Tuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
13th Dec 2011 09:54
Amec: Citi upgrades to buy from sell. Royal Dutch Shell: Citi downgrades to neutral from buy. Petrofac: Investec reiterates buy, 1,705p target under review. Petrofac: Evolution Securities reiterates add and 1,700p target. Whitbread: Evolution Securities keeps buy rating and 1,800p target. Whitb
Read moreLondon open: Whitbread loses its froth
13th Dec 2011 08:47
London has opened on the front foot, which comes as a relief after yesterday's bashing, but the top-share index's modest advance is largely due to the strength of miners, which more than outweighs the weakness of banks. Results from Costa Coffee show owner Whitbread have left a sour taste, with evi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Pause for breath
13th Dec 2011 07:35
After yesterday's shake-out, investors are expected to take stock at the outset, with the top-share index set to open little changed. International distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl said revenue growth for the full financial year is expected to be more than 6% at constant exchange rates, c
Read moreWhitbread running out of steam
13th Dec 2011 07:13
Shares in Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread dived on news that like-for-like sales (LFL) growth has slowed. Although total sales for the company's third quarter - the 13 weeks to December 1st - were up 11.4% on a LFL basis, there are signs that the even the company's coffee shops are st
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
6th Dec 2011 09:27
Wolseley: Charles Stanley gives accumulate recommendation. Wolseley: Panmure Gordon keeps sell rating and 1,500p target. Meggitt: Credit Suisse downgrades to underperform from outperform; cuts target to 330p from 410p. Shire: Goldman Sachs reiterates buy. SABMiller: Nomura maintains buy recomme
Read moreWhitbread signs new loan agreement
7th Nov 2011 08:10
Hotel and coffee shop operator Whitbread has signed a new syndicated bank five year facility of £650m, replacing its existing bank loan facilities of £930m. The move will allow the firm to follow its policy of diversifying its sources of debt and extending its maturity profile. In the last two y
Read moreBroker snap: Evolution raises target at Whitbread
19th Oct 2011 14:01
Evolution Securities has raised its target for hotel and coffee shop owner Whitbread from 1,750p to 1,800p, after yesterday's interim results were at the top-end of expectations. Underlying pre-tax profits were up by 15.2% from the same period the previous year at £174.9m, while total revenues clim
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Miners leading the way lower
18th Oct 2011 12:43
Unsurprisingly, it was miners that bore the brunt of the selling amid concerns over global growth in the wake of disappointing Chinese gross domestic product data. Among the fallers was diversified giant Xstrata, which gave a taste of the uncertain global picture with a third quarter update that sho
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks stuck lower amid growth concerns
18th Oct 2011 12:22
The leading share index remains under pressure, with a slight slowdown in Chinese growth the latest development to jangle nerves over the state of the economy. Latest talk is that increasing the capacity of the European Financial Stability Fund which would be used to bail out stricken Eurozone coun
Read moreUPDATE: Tuesday broker round-up
18th Oct 2011 09:21
BP: UBS raises target from 450p to 480p, keeps buy rating. Whitbread: Peel Hunt keeps buy stance and 2,096p target. Whitbread: Evolution Securities confirms buy recommendation and 1,750p target. F&C Asset Management: Singer Capital Markets cuts target from 70p to 65p, fair value rating kept. Be
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as China adds to euro worries
18th Oct 2011 08:24
Stocks are under pressure in early dealings as the seemingly never-ending Eurozone saga rumbles on and growth figures from China raise eyebrows. CHINA ON THEIR MIND Latest talk is that increasing the capacity of the European Financial Stability Fund which would be used to bail out stricken Eurozon
Read moreLondon pre-open: Retreat continues
18th Oct 2011 07:23
Yesterday's weaker trend is set to continue, with investors waiting for further developments on the Eurozone bailout front. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 47 points from yesterday's close of 5,437. Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread saw group like-for-like sales rise by
Read moreWhitbread still thriving in tough times
18th Oct 2011 07:06
Hotel and coffee shop operator Whitbread's relatively low priced offering helped it post a rise in profits in the six months to 1 September despite the tough economic climate. Underlying pre-tax profits were up by 15.2% from the same period the previous year at £174.9m, while total revenues climbe
Read moreTuesday preview: Bellway, Whitbread
17th Oct 2011 16:06
House builder Bellway issues full-year results on Tuesday which should show the continued revival in profitability since the dark days of 2009, with the company's London-focus and a rebound in the buy-to-let market driving growth. Market expectations are for profit before tax of £63.8m, up from £44
Read moreBroker tips: Whitbread, SuperGroup, Avocet
7th Sep 2011 12:43
Evolution Securities has confirmed its buy rating on coffee shop, restaurant and hotel owner Whitbread, saying that while the UK consumer outlook may be uncertain, "there is no evidence of the malaise affecting Whitbread". "This good performance is driven by product innovation, staffing to ensure m
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