Broker Tips
Barclays ups target price for Gym Group
Barclays Research upped its target on shares of Gym Group from 230p to 250p following its first acquisition since the group floated, purchasing 18 gyms from Lifestyle Fitness.
Rotork's margin plans deserve higher rating, UBS says as it upgrades
Rotork's plans to improve profit margins can spark a return to a premium rating, said UBS as it upgraded the industrial valves specialist and hiked its share price target.
Motor insurance prices 'likely to stay flat', Deutsche upgrades Admiral
Motor insurance pricing is set to hold steady as companies benefit from another shift in the sector's dynamics, Deutsche Bank said as it recommendation on Admiral and kept Direct Line and Esure at 'buy'.
Barclays calls 'No Joy' on Morrisons after latest set of interims
Barclays reiterated its 'underweight' recommendation on Morrisons stock and trimmed its target price for it, pointing out various potentially disappointing signs in its latest set of interims.
N Brown's plus-size catwalk event impresses fashion press, City analysts
Retailer N Brown received rave reviews for a West End catwalk event featuring several high-profile plus-size models to launch its new fashion ranges and a new US web platform, with analysts at N+1Singer reiterating a 'buy' recommendation on the shares.
RBC Capital ups Petrofac to 'sector perform', highlights contract awards
RBC Capital Markets upgraded Petrofac to 'sector perform' form 'underperform' and lifted the price target to 500p from 420p.
Carnival cruising into yield squall due to demand threats - Credit Suisse
Cruise ship operator Carnival's earnings growth is likely to slow as its significant growth in capacity comes amid greater demand threats in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and China, warned Credit Suisse as it downgraded the company's shares to 'neutral'.
UBS ups Auto Trader to 'neutral' on valuation grounds
UBS upgraded Auto Trader to 'neutral' from 'sell' on valuation grounds, saying the share price now implies revenue growth in line with its forecasts.
Provident Financial still too expensive for RBC Capital
Even after losing almost three quarters of its value in the last three months Provident Financial shares are still too expensive, RBC Capital Markets said on Thursday as it downgraded the doorstep lender to an 'underperform' rating.
Thursday broker round-up
Provident Financial: RBC downgrades to Underperform with a target price of 775p.
ITV downgraded by Macquarie on consumer sector weakness
Television firm ITV was downgraded to ‘underperform’ from ‘neutral’ by analysts at Macquarie on Wednesday on the back of weakness in ad spending in the consumer sector.
Morrisons trumps Sainsbury's and Tesco, reckons Exane BNP
Sainsbury's is more attractive than Tesco as an investment, said Exane BNP Paribas as it downgraded Britain's biggest grocer to 'underperform' over balance sheet concerns and recommended Morrisons as a top sector pick.
UBS downgrades Esure to 'sell' over higher risks than peers
Esure is likely to face increasing headwinds, warned UBS as it downgraded the non-life insurer to 'sell' on Wednesday.
Berenberg starts GoCompare at 'buy', Moneysupermarket at 'hold'
Berenberg initiated coverage of GoCompare and Moneysupermarket on Wednesday, noting that UK price comparison websites have many of the dynamics that investors like.
Ascential rally has 'gone too far' worries Barclays
Sceptical of a 40% rise in its shares since the start of the year, Barclays has initiated coverage of events and exhibitions organiser Ascential with a cautious note, an 'underweight' rating and a 330p price target.
Tuesday broker round-up
Ascential: Barclays initiates at Overweight with a target price of 330p.