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Broker spotlight - Coca-Cola HBC, Sky, Vodafone, Tullett Prebon

Last updated: 13:04 29 Apr 2015 BST, First published: 12:04 29 Apr 2015 BST

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US broker Citi put some fizz into Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH) today - topping  up its rating on the group -  the world's second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in terms of volume.

Shares in the London listed group added 2.88% to 1,428p.

The group sells more than 2 billion unit cases annually and Citi expects good volume growth in its first quarter.

Numbers should be boosted by extra trading days, early Easter and easy comparisons, the broker reckons.

It now has a target price of 1,450p for the shares, up from 1,150p but stuck with its ‘neutral’ rating.

The group's  first quarter results are reportedly due out on May 15.

The same broker repeated a 'buy' on drugs major AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) and repeated a £54 target price, saying investors should stay focused on the long term.

"We think long-term investors should use

potential near-term share price weakness on pending CTLA4/PDL1 data at ASCO or asset externalisation/EPS quality concerns to add exposure," said analyst Andrew Baum.

Heavyweight JP Morgan sees a mix of upcoming events which look set to help broadcasting behemoth Sky (LON:SKY).

“An agreement with Sky Italia may add revenue in a geography that has had little growth,” said analyst Mark O’Donnell.

He also expects price rises to continue in the UK and sees Sky differentiating itself in the UK mobile space via content. 

“We expect Sky to continue to focus on adding content, connected services, and extra products to help drive growth,” JP Morgan’s O’Donnell added.

The broker raised its target price on the broadcaster’s shares this morning by 205p to 1170p. 

Mobile phone and comms group Vodafone (LON:VOD), meanwhile, had a boost from German  bank Berenberg as it raised its ‘hold’ rating to a ‘buy’, upping its target price from 214p to 270p. 

Vodafone is cheap versus Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica,” Berenberg said in a note.

“We think that improving European operating trends will continue, underpinned by mobile data growth and an improving customer mix shift.” 

Analyst Paul Marsch noted that Vodafone shares had not performed well since the Verizon distribution (end-March 2014) due to currency weakness, spectrum costs and fears of a Liberty Global deal. 

There was also an upgrade for interdealer broker Tullett Prebon (LON:TLPR).

Liberum analysts have raised the FTSE 250 stock from ‘sell’ to ‘hold’ on the back of strong 2014 results.

Those numbers were driven by aggressive cost-cutting and a first quarter update from competitor Compagnie Financiere Tradition (CFT SW), said the broker.

More follows.....

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