Thursday tips round-up: SSE, Ricardo, Lamprell

17th May 2012 06:55

SSE, formerly Scottish and Southern Energy, has seen profits down as a result of a warmer winter, and higher wholesale gas prices. It's also suffered from having to stop controversial door-to-door sales, a process which cost 60m pounds. Despite a prospective yield of 6.4 per cent, Tempus in the Times can't see any reason to buy. Niche engineering firm Ricardo slumped yesterday but remains interesting says Tempus. It consults within the automotive, rail and energy sectors, while also building engines for the likes of McLaren. With environmental rules about to bite in the US and some useful defence related orders (and a market cap at just 13 times 2012 earnings) Ricardo is a buy.Lamprell, which makes jack up rigs for oil and gas exploration, saw its shares collapsed by 67% yesterday after a profit warning. The problem is apparently a shortage of equipment and slippage on some contracts. Questor in the Telegraph is livid, having tipped the stock on May 2nd. He still believes there is possible growth, the suggestion is hold.BC