BEST OF THE BROKERS September 28, 2009 ASTRAZENECAJefferies said AstraZeneca faces a series of patent problems throughout its forecast period. While resurgent growth, pipeline delivery and cost savings on its lower cholesterol drug Crestor may help to offset some of the impact, Jefferies see a meagre earnings versus a weighted average of four per cent for the sector. DIAGEODiageo looks set for [...]
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF WILLIAM HILL’S RESULTS? October 19, 2009 MATTHEW GERARD INVESTECAfter much publicised weakness in sports margins and a profit warning from Ladbrokes, this statement is much better than we had anticipated. We believe the weakness in sports margins is a temporary phenomenon and that this is a good opportunity to buy into a cash generative, strongly positioned UK leisure retailer.NICHOLAS BATRAM KBC [...]
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF WILLIAM HILL’S RESULTS? October 19, 2009 MATTHEW GERARD INVESTECAfter much publicised weakness in sports margins and a profit warning from Ladbrokes, this statement is much better than we had anticipated. We believe the weakness in sports margins is a temporary phenomenon and that this is a good opportunity to buy into a cash generative, strongly positioned UK leisure retailer.NICHOLAS BATRAM KBC [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: DID COSTA PERK UP WHITBREAD’S RESULTS? October 13, 2009 MATTHEW GERARD INVESTECThe first half performance was well guided in the September pre-close, but positive comments on the outlook and a very creditable performance on cash flow and costs may push the shares higher. The positive momentum seen in second quarter has continued into the second half. RICHARD HUNTER HARGREAVES LANSDOWNWith value offerings across many [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 20, 2009 CABLE & WIRELESSAfter a 45 per cent underperformance, Investec said that negative fundamentals are increasingly factored into the concensus for Cable & Wireless, making a share price re-rating overdue. The broker said that demerger hopes could move the shares higher and upgraded the stock to “hold” with a new target price of 140p. BLUEBAY ASSET [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 19, 2009 LAIRDKBC Peel Hunt upgraded Laird to “buy” from “hold” ahead of next week’s first half management statement. The broker has concluded there are potential upgrades to its forecasts based on restocking trends, high incremental profit drop-through and entry into a period of easier year-on-year comparatives.WH SMITHInvestec said that WH Smith’s expansion of its Travel division [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 14, 2009 ITVInvestec moved ITV from “hold” to “sell” and raised its price target to 46p. The broker believes material management and structural challenges remain and that the valuation already discounts an earnings recovery on a long-term view. But it has a positive macro-view and notes that TV ad spend is improving. AMLINCredit Suisse upgraded Amlin to [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 12, 2009 BURBERRY GROUPDeutsche Bank raised its target price for Burberry to 620p, with a “buy” recommendation, ahead of the retailer’s second quarter sales update tomorrow. The broker said that expectations appear to be reasonably high, but that it believes that, most significantly, excess inventory will have been cleared through. DUNELM GROUPInvestec said that the recent placing [...]
Mining stocks lead weaker banking and power firms December 2, 2009 Britain’s leading share index ended 0.3 per cent higher yesterday as mining firms gained on the back of higher commodity prices, outpacing some weakness in banks and energy stocks. The FTSE 100 closed 15.22 points higher at 5,327.39, adding to Tuesday’s strength when the index recorded its biggest one-day gain in more than four months [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 13, 2009 TATE & LYLECredit Suisse raised its forecasts for Tate & Lyle by four per cent for next year and seven per cent for the following year, upped its price target to 550p, from 300p, and upgraded its rating to “outperform”. The broker notes that the starch business is holding up and said that the new [...]