Broker Upgrades and Downgrades & Key UK Corporate Snapshots 25 August 2015

UK Broker Upgrades / Downgrades

 

 

Code Company Broker Recomm. From Recomm. To Price From Price To
Upgrades
BARC Barclays Plc Investec Securities Sell Buy
DCG Dairy Crest Group Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 535 640
LLOY Lloyds Banking Group Plc Investec Securities Hold Buy
NEX National Express Group Plc HSBC Hold Buy 330
Downgrades
HOME Home Retail Group Plc Barclays Capital Equal weight Underweight
S32 South32 Ltd Deutsche Bank Buy Buy 121 112
SGC Stagecoach Group Plc HSBC Buy Hold 390
Initiate/Neutral/Unchanged
AHT Ashtead Group Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 1385 1385
ALD Allied Gold Mining Plc Deutsche Bank Buy Buy 290 290
BATS British American Tobacco Plc Deutsche Bank Buy Buy
BNZL Bunzl Plc Deutsche Bank Buy Buy 2000 2000
BNZL Bunzl Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 1800 1800
IMT Imperial Tobacco Group Plc Deutsche Bank Buy Buy
PTEC Playtech Ltd Deutsche Bank Buy Buy 1040 1040
RMG Royal Mail Plc Jefferies International Underperform Underperform 360 360
S32 South32 Ltd Jefferies International Hold Hold 85 85

 

US Broker Upgrades / Downgrades

 

 

Code Company Broker Recomm. From Recomm. To Price From Price To
Upgrades
ANF Abercrombie & Fitch Piper Jaffray Neutral Overweight $25 $27
MDRX Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Argus Hold Buy $17 $17
AZO AutoZone BofA Merrill Lynch Neutral Buy
BAC Bank of America Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Market Perform Outperform $20 $20
BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Piper Jaffray Underweight Neutral
CSTE Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Barclays Equal weight Overweight $63 $59
FUN Cedar Fair Hilliard Lyons Long-term Buy Buy
CVX Chevron BofA Merrill Lynch Underperform Neutral
CHU China Unicom Hong Kong Jefferies Hold Buy
CCIH ChinaCache International Holdings Rosenblatt Neutral Buy $10 $9
CMA Comerica Robert W. Baird Underperform Neutral $44 $44
WDGJF John Wood Group PLC Numis Hold Buy
NSRGY Nestle Kepler Hold Buy
NKE NIKE Telsey Advisory Group Market Perform Outperform $115 $122
ZEUS Olympic Steel Jefferies Hold Buy
QCOM Qualcomm Standpoint Research Hold Buy
GOLD Randgold Resources RBC Capital Markets Sector Perform Outperform
ROST Ross Stores Buckingham Research Neutral Buy $60 $60
RDS.A Royal Dutch Shell Jefferies Hold Buy
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics Piper Jaffray Neutral Overweight $28 $48
SWM Schweitzer-Mauduit International Sidoti Neutral Buy
TCO Taubman Centers Oppenheimer Perform Outperform $85 $85
TUES Tuesday Morning Stifel Hold Buy $9 $9
VEOEY Veolia Environnement Goldman Sachs Neutral Buy
WCC Wesco International Standpoint Research Hold Buy $68 $68
Downgrades
FOXA Twenty-First Century Fox Needham Buy Hold
ARG Airgas Robert W. Baird Outperform Neutral $111 $111
AVGO Avago Technologies Drexel Hamilton Hold Sell $125 $95
BTLCY British Land Jefferies Hold Underperform
CJES C&J Energy Services Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey Buy Neutral $11 $4
CLR Continental Resources BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral
DWSN Dawson Geophysical Raymond James Outperform Market Perform
EVEP EV Energy Partners Robert W. Baird Neutral Underperform $13 $5
FAST Fastenal Robert W. Baird Outperform Neutral $45 $44
HMSNF Hammerson PLC Jefferies Hold Underperform
HFC HollyFrontier BofA Merrill Lynch Neutral Underperform
LSGOF Land Securities Group PLC Jefferies Buy Hold
MRO Marathon Oil BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral
MPC Marathon Petroleum BofA Merrill Lynch Neutral Underperform
MCHP Microchip Technology Drexel Hamilton Buy Hold
MSCC Microsemi Drexel Hamilton Buy Hold
NBL Noble Energy BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral
RES RPC Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey Buy Neutral
RYI Ryerson Holding Jefferies Buy Hold
SSE Seventy Seven Energy Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey Buy Neutral
SDXAY Sodexo Goldman Sachs Buy Neutral
TI Telecom Italia Macquarie Neutral Underperform
TEF Telefonica S.A. Macquarie Neutral Underperform
THOR Thoratec Leerink Partners Outperform Market Perform
THOR Thoratec Raymond James Outperform Market Perform
SLCA U.S. Silica Holdings Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey Buy Neutral
VLO Valero Energy BofA Merrill Lynch Neutral Underperform
VTL Vital Therapies Credit Suisse Outperform Neutral $9 $9
VTL Vital Therapies Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey Buy Neutral
GWW W.W. Grainger Robert W. Baird Outperform Neutral $258 $240
WLL Whiting Petroleum BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral
Initiated
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Standpoint Research Buy $84
CYRN CYREN Craig Hallum Buy
JCI Johnson Controls Credit Suisse Neutral
JUNO Juno Therapeutics Standpoint Research Buy $47
M Macy’s Standpoint Research Buy $72
NK NantKwest Piper Jaffray Overweight $38
NK NantKwest MLV & Co Buy $35
NK NantKwest Citigroup Buy $45
NK NantKwest Jefferies Buy $33
PNFP Pinnacle Financial Partners Piper Jaffray Neutral
PAA Plains All American Pipeline Scotia Howard Weil Sector Outperform $40
PAGP Plains GP Holdings Scotia Howard Weil Sector Perform $22
SCMP Sucampo Pharmaceuticals H.C. Wainwright Buy $31
TOWN Towne Bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Market Perform
UAL United Continental Holdings Standpoint Research Buy $70
VTVT vTv Therapeutics Piper Jaffray Overweight $24
VTVT vTv Therapeutics Stifel Buy $17
ZBRA Zebra Technologies Morgan Stanley Overweight $115

