Thursday tips round-up: Cranswick, United Drug, Sportingbet

8th Oct 2009 06:24

At 705p, Cranswick trades at 11 times earnings and offers a 3.3 per cent dividend, not bad given a strong balance sheet (net debt of about £65 million) and forecast double-digit profit growth. Hold on, says the Times. Meanwhile, the Telegraph says buy the shares as it expects brokers to upgrade forecasts after the full interim numbers are released on November 19.The Independent said it would not be overly concerned about yesterday's full year profit warning from Irish healthcare group United Drug. The group's share price should continue to grow and the paper would hold on until the stock shows signs that it is beginning to falter. Sportingbet has come a long way since the dark days of October 2006, when new American laws killed off the world's biggest internet gambling market. At 73p, or 12 times earnings, and sitting on £24 million of cash, Sportingbet's allure, whether from profit growth or as a prospective takeover target once the DoJ is assuaged, remains intact. Hold, says the Times.It was not the biggest IPO ? it raised only $360 million ? but last week's Nasdaq flotation of Education Management Corporation (EMC) provided yet another sign that world stock markets are regaining their poise. Shares in the Pittsburgh-based owner of colleges and universities surged by one quarter in first-day dealings. Shareholders in JPMorgan Private Equity (JMPE), the London-listed investment trust, have more reason than most to draw encouragement from that debut. At $1.12, or a 12 per cent discount to its $1.27 net asset value, JMPE's potential for long-term capital growth makes the shares a buy, according to the Times.Nighthawk Energy could turn out to be a great punt for investors. According to watchers at Hanson Westhouse, the shares are "significantly undervalued by the market as demonstrated by our valuation of Nighthawk at 225p per fully diluted share". Buy, says the Independent.Petropavlovsk's shares are trading on a December 2009 earnings multiple of 18.4 times, falling to 12.9 in 2011. This compares favourably with Randgold Resources, which is trading on a heady multiple of 79.9 times current-year earnings. Despite the stunning gains so far, shares in Petropavlovsk remain the Telegraph's preferred gold play. Buy.Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.