Travel operators TUI AG (TUI) and Thomas Cook Group (TCG) both featured in the top five most frequently tipped companies over the last seven days in a busy week for trading updates. Homebuilders Barratt Developments (BDEV) and RedRow (RDW) also received an influx of tips after both released interim results, while there was increased tip activity for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Smith & Nephew (SN.).
BP (BP.) and Ocado (OCDO) released annual results on Tuesday this week and the market initially responded well to both: BP finished the day up +5.2%, with Ocado +4.2%. Things have taken a turn for the worse for Ocado following news of a fire at one of its fulfilment centres in Andover. Shares in the online supermarket are -14.4% since Tuesday’s close. In this week’s article we take a look at whether these events have altered broker and tipster opinion about the future of both firms.
Trading updates have been coming through thick and fast over the last few days, accompanied by an influx of tipster tips and broker ratings. In this week’s article, we review two companies that have attracted the highest number of tips over the last seven days, and assess whether consensus sentiment is positive or negative in each case.
In this week’s article, we review two trading updates; one that took place last week, and one expected next week. Firstly, we take a look back at publisher Pearson (PSON) and review broker and tipster sentiment in the lead up to, and following, its most recent trading update this Wednesday. We then look forward to an expected trading update from J D Wetherspoon (JDW) thisweek. Has tipster broker and sentiment changed in recent months, and what will tipsters be expecting to see in the pub chain’s latest announcement?
A string of profit warnings – and Sports Direct International (SPD) chief executive Mike Ashley’s warning that the UK high street risked being ‘smashed’ over the Christmas period after the ‘worst November on record’ – set the tone for investor expectations over the festive period. Was all the pessimism justified? In this week’s article, we take a look at a selection of recent trading updates by high-street retailers and supermarkets, and review broker and tipster outlook in each case.
The UK economy suffered a tumultuous 2018, and it proved to be a particularly rough year for holders long in UK-listed shares: the FTSE100 suffered its worst year in a decade, while the FTSE All Share slumped 13% over the course of the year. The turbulence we’re experiencing looks set to continue into 2019 as markets struggle with mounting uncertainty. As a result “tipping shares has never felt more hazardous”, but there are potential rewards; Joanne Hart (Daily Mail) notes that “UK shares are widely acknowledged to be undervalued, presenting clear opportunities across the market”. I should point out that Tom Winnifrith and others think Ms Hart is useless and clueless.
Ahead of a more comprehensive review of annual broker and tipster activity next week, this week’s article focuses on two expected early-January trading announcements from Next (NXT) and Staffline (STAF). Strong returns on Next shares were wiped out during a disappointing second half to the year, while shareholders of Staffline will be happy with a return of over 20% in 2018. Both updates will be seen as important early indicators for their respective sectors, but are brokers and tipsters bullish about both companies’ future prospects?
The biggest casualty of the week was online fashion retailer ASOS (ASC), which was toppled from its position as the most valuable company on AIM after shares sunk by 50%. Investors were spooked by the company’s trading update for the first three months of the financial year – released on Monday – warned of a “significant deterioration in the important trading month of November and conditions remain challenging”. After three years of impressive returns, 2018 had already proven a fairly rough year for holders in ASOS prior to this week’s events. Still, brokers and tipsters (on the whole) have been bullish about the future prospects of the company.
Another dismal year for public services provider Interserve (IRV) was capped off by a further 50% slump in the firm’s share price earlier this week. The price reaction formed a direct response to the revelation that Interserve is seeking a rescue deal which – according to Christopher Williams (The Telegraph) – represents “a disaster for shareholders”. In this week’s article, we take a look at current tip sentiment; do the consensus believe the firm now can be salvaged, or is it is doomed to fail? The answer: it depends on who you ask – tipsters, or brokers?
AJ Bell (AJB) made its introduction to the London Stock Exchange this week and it promises to be a great few days for those that got in on the IPO, with shares soaring almost +35% within the first two hours of trading. The tips have already started rolling in; Miles Costello (The Times) recommends buying as “the shares weren’t aggressively prices, and offer considerable growth and yield potential”. In this week’s article, we take a look back at tipster and broker sentiment towards three other key IPOs over the last six months: Amigo Holdings (AMGO), Aston Martin (AML) and Quilter (QLT).
