Broker Recommendations
Broker tips: Diageo, LondonMetric, Spectris
Diageo's stock was attempting a rebound on Wednesday after a sell-off the previous session as its full-year results disappointed, but that didn't stop Citi from reiterating its 'buy' recommendation on the stock.
Broker tips: Flutter Entertainment, Howden Joinery, Hochschild Mining, Man Group
Citi opened a 30-day "positive catalyst watch" on shares of Flutter Entertainment on Tuesday ahead of its results on 13 August.
Broker tips: Natwest, Drax, M&S, Currys
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on banking group Natwest from 350. 0p to 415. 0p on Monday following the group's "comprehensively strong" Q2 results last week.
Broker tips: Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever
RBC Capital Markets downgraded Lloyds Banking Group on Friday to 'sector perform' from 'outperform' after the shares hit its 60. 0p price target.
Broker tips: Ascential, CAB Payments
Analysts at Berenberg upgraded business-to-business media firm Ascential to 'buy' from 'hold' and hiked their target price on the stock to 568. 0p from 395. 0p following a takeover offer from Informa.
Broker tips: Volution, Nexteq
Over at Berenberg, analysts hiked their target price on ventilation equipment business Volution to 600. 0p from 500. 0p on Wednesday following the group's full-year trading update.
Broker tips: SThree, Compass Group
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on specialist staffing organisation SThree from 550. 0p to 520. 0p on Tuesday but said the group's contract focus offered resilience versus peers.
Broker tips: The Gym Group, MP Evans
Analysts at Berenberg upgraded their stance on The Gym Group from 'hold' to 'buy' on Monday and hiked their target price on the stock from 121. 0p to 180. 0p, stating the company was "in good shape".
Broker tips: AJ Bell, Dunelm
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on financial services firm AJ Bell from 370. 0p to 410. 0p on Friday after the group's Q3 earnings on 18 July sent shares up roughly 6% on the day.
Broker tips: Schroders, Babcock, Capita
Morgan Stanley lifted Schroders to ‘overweight’ from ‘equalweight’ on Thursday as it took a look at European asset managers.
Broker tips: Rio Tinto, Legal & General
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on mining giant Rio Tinto from 5,800. 0p to 5,700. 0p on Wednesday following Q2 production results from the company.
Broker tips: Energean, Auction Technology, Domino's Pizza
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on exploration and production company Energean from 1,565. 0p to 1,305. 0p on Tuesday following the group's disposal of assets in Egypt, Italy and Croatia.
Broker tips: Ocado, Prudential
Bernstein downgraded Ocado on Monday to ‘underperform’ from ‘outperform’ and slashed its price target on the stock to 250. 0p from 1,000. 0p, having been "one of the last bulls standing".
Broker tips: Hays, Softcat, Vodafone, BHP
RBC Capital Markets cut its price target on Hays on Friday after the recruiter said a day earlier that full-year profit was set to be around the bottom end of the market consensus range of £106m to £113m as it posted a drop in fourth-quarter net fees.
Broker tips: Idox, Anglo American
Analysts at Berenberg initiated coverage on software specialist Idox with a 'buy' rating and 81. 0p target price on Thursday, citing an attractive geo-spatial opportunity.
Broker tips: Next, Page Group, IAG
Citi has upgraded Next from 'sell' to 'neutral' and hiked its target price by 40% on the back of an improving macro environment in the UK and the retailer's cash position.
Broker tips: Curry's, Anglo American
Deutsche Bank upgraded Currys on Tuesday to 'buy' from 'hold' as it turned more positive on UK retailers.
Broker tips: Shaftesbury Capital, Melrose Industries, LBG Media
Citi has reiterated its 'buy' rating on London-focused property investor and developer Shaftesbury Capital ahead of its interim results in a few weeks, predicting that profits will nearly double over the medium term.
Broker tips: Softcat, Close Brothers, GSK
Analysts at Jefferies downgraded IT infrastructure provider Softcat to 'underperform' on Friday, citing "incremental caution" around the IT services sector.
Broker tips: Card Factory, Forterra, Ibstock, Coca-Cola HBC
Berenberg initiated coverage of Card Factory on Thursday with a 'buy' rating and 154. 0p price target as it argued it was a "vastly improved proposition".