BEST OF THE BROKERS
PEARSON
UBS rates the publishing group “buy” with an increased target price of £14. The broker believes the firm is poised to deliver earnings growth despite its conservative revenue forecasts, and has raised its earnings per share estimate for the year four per cent to 76.4p. UBS predicts revenues above £5.8bn for the full-year.
PZ CUSSONS
Panmure Gordon rates the consumer goods maker “hold” with a target price of 400p. The broker expects evidence of muted growth at the firm’s interim results next Tuesday, with uncertainty ahead of the Nigerian elections dampening sales in the country. It has raised its full-year pre-tax profit forecast by 15 per cent to £117m.
GULF KEYSTONE
Goldman Sachs has upgraded the petroleum group from “sell” to “neutral” due to the stock’s recent underperformance, with a target price of 172p. The broker sees potential for M&A and reserve growth thanks to the firm’s lucrative oil field in Iraq, but notes the continued political risk of exploring in the Kurdistan region.