 

Key UK Corporate Snapshots Today

Al Noor Hospitals Group Plc (ANH.L) Announced, in its results for the six months ended 30th June, 2015, that revenue stood at $243.97 million, compared to $224.78 million in the same period last year. Operating profit stood at $45.13 million, compared to $46.24 million. Profit after tax was $44.88 million, compared to $45.63 million. Diluted earnings per share stood at 35.9c, compared to 37.9c.

Antofagasta Plc (ANTO.L) Announced, in its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenues declined to $1,785.9 million from $2,601.8 million recorded in the same period a year ago. Profit after tax widened to $799.0 million from $571.6 million. Basic earnings per share stood at 71.6 cents, up from 33.6 cents. The Board has recommended a final dividend for the first half of 2015 of 3.1 cents per ordinary share.

Cluff Natural Resources Plc (CLNR.L) Announced, in its results for six months ended 30 June 2015, that operating loss fell to £0.750 million from £0.822 million posted in the same period preceding year. The company’s loss before tax stood at £0.744 million, compared to a loss of £0.809 million reported in the previous year. The basic and diluted loss per share stood at 0.43p compared to loss of 0.52p reported in the previous year. The company’s cash balance was seen at £1.9 million (2014: £2.2 million).

Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL.L) Announced, in its half year results for six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenues loss from operations was seen at $2.15 million from a loss of $2.18 million posted in the same period preceding year. The company’s loss before tax stood at $1.95 million, compared to a loss of $1.29 million reported in the previous year. The basic and diluted loss per share stood at 0.37c compared to loss of 0.24c reported in the previous year. The company’s cash balance stood at $40.1 million compared to $68.5 million last year.

Image Scan Holdings Plc (IGE.L) Announced that it has made the first customer deliveries of both its new ThreatScanR-LS1 portable X-ray detector panel and ThreatSpect, its new modular control and display software.

