Broker tips: Domino's Pizza, BBA Aviation, Schroders

4th Mar 2016 12:15

(ShareCast News) - Credit Suisse reaffirmed its 'outperform' recommendation on Domino's Pizza and boosted its target price for the shares, while pointing to scope for further upside to the company's earnings per share.The Swiss broker highlighted the company's decision to re-introduce stock buybacks and accelerate the pace of store openings in fiscal year 2016, from 50 to 65, as well as what it described as the company's "healthy current trading".Analysts Tim Ramskill, Ed Birkin and Julia Pennington lifted their share price target from 1,100p to 1,210p.They also pointed to scope for further earnings per share upside stemming from Euro 2016 and the chain's loyalty plans.Furthermore, their estimates did not yet take into account those share buybacks.The analysts stuck to their call for 8% growth in UK like-for-like sales in 2016 (consensus: 3%) despite the 10.5% rate of increase witnessed in the first nine weeks of 2016.Credit Suisse noted their fiscal year 2016 and 2017 EPS estimates were already running respectively 8% and 14% above the analyst consensus as compiled by Bloomberg.Ramskill and his team also lowered their estimate for Domino's weighted average cost of capital - the interest rate used to assign a present value to the company's stream of cash flows - from 9.2% to 8.7%. BBA Aviation's shares rose on Friday as Investec retained its 'buy' rating on the stock and increased its target price to 235p from 225p.Investec said the company's full year results were 1% ahead of its expectations.The aviation services giant reported a 1% drop in underlying pre-tax profit to $170m (£120.8m) and a 7% fall in revenue to $2.12bn in the year to 31 December 2015.BBA said the decrease in revenue reflected lower fuel prices and foreign exchange headwinds.However, growth in its flight support business offset a disappointing performance of its aftermarket services, specifically in engine repair and overhaul.The robust results in flight support were driven by the Signature business, which supplies support for business and general aviation travel, refueling, hangar and office rentals, and other technical services.The company expanded its flight support network with the acquisition of Landmark Aviation, completed on 5 February."While we make no substantial changes to our forecasts, the strong Signature performance and positive outlook further enhances our confidence in the group's prospects," Investec analyst Sam Bland said."We also believe potential revenue synergies from the Landmark acquisition are substantial, and may provide further upside to our forecasts." Shares in asset manager Schroders slumped on Friday as Citigroup downgraded the stock to 'neutral' from 'buy'.The bank continues to like Schroders' diversified assets under management mix, growth potential and ability to cope with regulatory hurdles.However, on a 12-month view, challenging markets and the company's "commendable commitment" to investing in its future mean Citi forecasts a 5% drop in earnings per share this year."We downgrade SDR today to reflect our more conservative expectations for earnings and our view that the current valuation adequately reflects this."The bank pointed out that the rating change was not related to the announcement on Thursday that chief executive Michael Dobson would step down from his role but stay on as chairman.He will be replaced by Peter Harrison, who is head of investment."Whilst Dobson's departure is the end of an era, we see Peter Harrison as experienced and well qualified," said Citi."If there is a definition of an orderly CEO handover then this is it, in our view."However, news of the handover did not go down as well in the City, with business lobby groups accusing Schroders of violating the UK code of governance, which recommends firms only switch a chief executive to the supposedly independent role of chairman in exceptional circumstances.According to the code, a company should also explain to its shareholders why it has done so.