Broker Recommendations

Peel Hunt downgrades Close Brothers, cites Novitas provisions
Peel Hunt downgraded Close Brothers on Friday to ‘hold’ from ‘add’ and cut the price target by around 18% to 1,031p as it lowered earnings per share estimates by 55% for FY23 and by 4% for FY24 and FY25.

Canaccord Genuity makes 'minor changes' to eEnergy Group forecasts
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity made a number of minor changes to its forecasts for eEnergy Group on Friday, stating it was approaching the firm with "cautious optimism" going into 2023.

Berenberg slightly lowers target price on Direct Line
Analysts at Berenberg very slightly lowered their target price on insurance group Direct Line from 160. 0p to 159. 0p on Friday following the announcement of its quota share deal.

RBC Capital downgrades Ocado, Boohoo
RBC Capital Markets downgraded its stance on online supermarket Ocado and fast-fashion retailer Boohoo on Thursday.

JPMorgan says Lloyd's insurers 'on cusp of a golden era', upgrades Hiscox
JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded Hiscox on Thursday as it took a look at Lloyd’s insurers.
Berenberg downgrades Direct Line to 'hold'
Berenberg downgraded Direct Line on Wednesday to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ and slashed the price target to 160p from 272p, as it said investors should be prepared for no dividend per share for 2023.

Morgan Stanley says broader growth story intact at Darktrace, upgrades
Analysts at Morgan Stanley upgraded their recommendation for shares of Darktrace from 'equalweight' to 'overweight', arguing that the "broader growth story remained intact".

Credit Suisse downgrades Experian, says it’s fairly valued
Credit Suisse downgraded Experian on Wednesday to ‘neutral’ from ‘outperform’ and cut the price target to 2,900p from 3,250p as it said the shares look "fairly valued".

Liberum lifts price targets on airline stocks
Liberum said on Tuesday that the airline industry is in the early stages of recovery from the pandemic.

Berenberg slightly raises target price on Dunelm
Analysts at Berenberg raised their target price on retailer Dunelm from 1,130. 0p to 1,240. 0p on Tuesday, stating the group's numbers "increasingly well underpinned".

Canaccord Genuity lowers target price on Everyman Media
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity lowered their target price on cinema chain operator Everyman Media on Monday, stating that while the group had delivered a full-year earnings beat, growth trajectory for the coming two years had "moderated".

Berenberg lowers target price on Energean
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on exploration and production company Energean from 1,750. 0p to 1,580. 0p on Monday, as a slower than expected ramp-up created cause for concern despite the company's solid cash flow story.

Deutsche Bank upgrades Associated British Foods to 'buy', sees headwinds reversing
Deutsche Bank upgraded its recommendation for shares of Associated British Foods from 'hold' to 'buy', judging that the headwinds from energy prices and foreign exchange rates were reversing.

Berenberg says concerns around Barclays's investment bank revenues and credit card losses excessive
Analysts at Berenberg reiterated their 'buy' recommendation for shares of Barclays, pointing to the outlook for the lender's returns on tangible equity and low valuation versus peers.

Berenberg lowers target price on Secure Trust
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on retail and commercial bank Secure Trust from 1,820. 0p to 1,420. 0p on Friday as the group continues to navigate current conditions.

UBS downgrades Crest Nicholson to ‘sell’
UBS downgraded housebuilder Crest Nicholson on Friday to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ as it pointed to unfavourable risk/reward.

Jefferies downgrades Hargreaves Lansdown to 'underperform'
Analysts at Jefferies downgraded financial services group Hargreaves Lansdown from 'hold' to 'underperform' on Friday, stating rival Vanguard was rapidly approaching.

BofA ML upgrades Asos, Boohoo to 'buy'
Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded Boohoo and Asos on Friday as it took a look at European online retail.

UBS downgrades Fresnillo to 'sell'
UBS downgraded precious metals miner Fresnillo on Thursday to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ and cut the price target to 850p from 900p.

Jefferies stays at 'buy' on Antofagasta
Analysts at Jefferies took a fresh look at mining group Antofagasta on Thursday after the group's fourth-quarter production and costs met its most recently revised guidance.