James Fisher and Sons Plc (FSJ.L) Announced, in its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenue stood at £213.06 million, compared to £216.08 million in the same period last year. Operating profit stood at £20.06 million, compared to £23.32 million. Profit after tax was £15.25 million, compared to £16.62 million. Diluted earnings per share stood at 30.0p, compared to 32.0p. The board has increased the interim dividend by 10% to 7.80p per share (2014: 7.10p).

Magnolia Petroleum Plc (MAGP.L) Announced, in its update on current production and an independent Reserves Report as at 1 June 2015, on its leases in US onshore formations such as the Woodford and Mississippi Lime, Oklahoma, and the Bakken and Three Forks Sanish, North Dakota, that net production stood at 309 boepd as at 1 August 2015 compared to 281 boepd on 1 January 2015. Skunk Creek wells came online in February 2015 and added an average of 32.3 boepd net production. 4 wells have recently commenced production in which the company has an average 0.68% working interest. Total net proved reserves (1P) of 873 Mbbl of oil and condensate and 2,454 MMcf gas as at 1 June 2015. Total net proved and probable reserves (2P) of 930 Mbbl of oil and condensate and 2,660 MMcf gas. Total net proved, probable and possible reserves (3P) of 998 Mbbl of oil and condensate and 2,828 MMcf gas.

Mwana Africa Plc (MWA.L) Announced, in its update on operations and exploration activity for the quarter ended 30 June 2015, that tonnes milled decreased by 0.3% to 293,759t in Q1 FY2016 compared to 297,953t in Q4 FY2015 due to a 1% decrease in mill running time. The average feed grade for Q1 FY2016 increased by 11% from 1.81g/t in Q4 FY2015 to 2.03g/t. Gold recovery rate for Q1 FY2016 declined by 1% to 82% from 83% in Q4 FY2015. 16,985 ounces (oz) of gold were produced in Q1 FY2016 against 13,443oz in Q4 FY2015. The production increase was mainly due to the 11% increase in the mill’s average feed grade. C1 cash costs were 25% lower in the quarter under review at $930/oz from $1,234/oz in Q4 FY2015 largely because of an increase in ounces produced and a 5% reduction in operating costs. All-in sustaining costs were reduced by 24% to $1,093/oz from $1,429/oz in Q4 FY2015. The average gold price received in Q1 FY2016 was 3% lower at $1,186/oz compared to $1,223/oz in Q4 FY2015

MXC Capital Limited (MXCP.L) Announced that the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of MXC Holdings and the conditional issue of 1,649,089,816 new Ordinary Shares is conditional upon, inter alia, approval by Shareholders of a resolution to disapply the application of Rule 9 of the City Code in relation to certain interests in the Company following the Acquisition at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company.

Nostrum Oil & Gas Plc (NOG.L) Announced, in its half year results for six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenues slumped to $274.0 million from $445.0 million posted in the same period preceding year. The company’s cash balance stood at $238.1 million compared to $458.2 million last year.

Oilex Limited (OEX.L) Announced, in its operations update, that Cambay-73 well continues to produce gas for the low pressure market in the immediate vicinity of the field at ~26 boepd with 100% availability. A temporary pipeline from Cambay-77H site to Cambay-73 production facility has been completed as part of a gas gathering system to assist in meeting market demand. Three legacy wells have been connected to this pipeline and provide additional gas to the low pressure market via the Cambay-73 production facility. Bhandut-3 production facility construction has commenced and its gas Contingent Resource increased to ~425MMscf. Techno-commercial evaluation for 13 of 14 tenders for the Cambay 2015/2016 drilling campaign is underway. In conjunction with the marketing effort, a field development plan has been prepared for the initial gross 20Bcf that is anticipated to be established and produced through a 5MMscfd gas treatment plant located near the Cambay-77H site.

Ortac Resources Limited (OTC.L) Announced that it has today exercised the call option agreement, detailed in the 30 March 2015 announcement, with Zamsort Limited, a private company registered in Zambia that holds a prospective Cu-Co mining and exploration licence in the Zambian Copper Belt. On 30 March 2015 the company subscribed for secured convertible loan notes, convertible into a 10.71% stake in Zamsort Limited and entered into the option. The exercise of the option by way of a further $600,000 secured convertible loan note, takes the total invested by the company in Zamsort to $1.2 million and, upon conversion of the loan notes, the company’s potential shareholding in Zamsort would be 19.35% of the issued share capital of Zamsort.

