Unilever PLC (LSE:ULVR) and very likely rivals such as Nestle S.A. (OTC:NSRGF, VTX:NESN) and Danone (OTCQX:DANOY) are expected to keep on hiking prices into 2023, according to Barclays.
The bank still forecasts a net material inflation increase of €1.5bln (£1.3bn) in Unilever products as it sees inflation “remaining high in the first half, before softening through the year.”
Barclays got the earnings seasons for the UK’s big four banks off to a bright start said analysts, with the likely outcome to be upgrades when all the numbers have been crunched.
Jefferies said there was little to quibble about. Profits were around 23% ahead of forecasts with the strong performance of the investment bank a pleasant surprise though most of Barclays' metrics were ahead of consensus forecasts.
Universal Music can protect itself against the coming AI storm, that’s according to analysts at Deutsche Bank.
The German bank in a note following the record label’s quarterly results repeated a ‘buy’ recommendation.
NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd's (LSE:NESF) proposed measures to reduce leverage and validate its portfolio valuations have been praised by broker Stifel, which suggested other funds in the sector may follow suit.
"At this stage there is no indication given on the potential valuation of the five projects which will be sold," the analyst said, noting that NESF is confident that it will be above their latest valuation.
Puma, the sports fashion retailer, will be eager that it can capitalise on the rebounding Chinese market to counteract reduced growth in North America, according to analysts.
The German company saw North American revenues decline by 19% annually in its first quarter.
JP Morgan predicts a bright summer for European airlines, driven by strong consumer demand for travel and limited capacity compared to 2019, according to a research note.
The investment bank expects that the focus will shift to the strength of pricing and profitability during the summer months.
JP Morgan expects Glencore to upgrade its offer for Teck Resources, especially now that the Canadian miner has dropped its own separation plans.
Glencore’s offer currently is worth around C$63 a piece for the B shares, but JP Morgan believes it can increase this to C$70, or a 19% premium to the close yesterday, valuing Teck at US$27bn or 50% above its value before the approach was made public.
Hochschild Mining PLC (LSE:HOC, OTCQX:HCHDF)'s investment case largely depends on the ongoing permitting process at its Inmaculada mine in Peru, according to a research note from RBC Markets.
The Canadian bank believes the company can manage any delays until the end of 2023, and that permitting risks are already reflected in its current valuation.
The proposed $69 billion deal between Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:ATVI) isn’t dead yet, according to analysts at Wedbush.
Analysts are bullish despite an earlier ruling by the UK’s competition regulator blocking Microsoft’s takeover bid of the Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.
Analysts at Wedbush have awarded an ‘Outperform’ rating and US$270 price target to Visa after the San Francisco-based payments and processing technology company swiped a second-quarter earnings beat after the bell on Tuesday.
The analyst noted that Visa’s revenue of $8 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $2.09 had exceeded the Street’s expectations, with growth driven by the uptick in non-US volume rates and value-added services.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has been downgraded to a 'hold' rating by Jefferies amid concerns about the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer's ability to maintain its superior margins, or 'profit edge'.
While the investment bank believes that while Tesla's growth strategy over margin has its logic, it also questions whether the company's profit edge was structural or simply a timing difference.
Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.), M&G PLC (LSE:MNG), Phoenix Group Holdings, and Legal & General Group PLC (LSE:LGEN) have been named as UBS's top UK life insurance picks.
The bank cites Aviva's diversified business model and high 2024 estimated total capital return yield as key reasons for its preference.
BAT’s settlement over trading in North Korea means all major sanctions and corruption cases are now dealt says US bank Jefferies bar an ongoing case in Nigeria where a provision has already been made.
The tobacco company has agreed to pay US$635mln plus interest for its activities in North Korea, which Jefferies notes had all ceased by 2017.
Base Resources Limited (AIM:BSE, ASX:BSE)’s latest quarterly output was “better than expected” for independent broker Peel Hunt, with analysts responding well to grades of valuable heavy minerals at 3.1%, well ahead analysts’ 2.8% estimates.
Overall Ilmenite output of 71 kilotonnes was well over Peel Hunt’s 64kt estimate, despite slightly lower ore tonnes mined, due to slightly larger interruptions as the tie-in to the North Dune happened in the latest quarter.
Learning Technologies Group PLC (AIM:LTG, OTC:LTTHF)’s 131% revenue surge in 2022 was apparently not enough to ferment unbridled optimism among analysts at house broker Peel Hunt today, partially due to a four percentage point tightening of margins and slightly lower-than-expected earnings-per-share (EPS) read.
However, Learning Technologies’ acquisition of GP Strategies in the reporting period was a wise one that should pay off for the group.
Analysts at Wedbush noted that General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) delivered rock-solid March results out of the gates for 2023 with a strong outlook for the rest of the year and “a raised guidance bar” which is “music to the ears of investors.”
GM reported first quarter results that saw revenue rise 11% year-on-year to $39.99 billion, handily beating Wall Street’s estimate of $38.54 billion due to strong customer demand for its cars.
