BEST OF THE BROKERS
C&C GROUP
Citigroup upgraded Magners owner C&C Group from a “hold” to a “buy” with a €2.95 target price. It said that underlying trading is challenging, but that management has made significant progress to improve the cost structure of the group. As a consequence, the broker believes top-line growth will be a key driver for the year.
SIGNET JEWELERS
Goldman Sachs said that Signet is a “diamond in the rough” and upgraded its rating to a “buy” from “neutral”. The broker said that Signet is well positioned to benefit from a recovery in consumer expenditure in the UK and US in next year, and expects the firm’s profits to return to 2008 levels by full year 2011.
ASHTEAD GROUP
Ahead of Ashtead’s first quarter results, due today, Goldman Sachs revised down its estimates for the group for 2010 and 2011, to reflect recent trading commentaries from its peers. However the broker noted that the company is managing the cycle and generating cash and upgrades it to a “buy” rating with a 105p target price.