FirstGroup (FGP)

Sector:

Commercial Transport

Index:

FTSE 250

133.30p
   
  • Change Today:
    -1.90p
  • 52 Week High: 187.70p
  • 52 Week Low: 133.10p
  • Currency: UK Pounds
  • Shares Issued: 615.47m
  • Volume: 1,581,365
  • Market Cap: £820.42m
  • RiskGrade: 282

HSBC upgrades Stagecoach, Go-Ahead; downgrades Firstgroup

By Michele Maatouk

Date: Wednesday 14 Oct 2020

LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - HSBC downgraded its stance on FirstGroup on Wednesday, but lifted its ratings on Go-Ahead and Stagecoach as it took a look at UK bus and rail operators.
The bank, which upgraded both Stagecoach and Go-Ahead to 'buy' from 'hold', said the sector is extremely cheap. "The sector has been here three times before and it's rebounded," HSBC said.

"It's true that some verticals (eg UK bus) could take time to see a recovery, but they are being underpinned by government support which we expect to remain until the sector returns to profit.

"In other verticals, (eg US school bus), recovery should come through relatively quickly."

HSBC said that while earnings may not get back to last year's levels, they don't need to for the value to be clear. "With all operators generating cash, we do not see risk of business failures," it said.

The bank said buy-rated National Express remains a clear favourite. It said the company's track record before the pandemic was strong. "While recovery has been delayed, we continue to believe it will come through in time."

As for Go-Ahead and Stagecoach, it said that while some investors may be put off by their domestic focus, they should survive and some sort of recovery should be possible as social distancing measures are eased.

HSBC downgraded FirstGroup to 'hold' from 'buy' following weak full-year results but said the going concern risks look overdone.





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Note 1: Prices and trades are provided by Digital Look Corporate Solutions and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Note 2: RiskGrade figures are provided by RiskMetrics.

 

FirstGroup Market Data

Currency UK Pounds
Share Price 133.30p
Change Today -1.90p
% Change -1.41 %
52 Week High 187.70p
52 Week Low 133.10p
Volume 1,581,365
Shares Issued 615.47m
Market Cap £820.42m
RiskGrade 282

FirstGroup Star Ratings

Compare performance with the sector and the market.
more star ratings
Key: vs Market vs Sector
Value
11.07% below the market average11.07% below the market average11.07% below the market average11.07% below the market average11.07% below the market average
81.82% below the sector average81.82% below the sector average81.82% below the sector average81.82% below the sector average81.82% below the sector average
Price Trend
25.34% below the market average25.34% below the market average25.34% below the market average25.34% below the market average25.34% below the market average
63.64% below the sector average63.64% below the sector average63.64% below the sector average63.64% below the sector average63.64% below the sector average
Income
62.25% above the market average62.25% above the market average62.25% above the market average62.25% above the market average62.25% above the market average
60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average
Growth
24.36% above the market average24.36% above the market average24.36% above the market average24.36% above the market average24.36% above the market average
9.09% below the sector average9.09% below the sector average9.09% below the sector average9.09% below the sector average9.09% below the sector average

What The Brokers Say

Strong Buy 4
Buy 0
Neutral 2
Sell 0
Strong Sell 0
Total 6
buy
Broker recommendations should not be taken as investment advice, and are provided by the authorised brokers listed on this page.

FirstGroup Dividends

  Latest Previous
  Final Interim
Ex-Div 18-Jul-24 30-Nov-23
Paid 23-Aug-24 03-Jan-24
Amount 4.00p 1.50p

Trades for 31-Oct-2024

Time Volume / Share Price
16:55 44,372 @ 134.59p
16:55 291,031 @ 133.57p
16:35 970,885 @ 133.30p
16:35 8,102 @ 133.30p
16:35 770 @ 133.30p

FirstGroup Key Personnel

CFO Ryan Mangold
Chair Peter Lynas
CEO Graham Sutherland

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