Thursday broker round-up
1st Sep 2016 18:52
(ShareCast News) - Virgin Money: Berenberg reiterates hold with a target price of 300p. Alumasc Group: Peel Hunt maintains buy with a 210p target. Morrisons: Goldman Sachs downgrades to sell with a 175p target. Diageo: HSBC reiterates hold with a 2350p target. Lavendon: Berenberg keeps at buy wit
Read moreBroker tips: Lancashire Holdings, Grafton Group, Gym Group
1st Sep 2016 12:35
(ShareCast News) - RBC Capital Markets upgraded Lancashire Holdings to 'sector perform' from 'underperform' and lifted the price target to 625p from 500p. "Whilst we had always seen Lancashire as a high quality underwriting operation, company-specific issues at the end of 2015 led to our 'underperfo
Read moreGrafton Group slumps on Canaccord downgrade
1st Sep 2016 10:06
(ShareCast News) - Grafton Group's shares dropped on Thursday as Canaccord Genuity cut its rating on the stock to 'hold' from 'buy' and lowered its target price to 595p from 640p. The builders merchant on Wednesday reported a 8% rise in first half pre-tax profit to £62.8m as revenue grew 13% to £1.2
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Grafton warns of challenging backdrop, gold miners drop
31st Aug 2016 16:41
(ShareCast News) - Grafton Group paced losses on the second tier index after warning of a challenging backdrop in UK merchanting. The builders´ merchant posted interim pre-tax profits up by 8% to £62.8m on revenue of £1.2bn, 13% higher from the first half of last year. "Shares are up +11% over the
Read moreGrafton H1 profit up but warns of challenging UK merchanting backdrop
31st Aug 2016 07:31
(ShareCast News) - FTSE 250 builders merchant Grafton Group posted a rise in first-half pre-tax profit as revenue grew thanks in part to strong growth in the Netherlands and Ireland, but the company warned of a challenging backdrop in UK merchanting. In the six months to the end of June, pre-tax pro
Read moreGrafton Group says builders merchanting being hit by Brexit doubts
12th Jul 2016 07:02
(ShareCast News) - Builders merchant and DIY retailer Grafton Group said like-for-like revenue growth was negative in June as the current uncertainty about Brexit began to weigh on the building trade. Group revenue for the six months to 30 June increased by 13.3% to £1.23bn and by 11.7% in constant
Read moreGrafton Group strong though Brexit fears linger
10th May 2016 08:26
(ShareCast News) - Builders merchanting and DIY company Grafton Group updated the market on its operations to the end of April on Tuesday, as investors gathered in Dublin for it annual general meeting. The FTSE 250 firm said it had a positive start to the year with broadly favourable economic condit
Read moreChadwick leaving Grafton after 30 years at helm
31st Mar 2016 07:40
(ShareCast News) - After more than 30 years at the helm, Grafton Group announced the retirement of Michael Chadwick as non-executive chairman on Thursday. The FTSE 250 company said Chadwick would step down from the board on 31 December, and would be succeeded by Michael Roney - currently chief execu
Read moreWednesday newspaper share tips: Grafton Group, John Laing Group
9th Mar 2016 18:14
(ShareCast News) - UK and Ireland-based construction materials group Grafton continues to build its margins and expand its international footprint, with the shares' current valuation offering a "good" entry point, The Times's Tempus said. Like its rivals, the company has not been able to provide an
Read moreGrafton reports record 2015 revenues
8th Mar 2016 07:41
(ShareCast News) - Building materials company Grafton Group reported a rise in full year profit as revenue hit a record. For the year to the end of December, adjusted pre-tax profit rose 17% to £118.9m as revenue advanced 6% to a record £2.21bn. At constant currency, revenue was up 8.9%. Adjusted o
Read moreHeadwind from Brexit risks for Irish exporters likely to reverse, Investec says
24th Feb 2016 12:37
(ShareCast News) - Sterling should recover once the risk of Brexit was exorcised, but in the meantime it would create a headwind for Irish exporters, Investec said. Further weakening in the pound due to worries that Britain might leave the European Union might drag on the share prices of Irish compa
Read moreGrafton Group completes Allsands purchase
1st Feb 2016 07:53
(ShareCast News) - Grafton Group announced a new, completed acquisition on Monday, taking over Allsands Supplies Limited. The FTSE 250 builders merchanting and DIY group described Allsands as a single branch general builders merchanting business located in Larkfield, Kent. It said Allsands reported
Read moreGrafton Group 2015 revenue up 6.3%
12th Jan 2016 08:12
(ShareCast News) - Builders merchant and DIY company Grafton Group reported a 6.3% rise in revenue in 2015, as it reiterated its full year operating profit guidance. In a trading update for the year ended 31 December, Grafton said revenue came in at £2.21bn from £2.08bn in 2014. In its merchanting
Read moreGrafton Group expands in London through T Brewer acquisition
5th Jan 2016 07:20
(ShareCast News) - Builders' merchant and DIY company Grafton Group has expanded its reach in London after it acquired T Brewer & Co on Tuesday. The FTSE 250 company, which has operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, purchased the London-based specialist timber business for an un
Read moreBroker tips: Grafton Group, Morgan Advanced Materials, Wood Group
12th Nov 2015 14:32
(ShareCast News) - Grafton Group issued a disappointing trading statement, but things should not be taken out of context, a top broker said on Thursday. Indeed, the builders merchant and DIY retailer may have an ace up its sleeve when compared with rivals, as the Irish recovery will remain a key (an
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