Poundland (LON:PLND) released 2015 earnings today that were bang in line with expectations according to JP Morgan Cazenove.
The discount retailer, however, cautioned that it expects trading in the first half of its new financial year to be subdued after sales growth slowed.
“Recent trading has been subdued in comparison with unusually strong comparables combined with an FX headwind” the broker said.
As a result, the blue-chip broker lowered its full year pre-tax profit expectations by 7%.
Fellow broker Deutsche Bank reiterated a ‘hold’ rating on the stock and put a target range between 305p and 325p.
Elsewhere, home builder Berkeley Group (LON:BKG) received a broker stamp of approval on Thursday after yesterday reporting annual profits, which beat expectations.
The firm, focused on London and the south east, posted a 42% increase in pre-tax profit of £539.7mln for the year to end April compared to the previous one.
Citigroup weighed in today pumping the share price target up to 3495p from 3085 previously and repeating a 'neutral' while another US broker Jefferies repeated a 'hold' and lifted the target to 3322p from 2681p.
However, Jefferies did say: "With a solid dividend we would not sell the shares but, in our view, other stocks in the sector provide more attractive entry points at this time."
It added: “We believe cash generation in FY2017 and FY2018 will be strong, however, the group was keen to point out that in a cyclical business operational risks are high and therefore it likes to keep financial risks low."
Also upgraded today was Betfair (LON:BET) by Barclays which kicked up the target to 2600p from 2500p and repeated an 'overweight' stance.
It comes after yesterday shares in the gambling group slipped at the fence as it said the market remained competitive and warned that more investment was crucial to keep up with rivals.
Less bullish is Jefferies, which moves Betfair to 'hold' from 'buy' but does lift the target to 2,400p from 2,050p.
Heavyweight JP Morgan has the miners in sights and it is not bullish.
Glencore (LON:GLEN) goes to 240p from 250p, with an 'underweight' repeated, while copper giant Rio (LON:RIO) has its target pinched to 3250p from 3300p but an 'overweight' recommendation is maintained.
Meanwhile, Sirius Minerals (LON:SXX) were dealt a blow by a park authority planning committee which released a report saying the company has underestimated the environmental damage its York Potash mine project might cause.
Liberum said: “For us, there is no change to our view that approval is the most likely outcome.”
RFC Ambrian thought the report was a little more damaging to Sirius.
“While the report makes no recommendation, and nor was it designed to, its conclusions were not exactly helpful for Sirius” the broker said.