Greggs surges as it serves up better-than-expected sales
6th Oct 2015 07:21
(ShareCast News) - Bakery chain Greggs surged on Tuesday after it said sales in the third 13 weeks to October were slightly better than it had expected, adding that full-year results will likely be ahead of previous guidance. Greggs said like-for-like sales in the period grew by 4.9%, while total sa
Read moreCanaccord downgrades Greggs from 'buy' to 'hold'
6th Aug 2015 14:19
(ShareCast News) - Canaccord Genuity downgraded its rating for Greggs from 'buy' to 'hold' following its interim result last week. It retained a target price for the stock of 1350p, but reduced its rating as the current price was within 10% of its target. Analysts upgraded their earnings forecasts
Read moreGreggs enjoys strong H1 results after products and stores investments
29th Jul 2015 10:08
(ShareCast News) - Favourable market conditions, new poducts and stores investments helped Greggs to deliver strong first-half results. The bakery chain saw its revenues increase 6% to £398.4m while total pre-tax profits tripled to £25.6m during the six months ended 4 July 2015. The results were dr
Read moreGreggs' finance director sells £0.5m worth in shares
6th May 2015 15:58
The finance director at Greggs has sold £0.5m worth in shares on Wednesday. Richard Hutton sold 47,200 shares for an individual price of 1,145.60p, pocketing a total of £540,723. The sale follows an exercise of 62,640 shares for 356p. The sold shares were transferred to Joanna Clare Hutton, a benef
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: NMC Health surges on acquisitions, Ophir Energy reverses
29th Apr 2015 13:20
Healthcare provider NMC Health topped the risers after completing the acquisition of two sector peers based in the United Arab Emirates for a combined £65m. Following the deal, analysts at Numis raised the target price on the stock for the second time in six weeks. Greggs surged after first-quarter
Read moreGreggs Q1 sales beat forecasts
29th Apr 2015 09:13
Greggs first quarter sales have beaten expectations thanks to a new range of healthier products. In an update on Wednesday, the bakery chain said its improved range of freshly-made sandwiches and the strong sales of its breakfast meal deals helped total sales to grow 5%. Additionally, like-for-like
Read moreBroker tips: Hargreaves Lansdown, Reckitt Benckiser, Greggs
19th Mar 2015 15:32
Proposals from the government to shake-up the personal savings market are positive but the reaction they triggered in shares of Hargreaves Lansdown seems overdone, UBS said in a research note e-mailed to clients. Allowing retirees to sell their annuities for cash would be positive for UK exposed ass
Read moreBerenberg dismisses Greggs as 'past its sell-by date'
19th Mar 2015 11:17
Broker Berenberg has begun coverage of Greggs with a 'sell' recommendation on the fast food chain's shares as the market appears to be ignoring several potential risks ahead. Greggs's recent strategy to focus on its core food-on-the-go market and improve the supply chain has been met with initial su
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Thomas Cook up on new partnership, Just Retirement lower as shareholder sells stake
6th Mar 2015 12:46
Thomas Cook jumped after the company announced a new strategic partnership with Chinese investment giant Fosun International which will see the latter take a 5% stake in the travel operator. Fosun is investing £91.8m and intends over time to increase its shareholding to around 10%. DCC was boosted o
Read moreThursday broker round-up
5th Mar 2015 12:41
Rightmove: Credit Suisse lifts target price to 3220p from 2700p but cuts to neutral. Aviva: Panmure Gordon reiterates buy - with a 660p target, as does Westhouse Securities. Standard Chartered: UBS increases target price to 1000p from 980p and reiterates neutral view. Asos: Nomura ups target to 3,
Read moreLondon close: Stocks erase losses as ITV, StanChart and IAG gain
4th Mar 2015 16:41
After a weak start, UK markets managed to push into positive territory by Wednesday's close as decent gains from ITV, Standard Chartered and IAG offset some heavy falls in the mining sector. The FTSE 100 snapped three days of losses to finish up 0.44% at 6,919.24. Economic data from across the glob
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Greggs higher on shareholder returns
4th Mar 2015 15:14
Greggs topped the risers after the baker grew its pre-tax profit last year by 50%, allowing it to return up to £10m to shareholders in the first half of 2015 by resuming its share buyback programme. The company's chief executive, Roger Whiteside, noted that 2014 was a year of significant change and
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
4th Mar 2015 10:16
Electrocomponents: Peel Hunt takes up to a buy. Pearson: Morgan Stanley keeps at overweight, target reiterated at 1,500p. StanChart: Shore Capital stays at buy. Moneysupermarket: UBS lifts to buy, raises target to 260p from 240p. Rightmove: Citi raises to neutral. Barclays: Deutsche keeps at buy
Read moreGreggs pledges to return cash to shareholders after boosting profits
4th Mar 2015 08:10
British baker Greggs on Wednesday grew its pre-tax profit last year by 50%, allowing it to return up to £10m to shareholders in the first half of 2015 by resuming its share buyback programme. Greggs, which has 1,650 retail outlets throughout the UK, reported a pre-tax profit of £49.7m in 2014 up fro
Read moreLondon close: Retailers provide a lift as inflation data boosts economic hopes
13th Jan 2015 16:48
UK stocks put in decent gains on Tuesday as a sharper-than-expected slowdown in inflation boosted hopes for consumer spending and pushed back projections for the first rate raise. A strong start to corporate earnings season in the States and increased hopes for further stimulus by the European Centr
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