BEST OF THE BROKERS
RECKITT BENCKISER
Evolution Securities maintains its “Add” recommendation for household and health provider Reckitt Benckiser and raises its price target for the shares to 3,050p. Despite forecasted profit losses in the next year, the broker sees a strong new product pipeline and focus on volume growth as spelling encouraging progression.
MARKS & SPENCER
Goldman Sachs predicts significant value growth for M&S due to the retailer’s fresh business strategy, which is due to be unveiled on 13 October. The broker expects the new strategy to act as a positive catalyst for shares and has consequently added M&S to the Conviction Buy list with an increased price target of 450p.
ITV
Investec maintains its recommendation of “Sell” for ITV, with the outlook “back to glass half full”. Poor trading could improve post-September but first-half figures are not expected to offer much new operationally. Shares rose recently due to excitement about the imminent hiring of a new CEO, but recovery looks well discounted.