Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC)’s flagship artificial intelligence (AI) launch has underwhelmed, leaving the technology giant in need of a “killer” use case to drive iPhone demand, UBS analysts say.
Based on tracking of wait times for new iPhones, UBS said in a note that there had been “no notable uptick in demand” following the release of Apple Intelligence.
Wedbush reiterated its “outperform” rating for Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Google’s parent company, with a price target of $210 per share, highlighting Alphabet’s strong third-quarter results and resilience in a challenging digital landscape, with competition coming from the nascent AI sector.
The report, titled “Come At The Search King, Best Not Miss”, underscores that despite rivals targeting Google’s dominance in search, Alphabet’s innovations in artificial intelligence and cloud services have kept it ahead of the pack.
Jefferies has reaffirmed its “buy” recommendation for Next PLC (LSE:NXT) with a price target of £11.80 following the clothing chain's surprise upgrade to its annual profit forecast, driven by a strong performance in the third quarter.
Next reported a 7.6% increase in full-price sales, beating its 5% forecast, due to strong domestic sales and a boost from early colder weather.
Jefferies reaffirmed its price target for BP PLC (LSE:BP.) at £5.40 (a 42% premium to the current share price), citing its commitment to balancing shareholder returns against financial prudence.
The US investment bank kept its “buy” rating on BP, expressing confidence in the company’s ability to navigate current financial pressures including high debt levels.
Rome Resources’ Bisie North tin project in the DRC is close to a C$1 billion play in Alphamin and shares many characteristics including its original geologists, notes broker Oak Securities.
Drilling is underway to establish an initial resource at Bisie North, but it is the proximity to Alphamin’s operations and the involvement of Alphamin’s original discovery team that catches the eye, says Oak.
Moncler has had its share price target cut to €46 by Jefferies, after what the US bank saw as another unconvincing quarter from the super-posh luxury clothing group.
Sales of the core brand slowed again to follow a surprise dip in the second quarter, notes Jefferies, with management having no answer other than to highlight broader industry challenges.
Standard Chartered PLC (LSE:STAN) shares climbed to a nine-year high after turning in third-quarter results that beat expectations and upping its full-year outlook and tweaking returns guidance for the next two years.
It was a "strong" set of results, said Shore Capital, with third-quarter profit 21% above consensus forecasts, noted Jefferies.
Dedicated followers of GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK) will have been aware of analysts' growing unease around the performance of its vaccine franchise - backed up by prescription data.
Third-quarter results effectively confirmed the numbers crunchers' worst fears (and some) as sales of RSV jab Arexvy and Shingles treatment Shingrix undershot forecasts as they came in at £188 million and £739 million respectively.