Broker tips: BT, Sage, Compass, Thomas Cook

UBS has speculated that if BT follows through with its current talks to buy O2 or EE it would become less aggressive in the forthcoming Premier League rights auction and produce a better outcome for Sky.

"We think concerns about Sky losing the EPL rights are weighing on investor sentiment but we are optimistic that the outcome could be less extreme than the market fears."

Numis Securities has raised its recommendation for accountancy software group Sage from 'hold' to 'add' ahead of the company's annual results next week.

Following the appointment of new Sage chief executive Stephen Kelly this month, Numis said that the results, due on 3 December, will be "a clear opportunity for management to re-invigorate the equity story".

Compass' full-year results were "solid", according to The Share Centre, but the broker kept a 'hold' rating on the catering stock.

"The company has a good pipeline of new contracts and expects to see progress in all its regions, however much of this is already factored into the share price and the valuation looks relatively full.”

Stockbroker IG has raised concerns with Thomas Cook's ongoing turnaround plan following the news that chief executive Harriet Green has stepped down with immediate effect.

Analyst Chris Beauchamp said that investors will be right to ask questions over how her departure will affect Thomas Cook's turnaround plan, given that expectations of further improvement are "now baked into the price". "The other issue is the turnaround plan – the warning that growth will be more moderate (i.e. slower) in the coming year is a sign that the easy bit has been done."