JPMorgan downgrades Tesco to 'underweight'
JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded Tesco on Friday to ‘underweight’ from ‘neutral’ and cut the price target to 230p from 240p as it took a look at the European food retail sector, highlighting its cautious stance.
Food & Drug Retailers
4,496.65
16:34 18/12/24
FTSE 100
8,199.11
17:14 18/12/24
FTSE 350
4,522.45
16:34 18/12/24
FTSE All-Share
4,478.99
16:59 18/12/24
Tesco
372.90p
16:48 18/12/24
The bank noted that its concerns since it downgraded the sector back in September were based on disinflation triggering lower like-for-like sales, impacting margins and valuations. JPM said it sees this as recurring in 2024/25.
"We see Tesco’s outperformance previously linked to executed self-help and macro tailwinds, therefore unlikely to be structural/sustainable over time without incremental investment," it said.
The bank noted that Tesco shares are up 25% year-to-date, versus its price target indicating 15% downside.
"Long positioning is crowded, whilst Tesco is now past peak positive newsflow/LFLs/margin/free cash flow/capital return cycle," it said.
In the same note, JPM also downgraded Germany’s Metro to ‘underweight’ from ‘neutral’ and cut the price target to €4.95 from €5.02.
At 1020 GMT, Tesco shares were down 1% at 282.80p.