Premier Inn owner Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), up 5% on Tuesday, predicted a continuation of the success of 2023’s results after it confirmed its operations also doing well in the new financial year.
In Germany, despite operations in the area still making a loss, trade has already picked up in the seven weeks to April.
Shares in Next 15 Group PLC (AIM:NFG) were up almost 9% in the wake of a well-received set of prelims.
According to Peel Hunt, the advertising and marketing company reported in-line financial results for 12 months that ended January 31, with the Business Transform operation the stand-out performer with organic growth of 83%.
Analysts following hVIVO PLC have made some modest upgrades to earnings forecasts in the wake of the contract research group’s better-than-expected prelims.
Number crunchers at Liberum have increased their 2023 EBITDA number by 4% to £9.4mln, while their counterparts at finnCap have tweaked up the number by £600,000 to £9mln, while forecast profit before tax forecast rises £300,000 to £5.6mln.
Caledonia Mining’s Blanket mine should return to production of around 20,000oz of gold in the next quarter, according to house broker Liberum, which has nonetheless reduced its price target to 1,102p from 1,225p.
That reflects the removal of oxide production guidance for the newly acquired Bilboes project in Zimbabwe, though total guidance for the year was unchanged at 75-80,000oz.
SSE should post bumper full-year results on May 24 with the added kicker of an increase in medium-term earnings guidance as well, predicts JP Morgan
How well that sits with customers still smarting from soaring energy bills and politicians a year ahead of an election remains to be seen, but that’s not the US bank's concern
Loungers PLC (AIM:LGRS), the bar, restaurant, and café operator, delivered record-breaking revenues of £283.5mln in the year to April 16.
This jump represented a 19.5% rise compared to 2022’s revenues of £237.3mln.
The UK is expected to approve a watershed deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard this week—at least, that is the prevailing analyst view.
The final report from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority about Microsoft’s $68.7 billion takeover of the games maker is due by Wednesday.
Block’s former global head of sales has noted the robustness of the fintech company’s compliance efforts following fraud allegations from short-seller Hindenburg Research last month, according to Wedbush analysts.
The analysts wrote that, during a Wedbush-hosted advisor call, the former employee pointed to Square parent company Block’s legacy of strong internal compliance, amid the Street’s concerns over rising compliance costs and increased regulatory focus on the “small bank rule” loophole.
HSBC and Standard Chartered are best placed for a surprise revenue upside of 6% and 3% respectively in the upcoming financial services earnings season, according to equities analysts at Jefferies.
“We expect (HSBC) to announce the first of a new cycle of buybacks alongside first-quarter results on May 2,” said Jefferies, with estimations as high as US$2.5bn (£2bn).
Union Jack Oil PLC (AIM:UJO)’s Monday trading update is “very encouraging” and “in line with our existing understanding and expectations”, said equities researchers at house broker Shore Capital Markets.
The group’s Wressle field continues to exceed expectations and is now the second most productive onshore oilfield in the UK following a substantial increase in production, noted analysts.
Touchstone Exploration Inc (AIM:TXP, TSX:TXP, OTC:PBEGF), the petroleum and natural gas company, has left analysts at Shore Capital feeling confident following its latest drill update.
The group announced that its initial production test of the Royston-1X well highlighted the presence of light oil at non-commercial rates.
Union Jack Oil PLC (AIM:UJO) current share price offers investors more than 300% upside, that’s according to stockbroker Shore Capital.
Analyst Craig Howie, in a note following Monday’s trading update, said that Union Jack’s shares “continue to trade at levels far beneath prior highs”, whilst adding that the broker “remains very confident in the investment case, which is reinforced by yet another good update today.”
Eric Zurrin’s six-year stint as chief executive with Shanta Gold Limited (AIM:SHG, OTC:SAAGF) was a “transformative period” for the AIM-listed gold miner.
That is according to house broker Liberum, recalling how Zurrin brought the Singida gold mine in Tanzania online, as well as “adding huge growth potential” with West Kenya.
Supermarket Income REIT PLC's (LSE:SUPR, OTC:SUPIF) latest acquisition of an omnichannel Tesco store in Worcester for £38.3mln on a net initial yield of 6% is indicative of a “further valuation slide” in the UK big-box sector, according to analysts at Shore Capital Markets.
Shore Cap noted a 13.3% fall in Supermarket REIT’s portfolio valuation in the group’s recent interim results which softened yields to 5.7%.
Shore Capital has reiterated its buy recommendation on accesso Technology Group PLC (AIM:ACSO, OTC:LOQPF) shares following the company's announcement of its $10 million acquisition of Paradocs Mountain Software, a provider of ski industry solutions.
According to Shore's analysts, the deal bolsters accesso's growing presence in the ski sector and brings 50 additional ski resorts into its portfolio, totalling 153 across North America.
Liberum, the boutique investment bank, has upgraded its recommendation on car parts and cycle retailer Halfords Group PLC (LSE:HFD) to 'hold' from 'sell' and raised its price target to 210p a share from 120p.
At a capital markets day, Halfords' management outlined ambitious targets, including doubling its pre-tax profit to £90-£110mln within three to four years, Liberum said.