold” with a target price of 1,696p. This is despite profits up eight per cent to £123m, ahead of predictions, in the company’s full-year 2015 results recently.