BEST OF THE BROKERS September 27, 2009 DSG INTERNATIONALMorgan Stanley downgraded DSG International to “underweight” and recommended investors take profits following the 50 per cent price increase over the last three months. The broker said that, although it believes that DSGI offers more leveraged upside in a consumer recovery than any other stock it covers, its bull case scenario playing out looks [...]
It’s mine and I’m here to stay November 11, 2009 POSSESSION is nine tenths of the law as they say, so few will begrudge the sight of Shane Geraghty running out at Twickenham in the famous all-white of England on Saturday. Rejuvenated by a move to Northampton from London Irish in the closed season, the stylish back impressed team boss Martin Johnson sufficiently enough to [...]
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR NEXT? September 16, 2009 KATHARINE WYNNE INVESTECNext remains on of our preferred retail investments, and we would again highlight the cash generation. The interims confirmed the margin control that management retains, as well as the strong cash generation which remains undervalued by the market in our view.RICHARD HUNTER HARGREAVES LANSDOWNNext’s full year profits could yet match those of last [...]
ARE YOU IMPRESSED BY WHITBREAD’S MANAGEMENT TEAM? September 7, 2009 SAM HART CHARLES STANLEY“Whitbread’s trading update was slightly better than expected. Going forward, we expect the trading environment to gradually improve as the UK economic recovery gathers momentum.” MATTHEW GERARD INVESTEC“The decline in Premier Inn has stabilised and management is making significant progress on cost savings, which is leading us to upgrade our full year [...]
Booker cuts debt pile as sales jump October 13, 2009 BOOKER, the UK’s largest cash and carry business yesterday said its first-half profits had climbed by 12 per cent. The group, which runs over 170 branches supplying corner shops, grocers, and restaurants, said it made a pre-tax profit of £29.7m in the 24 weeks to 11 September, up from £26.5m the year before. Booker said [...]
Builders tap the market September 23, 2009 HOUSEBUILDER Barratt yesterday unveiled its widely tipped £750m fundraising through a rights issue and share placing in a bid to repair its battered balance sheet. The group said it would raise £545.5m in a rights issues and £175m through a placing. Chief executive Mark Clare said the 1.3 for one rights issue would be priced [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS September 15, 2009 BARRATT DEVELOPMENTSInvestec said that Barratt Developments is geared up disastrously to pay peak values for land and Wilson Bowden. The broker said that, at £1.3bn, net debt is still surprisingly high. With the firm reported to be considering a highly dilutive £500m rights issue at the end of the month, the broker rates the stock [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS September 9, 2009 JOHN WOOD GROUPJP Morgan upgraded its rating for John Wood to “overweight” with an increased price target of 365p. The broker said that the shares are 13 per cent lower since 25 August, on concerns for Well Support’s exposure to onshore gas. It believes that these concerns are overdone and that earnings resilience is underappreciated. [...]
HOW ENCOURAGING ARE THE EARLY PROFIT FIGURES FROM KINGFISHER? September 8, 2009 NICK BUBB PALI INTERNATIONAL “Next year may well be a big disappointment to fans of the ‘V-shaped’ recovery in the UK, but Kingfisher has a proven track record, balance sheet and self-help programme. We think it’s safe to push up our target price from 250p to 270p, given further upgrade potential on B&Q.” MATTHEW MCEACHRAN [...]
HOW ENCOURAGING ARE THE EARLY PROFIT FIGURES FROM KINGFISHER? September 8, 2009 NICK BUBB PALI INTERNATIONAL “Next year may well be a big disappointment to fans of the ‘V-shaped’ recovery in the UK, but Kingfisher has a proven track record, balance sheet and self-help programme. We think it’s safe to push up our target price from 250p to 270p, given further upgrade potential on B&Q.” MATTHEW MCEACHRAN [...]