Australian Broker Moves 2 Jul


A selection of ratings upgrades and downgrades, target price changes, and commentary for ASX stocks from major research houses.



In the spotlight today, Lendlease Group (LLC) and Suncorp Group (SUN) after each company provided the market with a trading update, and NEXTDC (NXT) after it announced a number of contract wins. High flyer Afterpay (APT) also gets some attention, with Citigroup raising its price target by an impressive 130%.
 
Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited ANZ Zacks downgrades Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) rating from hold to sell.   
Afterpay Limited APT Citi raises Afterpay Limited (APT) price target from $27.10 to $64.25. Retains neutral rating. Says "We expect the narrative/trends to be positive over the next few months driven by increasing consumer usage (especially in the U.S.), launch of in-store in the U.S. and launch into Canada".
Costa Group Holdings Limited CGC Citi retains buy rating on Costa Group Holdings Limited (CGC). Retains $3.40 price target. Notes company is well positioned with its operating environment far more rational than FY19.
Iluka Resources Limited ILU Citi lowers Iluka Resources Limited (ILU) price target from $9.75 to $9.45. Retains neutral rating. Downgrades CY20 synthetic rutile production/sales by 16%. Sees FY20 core net profit of A$206.4, down from A$278.7 FY19.
Lendlease Group LLC Citi lowers Lendlease Group (LLC) price target from $15.67 to $15.58. Retains buy rating. Notes delays in securing project and low productivity experienced by LLC across its segments due to coronavirus restrictions. Positive on sale of its engineering and service business, Acciona.
Lendlease Group LLC Credit Suisse retains outperform rating on Lendlease Group (LLC). Raises price target from $12.37 to $13.38. Expects  most of the bad news is now behind the company.
Lendlease Group LLC Macquarie lowers Lendlease Group (LLC) price target from $14.92 to $14.24. Retains outperform rating. Notes earnings still remain well below the broker's prior assumptions, but sees better outlook for FY21.
Lendlease Group LLC UBS lowers Lendlease Group (LLC) price target from $15.50 to $14. Retains buy rating. Broker is remaining patient. Sees some positive catalysts.
Nextdc Limited NXT Macquarie raises Nextdc Limited (NXT) price target from $9.10 to $10.50. Retains neutral rating. Sees growth profile as strong, but also notes potential project delivery risk.
Nextdc Limited NXT Morgans raises Nextdc Limited (NXT) price target from $8.80 to $11.10. Retains hold rating.  
Nextdc Limited NXT Ord Minnett raises Nextdc Limited (NXT) price target from $9.15 to $10. Retains hold rating. Broker is mindful that stock continues to trade at a premium to global peers.
Nextdc Limited NXT UBS retains buy rating on Nextdc Limited (NXT). Retains $10.70 price target. Describes recent contract wins as further de-risking earnings growth.
Oil Search Limited OSH UBS retains buy rating on Oil Search Limited (OSH). Retains $4.30 price target. Expects cost reduction to make the company more resilient to lower energy prices.
Suncorp Group Limited SUN Citi lowers Suncorp Group Limited (SUN) price target from $9.40 to $9.10.  Predicts margins will be under pressure as a result of higher allowance for natural hazard costs. reinsurance costs increase risk on company's balance sheet.
Suncorp Group Limited SUN Credit Suisse downgrades Suncorp Group Limited (SUN) rating from neutral to underperform. Lowers price target from $9.65 to $8.75. Describes restructure as lacking in detail, and likely flags start of larger structural changes.
Suncorp Group Limited SUN Macquarie lowers Suncorp Group Limited (SUN) price target from $9.80 to $9.50. Retains neutral rating. Broker is surprised by the extent of the downgrade, but predicts impact of covid-19 will prove largely neutral.
Suncorp Group Limited SUN Morgan Stanley raises Suncorp Group Limited (SUN) price target from $7.60 to $8.10. Retains underweight rating. Sees margin headwinds and a tightening in underwriting conditions.
Suncorp Group Limited SUN Morgans downgrades Suncorp Group Limited (SUN) rating from add to hold. Lowers price target from $10.44 to $9.40. Expects lower P&L protection and greater risk exposure.
Temple & Webster Group Ltd TPW Macquarie raises Temple & Webster Group Ltd (TPW) price target from $5.90 to $6.70. Retains outperform rating. Broker is suportive of placement move. See acceleration in sales as vindication in company's offering.



Back