Ovoca Gold Plc (OVG.L) Announced, in its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015, that loss after tax widened to €1.0 million from €0.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents and available for sale financial assets were €19 million as at 30 June 2015.

Petrofac Limited (PFC.L) Announced, in its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015 that revenues rose 25% to $3.2 billion from $2.5 billion recorded in the same period a year ago. Underlying net profit narrowed 4% to $130 million (2014: $136 million). Group backlog stood at $20.9 billion as at 30 June 2015. The board maintained its interim dividend at 22.00 cents per share (2014: 22.00 cents). Net debt as of 30 June 2015 stood at $1.0 billion.

Polymetal International Plc (POLY.L) Announced, in its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenue decreased by 11% to $648 million compared to 1H 2014. Group Total cash cost were $552 per gold equivalent ounce (“GE oz”), down 14% compared to 2H 2014 (half-on-half) and down 12% year-on-year. Net earnings were $98 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $297 million, a decrease of 4% compared to 1H 2014. Net debt as at 30 June 2015 decreased by $18 million to $1,231 million. Separately, the company announced that it has resolved to pay an interim dividend of $0.08 per ordinary share for the six months ended 30 June 2015 (1H 2014: $0.08) which represents 30% of the Group’s underlying net earnings for 1H 2015 or approximately $34 million.

Poundland Group Plc (PLND.L) Announced that Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has published its preliminary findings with respect to its Phase 2 review of the company’s proposed acquisition of 99p Stores Ltd (“99p Stores”). The CMA has provisionally concluded that the merger may not be expected to result in a substantial reduction in the competition and has therefore provisionally cleared the anticipated acquisition of 99p Stores. The company is studying the report’s findings in detail and looks forward to working further with the CMA ahead of the publication of the full review in October.

Regus Plc (RGU.L) Announced, in its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2015, that revenue stood at £937.0 million, compared to £804.7 million in the same period last year. Operating profit stood at £86.3 million, compared to £39.9 million. Profit after tax was £67.2 million, compared to £24.8 million. Diluted earnings per share after exceptional items stood at 7.0p, compared to 2.6p. The board has increased the 2015 interim dividend by 12% to 1.4p per share (H1 2014: 1.25p). Additionally, the company also announced that it will be hosting a capital markets day for analysts and investors on Tuesday 6th October 2015 in London, between 1.00pm and 5.30pm. The event will focus on business strategy and operations and will be hosted by Mark Dixon, Chief Executive Officer and Dominique Yates, Chief Financial Officer, alongside senior members of the company operational and regional management teams.

RSA Insurance Group Plc (RSA.L) Announced that it has received a revised proposal from Zurich Insurance Group (“Zurich”) regarding a possible all cash offer for the Company at 550p per ordinary RSA share. In addition, under the terms of the proposal, RSA ordinary shareholders retain the right to receive the 3.5p interim dividend announced by RSA on 6 August 2015. The Possible Offer is conditional on, amongst other things, due diligence and the recommendation of the Board. The Board has indicated to Zurich that it would be willing to recommend an offer at the level of the Possible Offer to RSA shareholders subject to the satisfactory resolution of the other terms of the offer. Accordingly, the Board is in discussions with Zurich in relation to these terms.

Shawbrook Group Plc (SHAW.L) Announced that Paul Lawrence has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the company with effect from 24 August 2015. The company also announced that Paul will be the Chairman of the Board Risk Committee and a member of the Board Audit Committee.

Tavistock Investments Plc (TAVI.L) Announced, in its results for 15 months ended March 2015, that revenues surged to £4.9 million from £0.176 million posted in the same period preceding year. The company’s loss before tax stood at £0.983 million, compared to a loss of £0.516 million reported in the previous year. The basic loss per share stood at 0.85p compared to loss of 7.36p reported in the previous year. The company’s cash balance was seen at £4.7 million (31 December 2014: £0.324 million).

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