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.
Tips: The Telegraph still rates Tesco shares as a buy.
FRIDAY
The Times
A mid a flurry of profit warnings from leisure and retail businesses, yesterday's trading update from William Hill, the bookmaker, was a rarity: an earnings upgrade. The margin over Libor will rise and there is an outside possibility that the dividend may have to be trimmed. Even so, the shares are a hold.
Vitec is one of the stock market's biggest beneficiaries of a stronger US dollar, but you might fail to tell from a glance at its shares: down 45% since the start of August, when the greenback's bounce began. But at 200p, or five times 2009 earnings and yielding a secure 9.3%the shares are a risky buy.
The Daily Telegraph
Concerns over Aviva's solvency have faded, with the company having assured the market about its capital position. When compared to its arch rival, Prudential, the potential of a healthy dividend gives Aviva a superior yield of 9%, compared to Prudential's more modest 5.4%. However, the shares are worth holding on to.
Investors Chronicle
International Power's shares are well below analysts target prices and refinancing fears have been over played. Despite weak US power prices and a foggy expansion strategy for the future, it's global footprint and diverse generating mix makes the shares a buy.
THURSDAY
The Times
Yesterday's trading update from Punch Taverns revealed that like-for-like profits at its tenanted pub division are down by 12%. It's not hard to see why punch is suffering, it's had to deal with the smoking ban, dwindling beer sales, soaring utility costs, and an economic downturn. The shares are better thought as options than equity. Only for the brave.
The Telegraph
Shares in Tesco are up 6% since December, and over the Christmas and New Year period sales rose by 32.7%. Although 2009 will be challenging to retailers, investors should be reassured by Tesco's international diversification. Buy.
ETFS WNA Global Nuclear Energy is up 13% since the beginning of December. The Questor column believes that the re-emergence of nuclear as a major part of the world's energy plan is virtually unstoppable. Buy.
Shares Magazine
So much bad news has now been priced into Mitchells & Butlers, the UK based pub and restaurant operator, shares that they are worth buying for the short-term recovery as trading may not have been as bad as the market fears. Buy.
Investors in Jessops should use the recent share price bounce to sell and make a quick buck. The spread is surprisingly reasonable for the market value. Sell.
WEDNESDAY
The Times
SIG, the Sheffield-based distributor of insulation materials, Falling construction spending has prompted SIG, the Sheffield-based distributor of insulation materials, to cut working capital and enhance cash-generation. At 182½p, or three times the best guess of next year's earnings, the shares are susceptible to short-term volatility. But, with SIG's dividend under threat and construction activity still on the wane, they are best avoided for now.
Yesterday's excellent trading update from Computacenter , the IT distributor, warned that last year's pretax profits would be 'materially ahead' of consensus forecasts and its earnings per share 'substantially ahead'. With Computacenter's exit from trade distribution of PCs and printers freeing up substantial working capital and the shares, even after yesterday's run to 97p, offering a secure 8.8% dividend, they are worth buying on weakness.
The Daily Telegraph
The Questor column believes that the recent events in India have created a buying opportunity for investors with the appetite for risk. JP Morgan's Indian Investment Trust could be a good play on the country's continuing development. The investment is riskier than others but offers greater rewards. Buy.
TUESDAY
The Times
Dechra Pharma is launching its flagship product – Vetoryl, a treatment for Cushing's disease in dogs – in America this week. Its trading update also revealed that revenues were up 23%, which is still an impressive 9.5% when the effects of last year's £62m acquisition of VetXX, a Danish rival, are stripped out. Spending on pet health has proved resilient through downturns and with a net debt of only £30m, hold on.
About a fifth of London-listed companies are expected to cut their dividend this year, but the question for shareholders in Marshalls is whether the Yorkshire building materials group will be one. On the view that a cut is only a matter of time, the shares are best avoided for now.
The Telegraph
Tescos shares are up 8% since December, although today's trading update showed the slowest UK sales growth since the 1990s. The shares are now trading on a February 2009 multiple of 13 times, a discount to Sainsbury shares, which are trading on a March 2009 multiple of 15.8 times. Shares in Tesco remain a buy.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- Mini Cooper SE: The British icon gets an all-electric makeover
- How to invest for income and growth: SAINTS' James Dow
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- MailOnline asks Lexie Limitless 5 quick fire EV road trip questions
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- Mini celebrates the release of brand new all-electric car Mini Aceman
- 2025 Aston Martin DBX707: More luxury but comes with a higher price
- Land Rover unveil newest all-electric Range Rover SUV
- Blue Whale fund manager on the best of the Magnificent 7
- Mercedes has finally unveiled its new electric G-Class
- Don't try to be a super woman - build a dream team! The...
- The plant that can add £10,000 to the value of your home...
- Reckitt Benckiser under the cosh over baby formula, says...
- Recruitment in private sector falls for tenth month in a row
- Business leaders call for flagship scheme to get young...
- Stock market given a shot in the arm as Raspberry Pi and...
- BUSINESS LIVE: Nadhim Zahawi to chair The Very Group;...
- Helium and hydrogen company set to join stock market in...
- Britain's nascent battery industry receives shot in the...
- CITY WHISPERS: Bill Ackman's cerulean eyes charm...
- Cost-of-living crunch wipes shine off Thomas Sabo jewellery
- Where is Labour's 'white heat' revolution to revive...
- FTSE 100 hits an all-time high - but remember the stock...
- British businesses awash with 'accidental' bosses who...
- Shipping broker Clarksons on list of shame after...
- North Sea projects worth £21bn put at risk by Labour: Tax...
- Virgin Money's biggest independent investor...
- JOHCM UK EQUITY INCOME FUND: Rate cuts... and a spending...