Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) saw glowing feedback from Wedbush after reporting strong results on Monday thanks to demand for its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered products.
Analysts lifted the big data software company’s price target from US$25 to US$30 following the trading update, which saw boss Alex Karp describe demand for commercial large language models as “unrelenting” in the US.
Restructuring advisers Begbies Traynor (AIM:BEG) and FRP Advisory Group PLC (AIM:FRP) are "attractive investment propositions" following the release of the latest UK insolvency statistics last week, said analysts at Stifel.
Total annual insolvency volumes in England & Wales in 2023 were at their highest since 1993, with the rate of active companies entering insolvency at the highest level since the middle of 2014, number from the government';s Insolvency Service revealed.
Shell can buy back 50% of its shares by 2030 or around £80bn-worth at the current price, analysts at Jefferies were predicting today.
“On our numbers, by 2030 Shell will be able to repurchase close to 50% of the shares outstanding, bring DPS (dividend per share) back to 94% of pre-2020 levels while reducing gearing to 6%.”
Tobacco giant British American Tobacco PLC (LSE:BATS) has been granted a permanent stay on its menthol vape product pending a US court review, according to a research report published by Jefferies.
This decision essentially ensures that BAT's menthol vape, a significant product within its portfolio, is unlikely to be removed from the market anytime soon.
SSE PLC (LSE:SSE)'s earnings this year are likely to dented by the sharp drop in UK power prices in recent weeks, Deutsche Bank said, leading it to trim medium-term earnings forecasts and its share price target ahead of the renewable electricity generation group's results on Thursday.
Power prices have "dropped quite sharply since the beginning of the year and forward spark spreads have decreased", the bank said, adding that each of these factors are "moderately unhelpful" for SSE's earnings.
The scale of the dividend cut on the way from Blackrock World Mining Trust (LSE:BRWM) may surprise investors, according to analysts at Stifel, who said the dividend yield will remain relatively high.
In its normal course, the mining sector is volatile, the analysts noted, with BRWM's net asset value total return rising over 17% in 2022 before falling 6.2% in 2023.
Quadrise’s collaboration agreement with Cargill and MAC2 Solutions for its upcoming alternative ship fuel trials is "highly encouraging", says house ShoreCap.
Cargill is a global US$177bn revenue business and this update is a significant step in Quadrise’s journey to commercialising its fuels, said the broker.
The trading update from discoverIE Group PLC (LSE:DSCV) was "encouraging" as, despite the slightly weaker sales than expected, "all the key growth drivers are pointing in a positive direction", said analysts at Stifel.
Third-quarter results were "solid ... in what are still very mixed demand conditions, while establishing strong foundations for a return to stronger growth next financial year", they added.
Betting companies like Flutter Entertainment PLC (LSE:FLTR), Entain and 888 are set to benefit from growth in both their US and online markets, outweighing any regulatory headwinds, analysts believe.
Stateside bank Jefferies stamped a ‘buy’ rating on both stocks while Paddy Power owner Flutter received the ‘top pick’ status due to its “outsized benefits” regarding its ability to gain online market leadership.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) shares gushed higher as it picked up the pace of its share buyback plans as fourth-quarter profit came in ahead of expectations.
The oil major said fourth-quarter underlying replacement cost profit was US$2.99 billion, down from US$4.81 billion the year prior, but ahead of City forecasts of US$2.76 billion.
Shares in Futura Medical PLC (AIM:FUM, OTC:FAMDF) were up 36% in the first hour of trade following its 2023 trading statement, which covered its commercial progress and breakthrough in the US market.
Largely historic, the update reminded investors that the group now has approval for its erectile dysfunction (ED) gel as an over-the-counter product in the States as well as a blue-chip partner in the form of Haleon PLC (LSE:HLN, NYSE:HLN).