Newspaper and magazine share tips
Each week we round up share tips from national newspapers and investment magazines. For the Mail on Sunday's stock picks, read the Midas column.
Discount: Like other high-street stores Debenhams is encouraging spending with New Year sales
FRIDAY
The Times
The Weir Group has seen its stock tumble more than 60% from its June peak. At 397½p – or eight times next year's earnings and yielding 4.6% – and with net debt a relatively modest £250m, the shares are attractively valued, given Weir's strong market position. Hold on.
Autonomy shares gained more than 7% as the company confirmed that last year's revenues will be 'at or above' consensus forecasts: some $502m. At £10.52, or 19 times 2009 earnings, Autonomy looks expensive, but always has. Hold.
The Telegraph
Online sales, which jumped 27%, were another bright spot for Sainsbury's. However, the shares are trading on a March 2009 multiple of 16 times, compared with Tesco on 12.6 times February 2009 forecasts. With economic uncertainty expected to continue, the shares look fairly valued. Hold.
THURSDAY
The Times
Supermarket round-up
Over the past month shares in Tesco have gained 11%, Sainsbury's 14% and Wm Morrison 16%. Asda described the trading period as, 'solid', while Waitrose reported a 3.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the week to Christmas Eve. Yesterday's conformation that M&S will be closing 25 of its Simply Food stores after a 5.2% decline in its food sales, bodes well for the top three supermarkets. However, there is some reason to exercise some caution before investing in the sector. Should price deflation prove the motif for 2009, then it is hard to believe that shareholders will come off better than food retailers' customers. Avoid
The Daily Telegraph
Amec has no debt, a balance sheet stuffed with cash and despite exposure from a falling oil price its shares are still yielding at an attractive 2.7%. The group provides consultancy, engineering and project-management service across the oil, gas, nuclear energy, metals and mining industries. Buy.
Shares in laundry and work wear business Davis Service Group slumped in October after it issued a profit warning. The stock has since risen 55% and the shares are cheap. However, the Questor column recommends that while current investors should hold on, no more money should be invested for now. Hold.
Shares Magazine
A major cut in food and drink prices from JD Weatherspoon is a risky move to profit margins and its reputation. Concerns over slowing trade could be confirmed in two weeks, so investors should think about selling while there is still some strength in the share price. Sell.
The Obama spending package underwrites infrastructure equipment businesses such as Ashtead, which will undoubtedly survive the recession. A long term lending deal with the banks and further cost cutting plans add support to the share price. Buy.
WEDNESDAY
The Times
Shareholders in Dunelm, the homewares retailer, have less reason than most to mourn the demise of Rosebys, the Yorkshire-based rival that fell into administration two months ago. With about 200 of Roseby's stores now closed, Dunelm is in a good position to pick up some of its £70mf annual sales. Buy on weakness.
Unlike the wider financial sector, London Capital Group (LCG), the owner of Capital Spreads, continues to grow. With earnings forecast to rise more than 20% this year, 287p, up 29p, or ten times earnings, is still a reasonable price. Hold on.
The Daily Telegraph
Shares in Gem Diamonds have fallen 75% since their peak in May last year. However, in the long term Gem Diamonds will recover as the global economy does. Now looks like a good time to buy.
Shares in staffing group Hays jumped almost 10% on Monday after UBS updated its stance buy. However, despite an attractive dividend there is a great deal of uncertainty around the sector. Hold.
TUESDAY
The Times
Companies: BP, Shell, Anglo American, Vodaphone, Admiral, RSA, Scottish & Southern Energy, National Grid, Pearson, AstraZeneca, BAT and GlaxoSmithKline.
Low interest on savings makes equities look a risk worth taking. Based on the experience of the last recession – when the proportion of profits that companies collectively paid out in dividends surged to 84% – Citigroup thinks it reasonable to assume that about £55bn of cash will be handed back to shareholders this year. Buy
The Daily Telegraph
Debenhams sales and margin figures were much better than expected and the shares have jumped by around 30%. Even after today's gains, the shares are 826% geared. Questor thinks investors still holding the stock should use today's rally to sell.
Shares in software group Aveva are a bargain at current levels. The company is also expected to have a net cash position at the end of the year, which is one of the most important criteria in today's markets. Investors seeking future growth at a bargain price should definitely buy.
JJB's shares have jumped 109% since management changes took place on Friday. However, on balance, Questor believes that there are so many headwinds that an investment now carries a high degree of risk – particularly after a rally in the price. Sell.
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