Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) should build on its financial momentum in 2025, according to UBS, which has raised its estimates and price target for the company.
Analysts at the Swiss bank identified several potential catalysts, including the launch of premium and superfans tiers, further price increases tied to new features, expansion of audiobooks into additional markets, and improved advertising trends driven by programmatic partnerships.
Shares in Quadrise PLC (AIM:QED) (Quadrise PLC (AIM:QED)) rose 7.5% in mid-afternoon trading following an update to its licensing agreement with Valkor. The revised deal is expected to deliver the company’s first revenues by the end of January.
The news comes as Valkor confirmed it had secured $15 million in project financing to develop its Primary Project Site (PPS) at Asphalt Ridge in Utah. The site is part of a heavy oil project that will utilise Quadrise’s proprietary technology for on-site processing.
Analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Galliford Try Holdings PLC (LSE:GFRD) (LSE: GFRD), reflecting increased confidence in the construction and infrastructure firm’s performance.
Panmure Liberum boosted its forecasted earnings per share (EPS) for the 2025 financial year by 3% and for 2026 by 1%, citing strong momentum across the company’s core Building and Infrastructure divisions.
Robert Walters PLC (LSE:RWA) share price target has been cut sharply by Deutsche Bank after the recruiter's recent update showed pressure on trading in all areas.
Group net fees of £75.5m declined by 14% YoY on a like-for-like basis, noted the bank. Recruitment declined by 14% with perm 18% lower and temporary fees reduced by 10%.
Mitchells & Butlers PLC (LSE:MAB) shares are down over 20% since Labour came into power and Wednesday's upbeat trading statement was a relief, according to Shore Cap.
Trading was resilient with like-for-like sales growth of 4% after 15 weeks consistent with prior trends, the broker’s full-year assumptions and ongoing market outperformance.
JP Morgan has highlighted undervalued opportunities in European mining stocks, particularly for companies exposed to high-demand commodities such as copper, aluminium, and gold.
As market uncertainty around US trade policy persists, the bank notes that oversold miners, including Lundin Mining and Norsk Hydro, could offer significant upside in 2025, supported by anticipated fiscal stimulus in China.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) trading statement on Tuesday contained several negatives, according to the analysts at US bank Citi.
Refining weakness was obvious, says the US bank, given the comments from its peers but was compounded in BP’s case by high turnaround activity.
RBC Capital Markets has downgraded Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL) and Antofagasta PLC (LSE:ANTO), highlighting challenges within the diversified mining sector.
Anglo American’s rating was reduced to 'underperform' from 'sector perform', with a lower price target of 2,200p, down from 2,400p.
Deutsche Bank has downgraded Watches of Switzerland Group PLC (LSE:WOSG) from 'buy' to 'hold', raising its price target slightly from 490p to 510p following a 15% rise in the stock since September.
While the bank maintains that the company remains a best-in-class retailer in the resilient luxury watch category, it highlights concerns over growth visibility and profitability raised by the company’s recent half-year results.
Deutsche Bank has upgraded Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) from 'hold' to 'buy', citing emerging valuation opportunities after a 40% decline in the housebuilder's share price since mid-October.
The bank’s analysts left their target unchanged at 1,419p - representing a 23% premium to the current share price of 1,149p (up 3% on the day).
Shares in Futura Medical PLC (AIM:FUM, OTC:FAMDF) rose 5% on Wednesday after the company reported positive results from a sensory study of WSD4000, its gel treatment for female sexual dysfunction.
The study found the majority of women gave favourable feedback, prompting plans for an early feasibility study in the first half of 2025.
Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) has the edge over BP PLC (LSE:BP.) going into 2025 due to their respective balance sheets, according to analysts at JP Morgan.
While both should get a lift from the recent crude price rally, the US bank sees the agenda starting to pivot towards two thematics - superior barbells of short-term resilience, long-term leverage and/or outsized (low carbon) capital efficiency potential.